Piccolina

Hola Fodorites

I have booked 2 hotels in Madrid and need to decide on which one to choose. I'll be staying in Madrid for 5 nights.

1. Sercotel Suites - avg 100 euros a night

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/serc...ighlight_room=

The main reason I would choose this hotel is the price difference. But this hotel also has great reviews but I'm a bit unsure if the location is that convenient?



2. Iberostar Las Letras - avg 140 euros a night (so it would be about 200 euros more for a 5 night stay)

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/iber...ighlight_room=

I've stayed here in 2011 and really liked the rooms and location. Very convenient location!

Thoughts? Much appreciated.

Robert2533

Really? Just pick one and go for it! If it fits your budget and style, what's the problem?

Piccolina

Apologies - I should have specified that I wanted to ask if the the location of the Sercotel is worth the $ savings? The location is not as central as the Iberostar.

Robert2533

The difference in price is the location! The iberostar Las Letras is much closer to where you want to be.

ribeirasacra

booking has a map to locate hotels 200 Euros is a fair bit of money to save over 5 days.

chapla

Sercotel is past the Plaza de Espana-I would not like trekking up the hill of Gran Via to get to places of interest! I am not a fan of the Gran Via area-holds no interest for me-too noisy/busy.

Christina

When are you going? That Sercotel looks nice enough but I wouldn't stay there. And I know that area somewhat and have been in it (it's near a museum I went to), it's just too inconvenient a location for me. However, I don't get that many vacation days and so don't scrimp on little things if I think it will make my stay less enjoyable. To me, that isn't a big difference. But if that is an amount worth considering to you, I wouldn't dismiss it. The location isn't bad, You just won't be walking to things to sightsee, but taking metro (you can walk to the Palace, but you've been there before so know this). You can walk all the way to Plaza Mayor, etc. if you really want, of course, and like to walk a lot.

I don't think you'd be trekking up Gran Via, though, you'd be going to Plaza Espana metro stop about 3 blocks away to go anywhere, and generally you'd be going down, not up, I think, to be going to places of interest in the direction of, say, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, etc. That's the way I remember it, anyway. But it's a bit uphill to be going back to that hotel.

The difference in price is due to more than the location, I think you can see that from the rooms. That Sercotel is more basic.

So hard to say if the loation will matter to you (or the hotel itself, you don't seem concerned about that). I'd read reviews on Tripadvisor and booking.com and pay attention to what peopel say about how convenient or not they find it. Because no one can tell you if that amount of money is worth it to you? It wouldn't be for me.

chapla

You WILL be going down to Plaza de Espana and then up Gran Via from Sercotel!!! It really gets tiresome-only interest around there is the Museo Cerralbo -an example of a luxurious residence and the Templo.The on/off bus follows the route close by.....
IMO the area around Plaza de Espana is getting quite seedy!

kanadajin

We have stayed at the Suites Viena in the past and have really enjoyed it, in fact we are going back there this fall. We always book one of their Junior suites on the top floor each with a huge private terrace with garden furniture. To us they feel more like a small apartment than a hotel room (small kitchen, den, deck ...). This allows us to easily have our own meals in a very relaxed way whenever we feel like it. (not needing to always rely on restaurants - especially on extended stays - and sample various market food offerings) There is an OpenCor supermarket at Principe Pio mall which is within walking distance 10 or 15 min (there is a hill) with a surprisingly good selection of wines, hams, etc as well as staple items like milk, produce etc.

As for the location, it has never been an issue with us however bear in mind that we usually otherwise stay in the Salamanca district which is also a little ex-centered. In both cases, we find the quieter locations of real benefit. We LOVE walking and the distances involved really are not that long (for us). Closest subway station to the Suites Viena is actually Ventura Rodriguez, one stop past Plaza de Espana.

Either way, I do not think you can go wrong with one or the other.

Piccolina

Thanks everyone for their feedback. Interesting to learn that the neighborhood is further away than what it looks like on the map!

I've been looking online today and found another hotel in Salamanca (yes, totally opposite side of town). The rooms are smaller but it is very chic and modern. Averages about 100 euros per night.

What are your thoughts on the Salamanca neighborhood?

This is the hotel:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/one-...=total;ucfs=1&

danon

Great location for elegant Salamnca ...minutes to Retiro park and transportation.. : buses metro, Cercania.
Salamanca is a beautiful area, full of upscale shops, lovely treelined streets,

You can walk to Prado in10 minutes...
The hotel is new, the rooms are small.
We always stay in Salamanca.

chapla

I agree much nicer location,better area!