I am traveling to Madrid in July and would like a recommendaton as to which hotel to stay in. I would like to be within walking distance to sightseeng, shopping and restaurants and would like to be able to walk out at night and have alot going on around the hotel. Thanks

This is a wonderful hotel with great rooms and a mind boggling breakfast buffet. check it out: <BR>http://www.solmelia.es/cgi-bin/solme...otelhtml?12804

If price is no object, The palace is hard to beat, and right across from the Prado. Otherwise there are a lot of hotels on the Gran Via and throughout the center city which is all pretty walkable. There are also hostels if you are on a budget. Try www.madridman.com for some details.

For a complete report about Madrid and sidetrips to Toledo and Salamanca you may wish to make a text search on the phrase &amp;lt;paulo's back&amp;gt; marking the match exact phrase box.<BR><BR>From my experience, were I to return to Madrid in the near future, I would certainly stay at hotel Carlos V (Maestro Vitoria 5, tel. 91 5314100, fax 91 5313761). The web page is at<BR> http://www.hotelcarlosv.com/english.html<BR><BR>This hotel has 3-star facilities and a room for 2 with breakfast should run around a shade under $100. <BR><BR>It's just south of Plaza Callao, which IMO is the thick of the action everything considered - old town monuments like the Descalzas and Encarnacion monasteries, Palacio Real, etc), Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Sta. Ana, restaurants (be certain to check Cava Baja), shopping (Corte Ingles and FNAC), etc. - It's not what one may call at a reasonable walk from the big 3 museums (Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen) though, but a cheap taxi would take care of that. I'd rather stay lodged in this area than closer to the museums because it's more convenient at night, when one may do all on foot instead of having to use transportation.<BR><BR>Paulo<BR>

Oops ... weird characters! <BR> <BR>In the above, the search should be conducted on the phrase "paulo's back". <BR> <BR>Paulo