Does anyone know which of these two hotels is more desirable for first time visitors to Madrid: The AC Hotel Recoletos or the AC Hotel Carlton Madrid? There are probably many others that might be better- but this is being paid for by my husband's boss and those are the two choices he gave us. Which one should we chose? For safe area, convenience and sightseeing and overall quality of the hotel.

Of the two, the AC Hotel Recoletos is better situated, in the Salamanca disrtict close to everything including shopping and great restaurants. It's also a classice historic building.

The AC Carlton is closer to Atocha station (to the south), not quite as desirable a location, but not bad.

(missed the spell check)

Of the two, the AC Hotel Recoletos is better situated, in the Salamanca district close to everything including shopping and great restaurants. It's also a classic historic building.

The AC Carlton is closer to Atocha station (to the south), not quite as desirable a location, but not bad.

I stayed at AC Rec. In October
The hotel and the location are very good.
The only strange feature is the bathroom - it is divided from the room by a glass wall.
Not much privacy.
I was alone so it did not bother me., but it might some people.

Absolutely the AC Recoletos!I love their toiletries-quite a complete set,beautifully presented.The area is very safe but a little boring in the sense you need to walk or take a bus /cab to the old part of Madrid-Puerta del Sol/Plaza Mayor etc and it is another a walk to the museums but on a nice sunt day qite pleasant.You need to study a map to orientate yourself.No way would I Ever consider the other hotel-convenient to the bus station...........

Recoletos is also near the most upscale shops in Madrid and beautiful park Retiro.
There are several great coffee shops and restaurants in the area.
I found it easy to walk to the museum and even to Sol.
The bus and the Mero are around the corner....

The AC Hotel Carlton Madrid also gets great reviews from hundreds of guests.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/carlton.en.html

It's on a broad, safe and lively avenue close to the Atocha train station and just a couple of hundred meters from the famous Reina Sofía Arts museum and 800 meters from the Prado museum. From Reina Sofía the busy Atocha street leads to vibrant Plaza Santa Ana and majestic Plaza Mayor in a ten mins walk. Even closer are the popular Huertas district/Madrid de las Letras/The Literary Quarter with great cafés, bars, restaurants, jazz and flamenco clubs.
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...3&TR=C&IDR=891

I would have chosen the Carlton over the Recoletos for being closer to the main museums and the Literary Quarter.

kimhe-have you ever walked in that area? It cannot be compared to the area of Recoletos for safety/ambiance...
The map can be deceiving-it is quite a trek to even walk to Atocha and then all the traffic and traffic lights.People stay there for the convenience of catching a train or a bus but not for enjoying Madrid.

Chapla, Yes I've walked here a lot, used to work in the archives of the Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas almost at the bottom of Atocha and commuted to Alcalá de Henares while living around Plaza Santa Ana/Mayor. Also a couple of favourite tapas/lunch bars down here. I like the walk and the area, but then I also find the Salamanca district a bit too posh ;-)

Atocha street is really dumpy...I would not. stay near. The train or bus station given other options.

danon -I agree, absolutely a working class/dumpy area, not what I would want on vacation-give me posh anytime!

Wow!