My husband and I are going to Spain for 2 weeks in June. We are not renting a car, enjoy walking and like to be centrally located. We do splurge a little on vacations and like small hotels with staff who are helpful and offer good breakfasts. We plan on spending 4 or 5 days in each city, so want a comfortable 'home.' where we can relax. We don't need spas or swimming pools. Many thanks for any recommendations.

We were in Madrid in November and were lucky enough to get the penthouse room at the Hotel Plaza Mayor. The hotel itself is a nice two star, but the penthouse is in another league. It's a large L-shaped room with a bed in one area and a seating area with two club chairs in the other, plus a very nice balcony overlooking the rooftops. Breakfast isn't included and we didn't try the cafe on the ground floor. However, all of the cafes of the Plaza Mayor are a few steps away. I think the standard rate is E120 a day, but because we were there a week we got it for E100.

I went to Madrid last December for Christmas and stayed at the Hotel Ateneo, a 3 star hotel in the very center of Madrid, just a few steps from Puerta del Sol. You can see the hotel on http://www.hotel-ateneo.com/
The staff was great, rooms were of very good size...
I really loved my stay in this hotel and would return if I 'll go back to Madrid again...
Have a good trip!

I was going to suggest looking into renting an apartment, but it looks like a hotel is what you really want. (I think I got stuck on the word "home.&quot

Check Maribel's suggestions in her city guides on her website: www.maribelsguides.com.

She provides very detailed descriptions of her recommended accommodations.

We went to Spain in December and loved it. In Madrid, we stayed at the Hotel Carlos V. It was in a good location and the rooms were comfortable. Nothing fancy, clean. The decor is a bit dated but not too bad and the breakfast buffet was good.

For what it's worth, we booked the Hotel Intur Palacio San Martin for our last night in Madrid, based on Maribel and TripAdvisor advice. Location is excellent yet quiet. By all accounts the breakfast is spendy, but good.

http://www.hotelinturpalacio.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...in-Madrid.html

Best rate we found for our date in May was 103E on Orbitz. (109 on the hotel's site)

Agree on the Carlos V in Madrid, although it's definitely not a splurge - it's quite an excellent value.
The Continental Palacete in Barcelona is a small boutique-ish hotel in the very stylish Eixample district.

Went to Madrid and Barcelona a couple years ago. You will love it. We got a room at the Ritz for $160 thru www.luxurylink.com Stayed at Le Meridien in Barcelona. Great location, but a rather tired property.

Consider using Bancotel coupons for great deals -- e.g. The Westin Palace in Madrid for 150E.

See this link, toward the end: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34589805)

The Hotel Gran Lope de Vega is a nice modern hotel in the quaint area of Huertas and within 10 minute walking distance to the Prado, the Thyssen (sp), Puerto Sol, Plaza Mayor and the nocturnally-livley tapa bar area of Calle Huertas. About 125 Euro for a nicely-sized, comfortable, modern amenities double room in October.

The LeMeridien in Barcelona has been renovated and re-opened on 3 March. There are some fairly decent internet rates available there at the moment; otherwise the place is pricey at 390 Euros a night for a "deluxe" room at the very cheapest.

Audirennes, thank you for providing the information about your stay at the Hotel Ateneo. My wife and I will be in Madrid for 5 nights later this month, and this sounds/looks like a nice hotel. I was wondering if you could also comment on the street noise, the safety of walking in the area, the included breakfast (good, or better to seek out a restaurant??), and weather the staff is english speaking. Also, do you know if there is a shuttle from the airport to the hotel?? Sorry for all the questions, but I sure appreciate your experienced help. I looked at the web site and teh rooms looks bright and clean and almost new (might be old pictures???). Thank you, Jim