What I am looking for is quiet, cleanliness, convenience to transport to Madrid's centre -- and a reliable wake-up call!

I don't want to spend a lot of money.

Muchas gracias in advance!

I didn't stay here, but did consider it. I ended up staying in Madrid, because it was easy enough to get out in the morning.

But for near the airport, Tryp Diana.

http://www.solmelia.com

Thank you. Reading hotel reviews for Madrid airport hotels is so discouraging. Hope others will chime in.

Fortunately, I'm seeing some not-bad discount rates for high-end hotels, at least some of which get nice reviews.

I just looked at the reviews for Tryp Diana now. Not so good, sorry about that. But I can say that it looks like the reviews were better back when I was looking at them about a year ago - they've gotten much worse since. I think there's a new NH hotel that's opened near the airport.

Thanks again. I am looking into that new NH.

I also need to get to Madrid before leaving on the plane, so a safe walk to and from the Metro stop at night is a big consideration.

How early do you need to get to the airport that you want an airport hotel?

The reason I ask is on our last day in Madrid, I asked our hotel doorwoman to hail us a cab at about 8:02, we got the cab about 8:04, we were at the airport about 8:22, and we were checked into Continental and through security by about 8:30. This was in August with little traffic, though. This was staying at the Tryp Cibeles on Gran Via, which is very convenient generally.

WillTravel, that was before the T4 existed , wasn't it ? It's a kind of nightmare, there are lots of jokes here about it

Good question, Will Travel, given the relative ease of getting to the airport in Madrid from the center of town.

Although we don't need to be at the airport until 9:30am (for an 11:30am international flight), we plan to go out to dinner with friends in Madrid the night before -- and as you know, that means starting dinner at 10:00pm!

We thought taking a taxi back to our hotel at the airport and waking up at 8am was a better bet than trying to get up at 7am, given who we are.

The other thing that is pulling us in the direction of an airport hotel is that we will only be one night in Madrid. All our time in Spain will be spent elsewhere, and we will have flown in from Barcelona around 5pm. We liked the idea heading over to an airport hotel, dumping our bags and getting a shower and fresh up before heading into Madrid, clean and unecumbered, for a dinner date.

If I can't find a decent airport hotel, I will book in the city. But I'm looking at reviews for the Novotel near the airport, and am tempted.

How did you like your Madrid hotel? Where exactly is it located?

when will you be travelling ? I mean, if it's not in july/august, between 7-9 in the morning is rush hour. People going to work, children going to school..getting out Madrid center would be difficult so I think your idea of the hotel near the airport is good

Thanks kenderina. I'll be traveling in May and mercifully my departure flight from Madrid is on a Sunday, so if I can't find a well-recommended hotel at the airport, staying in the city won't buy me the problems of weekeay rushhours.

I really like the Madrid subway system and think taxis there are relatively cheap. I just would like to dump my bag after arriving from Barcelona, rather than carting it into the city and back out again.

That said, I also don't want to spend the night in an inadequate hotel.

My wife and I are departing Madrid airport on May 7 at 6 a.m., and we have a room at the Hotel Osuna (65 Euros including tax for a double if you call them direct). It's very near the airport, and has free shuttle. The few reviews I've read say it is clean and quiet, with a pretty good restaurant and nice pool. Not sure how far it is to transport to city center, but one site says it's 1k to the nearest metro train station.

If any reader has experienced this motel I'd like to get their impression of it.

> How did you like your Madrid hotel?
> Where exactly is it located?

Tryp Cibeles is at Gran Via 34, between the Gran Via and the Callao metro stops. It seemed close to everything.

My review is here:
http://www.slowtrav.com/Spain/hotels...cibeles&s=
Note that the picture is of a nook in the room, not the full room.

The reviews on TripAdvisor are generally very positive. Keep in mind I have a budget focus, so I might not notice some shortcoming others would. My daughter loved the bathroom and the huge towels and the beautiful building, but especially did not like the hard beds (or firm if you prefer).

I don't know any of the airport hotels..last time I was in Madrid (November) I stayed at the Holiday Inn (Castellana zone) and my trip to Barajas in a taxi was 15 minutes. Another zone that may interest you is where the commercial fairs in Madrid are held (Recinto Ferial Juan Carlos I). It's full of business-type hotels, near from the airport and good links.

Thanks to everybody. This is really good information for me.

I, too, lean toward being a budget traveler, and nicks on the desk or an old set of curtains don't flip me out so long as the room is clean and quiet. For a night, I can take a hard bed.

Thanks, kenderina, for the mid-point option. And Will Travel, I'll check out that review.

kenderina, what are these jokes about T4 ? I used it the weekend before last with no problem, & it was nice & uncrowded.

i have used all of these hotels and they are recommendable.

the new hotel auditorium. fabulous rooms...huge hotel.. sometimes you get great deals here)

the AC hotel av. americas
Hotel tryp diana (oldest)

NH express

sofitel ( my favorite)

novotel (next to sofitel.. have not slept there but they used to share the van sometimes).

hotel osuna , unless they have remodeled, would be my last choice.
it is the type if hotel like new york's milford plaza.. full of boy scouts, student groups, overbooked flights type place.
although, this might have changed since the last time we used it out of necessity and i admit, it was attractive because of price.

also, staying at edge of madrid (ac hotel) is 10 minutes to airport early in the morning, as many downtown hotels are only 20 min at most.

any hotel at the parque ferial near madrid airport will be good option, too. the sofitel and novotel are there.. but there may be others.

av. de americas is also good area with direct airport access.

ther are NO hotels connected to the terminals in madrid.

also ask what hours the shuttles run and if they are FREE. some madrid hotels offer shuttles but they are not complimentary.

check www.bancotel.com and now the new www.talonotel.com for special offers.
approx. 60 euros/night many places.

lincasanova,

Thanks so much for all that copious information. I'll skip the Osuna for sure, even though the idea of spending a night with dozens of boy scouts sounded kind of fun!

Even though I know it is easy to zip out of Madrid on a Sunday morning and get to the airport, I think I don't feel like carrying my bags into Madrid the night before.

Thanks again for sharing the first hand experience.

careful with website distances.. just looked at madrid airport website for htoels and it lists the NH or Tryp Alcalá as being at alclaá 66 and only 1.25 km. to airport.

wrong.
it is 12 kms to airport.
so..be careful.

campo de naciones.. good access( this is the fair grounds area's other name) .
lots of shopping and eating nearby there, too. big corte inglés and great food places.

buses to town.

an airport shuttle will at least always be able to get you to airport where you can take the metro but you might be better off on the frequent buses if there is one nearby.

thanks again lincasanova!

just re-checked talonotel.com and bancotel.com for some dates when we have to go to a wedding in madrid and most of the airport hotels are available for 60 euros/night.