MC

HELP!! These two Best Westerns are very close to one another and have both received excellent reviews from people who have stayed at them it seems. I am able to guarantee one of the 5th floor rooms at the Carlos V (with a balcony), while the Santo Domingo has guaranteed me a deluxe double with the fancy bathtubut cannot garantee balcony)- While SD is 4stars, Carlos V is only 3-- My gut feeling, from looking at the websites, is that the SD has more character than the Carlos V-- but I have read so many great things about Carlos V that I am, hesitant to cancel there to hastily! Does anyone have a good tidbit about one or both of these popular places that can help me decide-- IT is a trip with my husband for our 2d wedding anniversary-- so we like a place with charm and romance!! Thanks--

MC

OOPs-- These hotels are in Madrid!

john

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Dave

Don't know anything about the Santo Domingo, but the Carlos V has a lot of good things to offer. Charm and romance, however, are not among them. Carlos V is a good budget hotel that is right in the middle of everything. They have rooms that, while quite basic, are clean, and the buffet breakfast is very good.

Rosenatti

I only stayed at the Santo Domingo for one night, and had one of the less romantic rooms (small, with a view to the airwell). It's a charming, if a little worn, 4-star hotel with an eclectic ambience, friendly staff and a location I liked -- close to the royal palace. I would imagine their deluxe doubles would be quite nice. It's farther up the Gran Via than the Carlos V, where I haven't stayed and which is right in the pedestrian part of Puerta del Sol. Great location, but I'm wondering what the balcony would look out on except large groups of people... can anyone who's stayed there add some enlightenment?