PSGMARTINO

We are going to be staying in Madrid for a week, and we are deciding on apartments. Never having been there, I'm not sure what area we want to be in. I know we want it to be fairly centrally located, within walking distance or easy metro of museums and major sites. What we don't want is to be in a seedy location... noisy and unsafe at night. Active and lively is good, with restaurants, tapas bars, etc...

Which would you choose and why?

http://www.vrbo.com/200710

http://www.spain-select.com/en_US/re.../calle-mayor-v

http://www.spain-select.com/en_US/re...ts/anunciacion


Thank you!

danon

The first two are. much better location.
We stayed in the same Spain Select building on Calle Mayor. It is a great area to be in.
Our apt. was facing the courtyard, but if I remember once the stores closed there was not much noise on the street.
If I were renting a place again, I would pick that location.
The firs apt. Is closer to the museums, but I don' know the street.
The third apt. Is on the other side of the park... Not the best location .

danon

P.s.
We rented from SS twice and were happy with the service.

chapla

The first apt is fabulous!You will be on a quiet street and w/locals-great little supermarket on c/Fucar,lots of little restaurants, cafes,bakeries,close to museums and the train station-Atocha.
Second apt -too noisy/frenetic
Third-too far away form any interesting spots other than the park Retiro.

danon

I disagree with PP. We stayed in the SAME building on Calle Mayor. it is a classy location
good stores, no bars next to the building, safe and well lit.
The Palace and the Opera is 7 - 10 min , Cava Baja abbot the same, Plaza around the corner.museums are abou 20 min on foot
I don' know the first building, but I don't like the nearby Calle de Atocha.

chapla

Calle Mayor is a VERY busy/noisy/touristy/street-no local color whatsoever!
The first apt makes you feel you are actually living in Madrid,can walk across to the botanical garden,Prado and then to the Reina Sofia etc.
I just mentioned the train station just in case they want ot take a train!I stay alone in this barrio every summer for a month and just love it!

PSGMARTINO

Thank you both for your replies... I was thinking that the 3rd one might be too far out, so it's good to know that you agree.

I'm OK with a little touristy... after all we are tourists, but I don't want the crazy drunken partying scene on the streets around where we'll be staying. We had that in Barcelona since we stayed in the Barri Gothic and I'm trying to avoid that this trip. Sounds like both these locations would be good.

danon

I stayed on Calle Mayor and would stay again.

It is no more touristy than Prado, Sol, the Palace or rest of central Madrid.
Most of the stores sell clothing or food, so once they are closed ther is pedestrian traffic and cars, but no bars and drunks next door. it is nothing like Born ( more like some streets in Eixample)

The bars are in Santa Ana and around Cava Baja.
The first location is probably less traveled, and more " local" (whatever that means).

NyMadrid

Hello PSGartino,

I am half Madrid local and location wise Calle Mayor is an absolute priviledged location to be in. The first apartment is in Anton Martin/Lavapies area, interesting in regards to mixture of people but lowscale and scary at night.

The third I agree is the most separated away from the three but is where you would be surrounded by real Madrilenos.

If I was you without doubt I would go for the second one.

P.S.Chapla either does not know well Madrid or is the owner of the first apartment..

PSGMARTINO

Great - thank you for your help! The Calle Mayor apt might be winning right now! Especially since Danon stayed in the same building...

chapla

The first apt is NOT Lavapies!!!!
Lavapies is across C/Atocha and I as a woman never venture into it-too diverse/eclectic for me during the day and especially at night!I wish I was the owner............
If the apt on c/Mayor has double glazed windows then the traffic will be blocked and it should be okay across from the Plaza Mayor,convenient for the tourist office and shopping at the Corte Ingles dept store.It will be a walk to the museums.........

danon

It is hard to know what a specific street is like in a big city ..
We liked Calle de las Huertas very much.
, but not Atocha.
What we also liked about Mayor is ..it felt very safe. The Mercado around the corner is
a great spot to have a bite .
If you wish to see an elegant shopping area, take a walk to Serrano.
In the evening, a nice spot for a drink is beautiful Plaza in from of the Palace.


You might wish to check about the windows withSS. ..they are very responsive.
The security deposit we provided was return to us in matter of days.

ekscrunchy

Here is the street view of the first apartment:


http://www.apartinmadrid.com/en/acco...apartment.aspx

tdk320n

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