BumbleB6

chapla, if it has your approval, it must be a winner! I'm booking it then.
(I was planning on booking it anyway, - showing it to my husband tonight, but he shouldn't have a problem with it.)

Thanks again, everyone!

cruiseluv

I love Leon street! Just walked by it a few times a month ago trying to figure out exactly where the Spain Select Apt was (because I would like to rent it next time I'm there!). I think thats an excellent choice.

kimhe

The Leon apartment looks excellent, and it's only 50 meters from one of the best nightlife streets in Madrid, Calle Echegaray ;-)

In Echegaray you have the excellent flamenco club Cardamomo. Paloma Fantova often dances here. She tore the house down at prestigious Sadler's Wells last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7hMzNH3b8
Cardamomo: http://cardamomo.es/

Here you also have the one of a kind sherry and tapas bar La Venencia: http://www.timeout.com/madrid/bars-and-pubs/la-venencia

And always great atmosphere long into the small hours in flamenco and toro inspired El Burladero: http://www.timeout.com/madrid/music-...e/el-burladero

And see if the legendary bar/restaurant Los Gabrieles in Echegaray, 17 has reopened. http://www.theguardian.com/world/200....gilestremlett

Christina

It isn't that Spain is noisy in general, it's that some of these locations are in the center of big cities on very small, old streets in the center where the buildings are very close together. And they are around places people want to go out at night, so they will be on the streets and the sounds echo all over, and if bars, people yell and alk loudly on the street, sometimes very late. I stay on Plaza San Martin and even though not very far to Puerta del Sol, it isn't very noisy there because it's not on any main street nor are there noisy bars right next to it. Actually, Room Mate Laura is very near it and that isn't a particularly noisy area.

I also agree Huertas is an extremely noisy street. If you live at street level in Chicago (which I doubt) in a very busy store area, then maybe it wouldn't bother you, but even then, it's not the same. I would never want to be on Calle Mayor, either.

BumbleB6

kimhe, once again, thank you for all of that valuable info! Checking out your links here in a sec...
And yes, I booked the Leon apartment this morning. Googled a little more info about the area, too, and I am very happy with my decision.
Now I need to help our friend find a hotel nearby...

bosgal

We rented through Spain Select, the Carretas apartment, off of Plaza del Sol

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/spa...6cd27e6;dcid=1

We stayed in the apartment with the blue walls. Immaculately clean but the bedrooms from what I recall had no windows, or if they did, didn't have a nice view but didn't matter as it was in the inner section of the flat so although the street that the apartment is facing out on has some activity, the sounds don't go into the bedrooms. The living room had beautiful floor to ceiling window balconies and was very bright and airy. Before deciding on this apartment, I was concerned if the location was too noisy and touristy but because it was off of Plaza del Sol, it actually wasn't. It was very nice to be able to just go down the street and be in the geographical center of Madrid. The location is so central that we basically just walked EVERYWHERE. The apartment was very close to all the major sights.

kimhe

<Now I need to help our friend find a hotel nearby...>

I use to stay in either Persal or Hotel Plaza Mayor, respectively three and six minutes walking from your Leon apartment. Both are great value at 70-120€ for a double depending on the time of year.
Plaza Mayor: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/plaza-mayor.html
Hostal Persal (hotel standard, private bathroom, tv, AC, safe, 24h desk, wifi, breakfast etc): http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/persalmadrid.html

Persal is my #1 choice, but it's very popular, so the last couple of times I've stayed in perfectly fine Hotel Plaza Mayor.

dodi66

Can't find a way to send a PM to either kimhe, chapla, or BumbleB6....trying to locate the SpainSelect Leon apt with no luck. I'm looking for the perfect apt, also, and that sounds good. Can you give me the name as it is listed on SpainSelect, or the link, please? Thanks so much.

chapla

That's the one!
Enjoy the great apt and location!

kimhe

The same apartment on booking.com: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/spai...apartment.html

dodi66

Thank you, thank you!! In checking the particulars on the Leon apt, I see where there is only 1 bathroom. Since we are traveling with another couple, we would prefer 2 bathrooms so I went back to the SpainSelect site, and found 4 in the Cortes area that may work for us. I can't tell from the map provided, if these are in the desirable area that all of you have mentioned. Sorry, I don't know how to put actual links on this, but the apts are Lope de Vega II and IV, and Santa Ana I and II. Are these in the wonderful area that the Leon apt is? Thanks so much for helping with this!!

chapla

Here I go! Santa Ana 1 & 2 too busy,noisy,people heading to/from Plaza Santa Ana.Definitely not an appealing street.Too many bars...
Now my favorite, the Leon apts!I highly recommended Leon II before but OP said it was out of her budget.Beautiful apt/location-see if you can get this one!
I don't like Leon IV simply for the fact that it is on the ground floor.Not great to see people walking by,peeking in to the apt!
I've mentioned this before but lots of little shops and restaurants,pedestrian streets.Make sure to visit the house of Lope de Vega a minute away.Across the street is a lovely shop selling hand painted silk scarves and stop by the little place next door where they make potato chips every day.There's also a great bakery on C/Leon!You are also across from the convent where Cervantes is supposed to have been buried.

kimhe

Many would find it a luxcury to live right on the Plaza Santa Ana, two minutes walking from the Leon apt. But Chapla is right, there are at least to late night and busy bars/restaurants just outside the Santa Ana I and II apts., legendary flamenco club Villa Rosa from 1911 and Fragua de Vulcano.
http://www.fraguadevulcano.com/
Villa Rosa: https://www.google.no/search?q=villa...2&ved=0CEMQsAQ

Christina

I think the Lope de Vega apts area would be fine, they are only a block away from the Leon one. That street isn't too bad, there are some restaurants and a really good tapas bar on it (Cerverceria restauraante Quevedo). They look very nice but note that one of them is at ground level, people on the street are practically sitting with you.

chapla

Christina-why would you state the street isn't "too bad"?
It's a very short pedestrian street that connects streets Lope de Vega with Cervantes, both lovely pedestrian streets!
I already mentioned that the apt Leon IV is at street level!!!!

ribeirasacra

What about street cleaning and bar deliveries. They also can start early in Spanish cities. And I do not just mean Madrid.

BumbleB6

Yes, dodi66, that's the one! Leon 1, on Calle Leon 14. It's on the third floor.

BumbleB6

And yes, it is only, alas, 1 bathroom.
I would have preferred two, but willing to sacrifice for the price and location. My daughter and I always shower in the evening, anyway, and my husband in the morning - because, we only have 1 bathroom in our tiny house in Chicago-ish, so we're used to it. And it's why we consider it such a nice splurge to rent a place with two.

BumbleB6

kimhe, thank you for the hotel suggestions. However, my friend is looking for something "luxurious". His words, not mine. I am not sure what he means, either, but I did find the Hotel Lope de Vega, just down the street fromthe Leon apt. I also suggested he look into Vincci Soho and Room Mate Alicia, as those will be very close to us.
I noticed the Hostal(es) Fernandez and San Antonio are just across the street, and the Artistic BandB is just around the corner. But he says those look "too basic". He also wants an elevator. Yes, this is why he's getting his own place, and not staying with us, .

Weekender

I just returned from Madrid last week and would recommend the Westin Palace for your friend. Very close to your apartment and should be fancy enough for him. Nice elevators, too.....

www.westinpalace.com