Four ladies will be flying to Madrid around May 6/7 and want to spend a couple nights there before heading to the south of Spain. Clean and location for walking are important. Would rather not pay and arm and leg. Any recommendations?

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It is a comprehensive, polite board of Spain travelers. Enjoy! Anita

I have stayed at the Hotel Suecia a few times and found it to be wonderful and very convenient. You can walk to the Prado and other significant landmarks, and it is on a quiet street but convenient to the subway and other public transportation. The staff is friendly and professional.

If you're looking for an international chain, the Crowne Plaza is fine, and is located centrally on a main square (the name of which escapes me!).

I recommend Madridman's (isn't he on these boards?) site:

http://www.madridman.com/madridhostels.html

I stayed at one of the very cheapest places whose name escapes me, which is alright as I wouldn't recommend it. It wasn't bad, per se, as the people were nice enough, and I didn't mind the 4-flight work upstairs (I luckily pack light). But I did have a big problem in that it wasn't well-heated -- the heat only came on at certain hours of the day -- and I spent most of my time there in three layers of cold and freezing. But if you're going in May it should be plenty warm wherever you are.

I go to Madrid for long weekends, the nightlife is great. I highly recommend Bestwestern hotels for the value. I have stayed on Gran Via (the main thorougfare) at Hotel Atlantico (double room 100euros/nt) and will be staying 2/21 at Bestwestern Arosa (84 euros/nt). The rates include a breakfast (better at Atlantico) and VAT, so you pay only some paltry 2 or 3 euro hotel tax on top of that. Unlike BWs in the US, they are nice. You will find that any chain well known in the US will normally have sky-high rates. Overall, as you probably sense, I think Atlantico would be the best choice. Each room is a little different. My last trip, I had a big double bed, an old fashioned chenille(sp?) bedspread, nearly antique (but well kept) furniture, nice size bath, fridge. Buy your munchies, wines, and drinks at El Cortes Ingles, a large department store, just down and across the street. You'll love the location. Can walk or cheaply cab to all the major sites of Madrid. I love the city, and now after at least 1/2 a dozen visits am finally going to take a Spanish class. Have a great time!

Mike

I live in Madrid now but used to come for business all the time and always stay a few extra days for fun. So I'd stay in the Westin Plaza (right across from the Prado and the Thyssen) when there for work and then switch to the Best Western - Hotel Atlantico on Gran Via when paying with my own dime. The Hotel Atlantico is clean, well situated and safe. The rooms vary and some can be sparten (at least the beds were comfortable which is all I care about) and others are quite nice, but since Madrid is a fab city you won't want to spend much time in your room!

I've also found NH Hotels to be affordable and quite nice. A little more upscale than the BW's.

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