Myself,my husband and 13 y.o son will be in Madrid in March. Which of this two hotel would you recommend. The Plaza Mayor is less expensive but is Carlos worth it? thanks for any advice.

Any thoughts?

It really depends on whether you're going to Madrid to hang around the hotel or go and see the city. The actual Plaza Mayor is a sea of activity from many local artists to cafe's, little coin shops and the like.

The Carlos V is conveniently located in a pedestrian/shopping area only a short walk from the Puerta del Sol & the Plaza Mayor.
As I recall breakfast (continental) was included in the price, when I stayed there 3 years ago.
Rooms were a bit small but at that time the prices were reasonable (less than $100).

igpjazz,
It depends on which location you prefer, how tight your budget is, how you and your family want to spend your euros.

The more modest 20 room, 2 star Hotel Plaza Mayor is located not ON the Plaza Mayor itself, but instead outside the square facing another square, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, which was fairly recently redone, so the location is both attractive and handy to all that Old Madrid has to offer (bars, cafes, restaurants, sights, music venues, etc.) It's a quick walk to the Plaza Mayor but also a nice, convenient longer walk to the Prado and Museum Triangle. It's lower in price because it's more of a budget place and has one less star, but for a low cost lodging option, I think it's well done. The small rooms have a/c, phone, safe and sat TV. And there's an elevator. It sits on the second floor above a cerveceria. I don't believe they serve a breakfast.

The 67 room 3 star Carlos V is on a pedestrianized street right in the heart of the huge El Corte Ingles (Spain's dept. store) shopping complex and steps from the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's "tourist- central", transportation hub, kind of like Times Square without skyscrapers and all the neon, but a plethora of fast food restaurants. The Carlos V is an Old European style "tried and true" Best Western that many posters have enjoyed and found a good value, while others have found the rooms old-fashioned and a bit drab in decor. Some rooms have terraces that look over the constant activity below, like room 116 which is a family room, but those rooms have the disadvantage of heavy street noise. It does offer a/c, bar, hair dryers, minibars, in room safe, sat. TV and even a garage and van shuttle service to the airport. It's easy to book at
www.bestwestern.com with breakfast usually included in the rate. It's been around since the sixties.

Both lodgings are featured in Sandra Gustafson's "Cheap Sleeps in Spain".

Thanks to all, especially to Maribel! we'll probably stay at Carlos V since it is more convenient.

I don't know the Hotel Plaza Mayor but have stayed at the Carlos V and was quite satisfied. Maribel's assessment is right on. It's a good 3 star hotel with everything that you might expect in a hotel in that class.