Maribel,

Are the Lope de Vega rooms much better than El Prado? I need to go see the exact location of Lope de Vega. I'm very familiar with El Prado, have walked by it many times.
Thanks!

Barbara,

Wow, If it had only been my husband and I, I certainly would be making a reservation at the Palace. Those prices are fantastic.

kleroux - the rate at the Preciados for a week is 93.10 Euros + 7% tax per night for a double. Their added bonuses and little incentives include free Wi-Fi (always great for us) and free minibar. Sounds intriguing.

Thanks to all "my Spain experts" on this board for helping me in my decision, you were all super !!!

cruiseluv,
Yep, you sure have walked by the Hotel Prado many, many times on your way up to the Plaza Santa Ana from the Palace and Villa Real! I wish the Prado had a prettier, more elegant exterior, but back when it was built, the style was brick and chrome, and they can't do much to pretty-it up, so we just call it a "period piece".

Its sister, the Lope de Vega, is exactly two blocks south of the Villa Real and 4 blocks from the Hotel Prado. The street gets less vehicular traffic than the Calle del Prado.
And it's two blocks west of the Paseo del Prado, with the Museo del Prado directly across the street. So to get to the Prado Museum from there takes no time. Lope de Vega street runs parallel to Calles del Prado, Cervantes, Huertas-which are the streets considered part of the Barrio de las Letras, where the Golden Age literary figures lived.

As for the rooms, there's actually not all that much difference, but I believe the LdeV's now have flat screen TVs. They've redone some of the rooms at the Hotel Prado-all used to be decorated in burgundy and beige (part of the wine theme), but I see some have a different color palette of blue, beige and black and more mod-contemporary furniture. The staff rotates between the two hotels.
And the Wifi is free and works very well.

For anyone wondering what a Madrid standard double hotel room costs for the wkd. of March 27-28-29, booked online for a 3 night stay,
here are rates for favorites in my Madrid guide:

5 star Palacio del Retiro: €220
5 star Westin Palace: 179.55
5 star Hospes: 165
5 star Intercontinental: 160
5 star Reina Victoria ME by Meliá: 143
5 star Hesperia: 136

4 star Vincci Soho: 207 (really bad rate)
4 star Catalonia las Cortes: 150
4 star G.L. NH Paseo del Prado (ex Canarias): 140
4 star AC Recoletos: 120 (with breakfast)
4 star Palacio San Martín: 110
4 star Hotel Preciados: 97 or 115 with brk.
4 star Lope de Vega: 90
4 star Vincci Soma (ex Habitat Bauzá): 82,80

3 star Hesperia Hermosilla: 113 (91 on Sun.)
3 star Hotel Prado: 84

2 star Hotel Plaza Mayor: 85

The Room Mate group (with buffet brk):
Alicia: 160
Laura: 160
Oscar: 139
Mario: 128

At ACs you get robes/slippers, free mini bar
Free mini bar and free Wifi at Hotel Preciados
Free Wi Fi and brk. served til noon at RoomMates
Free Wi Fi at Hesperias

In case it matters to you (can't imagine it would, but since Maribel pointed it out about the Lope de Vega), the Preciados' rooms have flat panel tvs (and plenty of English-language television, too!)

Maribel,

What a great recap of existing prices in late March for the main hotels in Madrid! Earlier today I confirmed with Hotel El Prado for the night of 3/28 and they gave me a rate of 90 Euros. However, I did that before reading your post. I now realize (after reading their website more carefully) there should be an additional 5% off as an early booking discount. So I have sent them an e-mail on this, I imagine they will honor it.
I also noted they give a 15% off for stays of 2 nights or more if you prepay your stay.

We stayed at the Clement Barajas because we were only in Madrid for one night before we flew home. You can walk to the subway, but it does take a little while to get downtown and you definitely don't feel like you are staying in Madrid. I think you've already decided not to stay here, but I thought I'd add my two cents.

Now for Seville, we stayed at the Dona Maria and it is THE BEST possible location in the whole city. And the hotel was lovely too. It is just the perfect, perfect location and you won't need to touch your car while you are there.

Any desire to see Ronda? We loved it. Definitely check out the Parador government hotel program. They are very cool hotels. The Parador in Ronda was the best view we've ever had.

My trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34979455

Have fun!

Thanks Kelliebellie. I remember reading somewhere that you recommended the Clement. I'm sure it would be fine, but eventhough we will be in Madrid 5 nights at the beginning of our trip, I was never sold on the idea of staying in Barajas. Also, I'm traveling with my kids ( they are not really "kids" anymore, my son is almost 20 and my daughter almost 15)so that way if they want to do something different than my husband and I, it's easier to do the logistics with a hotel in town.

hi cruiseluv,
Our 3 night stay at the Hotel Prado would cost only 250 total, so it's a great money saver that we probably shouldn't pass up. I just need to see how the renovation is progressing at the Villa Real to be able to continue to recommend it.
(Our last stay at a hotel right in the throws of renovation proved not to be a happy one!)

Here are 2 more deals that I've found in the swank Salamanca district:
Petit Palace Embassy on Calle Serrano: 112
High Tech President Castellana: 90

These HIgh Tech/Petit Palace hotels throw in a computer in the room with free internet. The 2 in the Salamanca district are the only ones that I really, really like a great deal.


You and your family most likely just wouldn't enjoy your last night in Spain as much in an airport area hotel. I know I don't; and I'll go to great lengths to avoid it! And as you say, if staying downtown, your kids have the freedom to go out on their own.
And that transfer from the Clement to metro to central downtown location for dinner could take 50 minutes alone.

Maribel, I agree. I don't think we will be happy out by the airport. If we were arriving late at night from Santiago, that would be one thing, but we arrive around 2:30. When I first reserved at the Clement, it was purely a price consideration. Now with the very attractive rate at the Prado we will go with that.

cruiseluv,
Great! So hope to see you there!

Maribel,

Looking forward to it!

On a different note, I am opening a new thread looking for restaurant recommendations near a specific venue in Madrid. Would really appreciate your input! Thanks!

Hi cruiseluv,

sorry for the late response - busy week! We ended up booking at the Villa Real - my husband called and spoke to someone about the renovations (his spanish is far superior to mine). They assured him that we would not hear them in the room we booked. We ended up booking a suite for a bit more money - here are the rates we got: March 3: 165 Euros, March 4: 150 Euros, March 5 through 8: 132 Euros. Hope that helps!

Hi Maribel,

Thanks so much for the advice - we will let you know how it goes at the Villa Real :) I looked at your guide for Seville as well (fantastic guides!!) and we are trying to decide between Las Casas de la Juderia, Vincci La Rabida, Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, and Hotel Alminar. We'd like to be centrally located, but we also don't want a ton of street noise (I know, tough combo!). Again, willing to spend around 150 Euros/night, give or take. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Hi love2explore,

That was a great idea to have your husband talk directly with them. I do hope you like the Villa Real, it has been "my" hotel in Madrid in my last 3 trips there and I have always enjoyed it. This time, due to having to book 2 rooms, I needed to get something less expensive.

Have a great trip and pls post when you get back!

Hi love2explore,
In Sevilla I would choose either the Casas del Rey de Baeza or the Alminar. I have too much mixed feedback currently regarding the Casas de la Judería, and Trip Advisor reviews reflect that-your enjoyment of it really depends on the room you're assigned. And I don't think the Vincci La Rábida has the charm of the many patios of the Hospes Rey de Baeza.

The Hospes Casas del Rey de Baeza is quite upscale and does have a quiet location, tucked into the northeast corner of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, but with that quiet location comes a longer (but pleasant) walk to major sightseeing, except for the Casa de Pilatos, which is nearby.

The Alminar is not quite that "luxurious" like a Hospes but location couldn't be more central.

I'm too glad your husband called the Villa Real. And you'll have a good, in depth look at the renovations before I will, so we'd all appreciate your feedback. I have seen the suites and like them a lot. They don't have the split level configuration. The top floor penthouse suites that have been renovated have a spiral staircase and seem quite cozy and private. Those are very good rates you were given for the suite.
Feb. and March are proving to be good times, price wise, for Madrid accommodations.

Hi all,
From the list of March rates I posted above, there has been a recent price drop from €150 to €109 at the 4 star Catalonia Las Cortes on Calle del Prado in the Barrio de las Letras-a very nice bargain at a classy hotel, in case anyone can take advantage of that low rate.

Oh, oh... When I thought I had closed this chapter... Maribel, if this a much better choice than El Prado? My rate at el Prado is 85 Euros with all taxes. I just checked and for 3/28 Catalonia Las Cortes is 109 plus taxes, or 117 Euros.
Too many choices!!

Thanks!

cruiseluv,
I do really like the far more classic Catalonia Las Cortes, but that amazing rate is for a double standard rather than a superior. When I was given a tour of the rooms, I'm afraid the management showed me the very best ones (one with a gorgeous frescoed ceiling)! The room across the hall from that gorgeous room is quite small, but I don't know if all the standard doubles are on the small side.
The trouble with getting a tour with the general manager or marketing director is that you're shown the most attractive rooms, obviously.
But even if your room ends up being on the small side, the general atmosphere of the place is one of classic refinement. They've kept some of the original architectural elements (the frescoes, the beautiful staircase, the crown molding), so it just feels "classier".

There's nothing classy at all about the Hotel Prado's downstairs. It's functional rather than fashionable. Long, narrow lobby with breakfast room to the left and vending machine next to the elevator. Practical rather than pretty. And the Prado's downstairs lounge/reading room, honestly, reminds me of a doctor's waiting room with Ikea type furniture. The guest rooms, however, are much more attractive than the lobby, and the staff is on its toes, housekeeping immaculate, and guests receive plenty of orientation, plus the Wi Fi really works well. The Hotel Prado gets the job done well in a no nonsense way, without the greater elegance/sophistication of the Las Cortes across the street.

Since you're used to the 5 star Derby Villa Real and have stayed at the 5 star Palace, I do feel you'd be more impressed with the decor/ambience at the Las Cortes. Is it worth the extra 74 euros for you (2 rooms)? It's your last night in town and your last memories of Madrid for awhile.

If we switched our reservations for our 3 nights, we'd pay an additional 100 euros for our stay, which was going to pay for our Sara Baras orchestra seats. And I just bought tickets for the Danish National Orchestra at the Baluarte in Pamplona. Tough decision. We're in Madrid so often, that we can stay at Las Cortes or another of our favorites on our next visit. But that March 27-28-29 weekend is just a great time to clinch a super great Madrid hotel rate. But if I find a great rate at the Ritz, I'm not going to post it to make your choice even worse!!!

Hi Maribel,

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, it's tough to know what kind of room you'll be given in hotels where all the rooms are different. I'll mention it to my DH and let him decide. If we were staying more than one night, maybe it would make a difference to be in a "nicer" hotel and enjoy the "ambiance". But given that it is only one night and we are not arriving until around 3 PM, it doesn't seem that important.

LOL about your comment about the Ritz! But, pls,do post about it if you find a deal there!

Maribel,

Sorry to pester you again... Would you say the std. rooms at Prado are small too?

Thanks!