Hotel in Madrid with key-card access
 

Hello all,

We are considering a trip to Madrid. We read reviews on TA of the commonality of pickpockets lurking in hotels. Whether that's true or not, we prefer a hotel which requires the use of room key to access the elevator and upper floors.

Any suggestions are apprecited. Generally, we prefer a 4 or 5 star hotel, modern rooms and central location but all tips are welcome.



Thanks a lot

Just how MANY reviews said that? And in which hotels? I think your "information" is faulty.

Oh please. Dont' leave home if you're this worried about negligible things like this. Pickpockets don't "lurk in hotels." Think about how weird and unlikely that would be. Not only is your information faulty, your English is as well. "Commonality" is totally the wrong word to use to express your (wrong) view that pickpocketing is common, and the word is "appreciated."

Bottom line is that pickpockets, if they exist, are not going to be in your hotel, so whatever kind of key your have to your room or the elevator is irrelevant. Pickpockets are going to be on the streets or on public transport, where you have no keys. It only takes common sense to protect yourself against them.

Watch for pickpockets in the metro or the Prado -- not in your hotel elevator . . .

Oh man, I asked a specific question. If you can help, great, if not please refrain from the same old rhetoric. And it is not my view.

These are reviews posted on a public forum, feel free to search yourself.

I had never heard that story, either, about pickpockets lurking around hotels. Yes, there are pickpockets in Madrid for sure, but never heard they lurk around hallways in hotels (they are in metro, Ramblas, tourist attractions, etc.). I heard some American couple complaining about getting pickpocketed in the metro at my hotel's front desk, and saw some Chinese people almost getting their fancy smartphones stolen because they stupidly laid them out on display on the table at an outdoor cafe.

I can imagine some real divey hotel may have some type of criminal activity, but also wonder if this was a comment about one particular hotel with that problem? I'd be curious as to which one.

Sorry, I like traditional hotels and have one I really like in Madrid but not modern. Never saw pickpockets in the hallways, though. I bet some big modern business hotel would have that, though.

I'd suggest the NH hotel group, I really like them in Spain. The NH National is near Atocha and modern. They even have a Nespresso and free Wifi. As far as I can recall, they use cardkeys, at least for the rooms. I don't know about elevators, I suspect not, in fact, I have never encountered that in any hotel anywhere. The only place I've encountered that is my office building on weekends and after hours (needing a card key for the elevator). But you could email them and ask, they probably have more than one in Madrid and should know if any do.
https://www.nh-hoteles.es/hotel/nh-madrid-nacional

The NH Paseo del Prado is a super location and a bit more luxurious, I think, so you could ask about that one--however, it is NOT super modern (but not fussy old, very attractive).

Now I do know the Westin in Madrid requires cardkey access to the elevator, and a great location near the Prado and obviously high end, but NOT modern. Many of the top luxury hotels are not actually modern.

And it actually make us happy if these reviews were false.

Not a 4* or 5* but we had to use a card key for the elevator at the Ibis Hotel on Alcala near Las Ventas (the bullring). Probably all modern hotels nessitate this. Loved this hotel - modern, clean, with a garage, cheap, and very convenient to Barajas (the airport).

Hi Christina, thanks a lot for your reply. I'll check out your suggestions.

We generally like the minimalism of Ibis, some are better than others. Thanks a lot Bedar, we'll check this out too.

We had to use key card in elevator at The Principal Hotel. It's bar and restaurant are open to public so I liked that access to floors with rooms was controlled.

Thanks a lot HappyTrvlr, the hotel looks great. I'll check out the rates.