Has anyone used an internet co-Expedia, etc. for booking hotels ?? TU

Stevel:

The Prado is a good walk from the Wellington, longer if it's a hot day. But a cab is maybe 4 Euros and it takes you to the front door. For the money you save, the Wellington is a better value with cabs included. Nice staff, small rooms located in a quieter, upscale neighborhood.

I think Westin Palace's location is worth the extra money. You won't have to take taxis anywhere (except, maybe if you want to visit the local clubs at night). Prado is right next door and so is Reina Victoria.

Well, I don't know what all we happy people have done for SteveL.. do know you have helped us make up our minds.. we are going back to the Palace!! It was marvellous when we stayed there and the money we would save at a different one doesn't mean enough to count (I buy lottery tickets, also!!).. La Barraca is one of our most favorite restaurants - Excellent Paella, good service, reasonable prices..

Skaye and SteveL,

I have booked hotels through Expedia a couple times without a problem. Make sure you read the cancelation deadline and policy.

Both the Orfila and the Adler are about a 15 or 20 minute walk from the Prado.
I like the Adlers location better, very nice upscale neighbourhood with lots of good shopping and dining nearby. This is the Barrio de Salamanca that Maribel used to live in and always raves about.

Actually, this has been a great help and I appreciate it. I was close to picking the Villa Real, mostly because it seemed like a great hotel and, although very different from the Palace, just as good quality for a bit less money. But, now I'm giving very serious thought to the Orfila and Adler. They sound extremely nice. I'll post our decision when we've decided (soon, I hope). I haven't ruled out the Palace either.

Olga: Thank you very much.. will book through Expedia since they have the Continental flights which are convenient for us (Phoenix, AZ).. and the Palace.. the prices they quote are excellent.. better than going to the airline and the hotel direct. Any restaurants?? After all, we cannot eat at La Barraca every night?? Or can we?? Thanks again for letting me get in on Steve's question..

We decided on Villa Real. I'll post again when I get back (trip is in October).

Thanks for all the help!

If you have Starwood points, you may be able to stay atThe Westin Palace for 50% off the rack rate. That is what we are doing in October. It's a good deal for a 5-star hotel - even though there is a Planet Hollywood nearby.

Hi We stayed at the Palace for 4 nights July 13-17. We had a lovely huge well decorated and comfortable room overlooking the Neptune fountains-gorgeous. The Rotunda where you dine is not be missed. The location of this hotel is excellent as you can walk every where the Prado is across the street, as is the Ritz and the Thyssen is next door. The park near th
Villa Real is undergoing ronovation and homeless men sleep in cartons there. Old Madrid is a 5 minute walk and is El Retiro Park We are very serios sight seers and fond that this hotel suited us just fine

Strange. Villa Real and the Palace are right next to each other, so if there is a park next door to Villa Real it is next door to the Palace as well. Also, if the Palace is convenient to something, then so is Villa Real.

Just returned and we were quite happy with Villa Real. Perfect location; helpful, friendly staff; and nice room. Relatively quiet with nice view of the Plaza de la Cortes. I would stay there again.

Just returned from The Palace and were very happy. We had a beautiful room overlooking the Neptune Fountain. The lobby of great. Prices very high for breakfast and room service so we wound up having coffee at the Starbucks around the corner from the hotel.

The Villa Real certainly was just as convenient and looked lovely.

Madrid was much grander than I had expected. A very pleasant city which I hope to return to.

Hi DMG,
we are holding at the Palace for midNovember; appreciated your notes.
Did you find any "specials" when booking, other than the Starwood 50% off rack rates? Thanks for sharing.

Sorry but I know of any other specials at The Palace. You may want to check the Starwood website since they "guarantee" the lowest rates.

SteveL: We stayed at the Palace - booked everything through Expedia (thank you another poster) it turned out very well.. exactly as they promised.. it's funny if you read back on the "pans" about Starbucks and Planet Hollywood.. I "screwed" up and didn't have the wonderful buffet breakfast included (which is expensive if it isn't). We trotted down to Starbucks (mostly me trotting since it was my error!) for coffee/tea and croissants!! Plus another day it was bucketing down with rain so we umbrella-ed up and ran round the corner to Planet Hollywood!! It was different to say the least (we are both mature++!) but at least we didn't get too wet.

I'm sorry that I neglected to mention how great Spain was!

First though, I understand that you can get great rates at the Palace via www.bancotel.com. Not all days are always avaialble at their rates (you buy coupons and then redeem them at the hotel), but their web site is very clear on what is and isn't available. We did walk through the Palace and we thought it was lovely. Definitely more bustling than the Villa Real, but we were happy without the bustle. Both, along with the Ritz, are in what I would consider the numero uno primo location (was that Spanish or Italian?).

Madrid is a beautiful, fun, and safe city. Although large, it is very, very friendly. I did not run into anybody who was not willing to communicate despite occasional language barriers (about half the time, it seemed, people spoke English). My wife knows Spanish quite well, but still preferred me to talk to cab drivers, etc. (I have no idea why) and most of them spoke very little English, but we communicated just fine.

There is so much to see and do in and near Madrid. Highlights for us were the Prado and Reina Sofia museums, Retiro Park, and a side-trip to Toledo (my favorite day).

I'm a Starbucks person here in the states, but in Europe I enjoy trying other coffee places (cafe cortado is uniquely Spanish and really grew on me). Also, cerveza is a really useful word and can pretty much carry you anyplace.

Note, however, that I'm both an adventurous eater and I have a Master's in Zoology with an emphasis in invertebrate zoology and there were items for sale in the grocery store that I could not place taxonomically! More than any country I've been to thus far in Europe, the food in Spain was the most foreign. It's excellent, but you do need to be adventurous.

I have one extremely strong food recommendation, however. In a word, olives! The olives in Spain defy description; they are so incredibly good and there is such fantastic variety.