What area of Madrid is the most ideal hotel location? We are a group of seven, with four twenty-somethings looking to do some bar hopping plus three parents who will sightsee. For part of the group it is their first trip abroad, for the rest it is the first trip to Madrid.

The Salamananca district is quite nice: great up-scale shopping, wide, picturesque boulevards and close to the tourist sites like the Prado.

If everyone wants to be right in the thick of things and with lots of other tourists, I have read many good things on this board about the Intur Palacio San Martin.

For specific hotel suggestions check out Maribel's Madrid guide at:
http://www.maribelsguides.com

You might add to this post some idea of the price range you are seeking.

- Sharon

We are trying to aim for the $100 to $125 a night range. Area and hotel quality are important as it will be my sister's first trip abroad.

One place I have been looking into is Tryp Ambassador. Any feedback on this hotel?

What do you mean by Quality? At $100-$125 in season I hope your not expecting too much.When are you going?

We will be in Madrid August 6 to 10.

We are in our early 30's and we recently stayed at Hostal Macarena right next to Plaza Mayor. I really liked the hotel and location because it wasn't as busy as Puerta del Sol, but it was within 5 mins. walking distance of it. We paid about 60E + 7% VAT. I would recommend this hotel. Although it might be too subdued for 4 twenty-somethings.

Puerta del Sol is definitely the happening part of Madrid (lots of stores, restaurants, and bars), but I don't know if it'll be too noisy for the parents. Gran Via has many hotels and shopping areas too, but once again it might be too busy.

But whatever area you decide on, Madrid has such a good Metro system that everything is just a couple of subway stops away.

P.S. You might want to ask this question at www.madridman.com. I've gotten lots of suggestions from that website.

I just got back from Madrid, and we stayed in two hotels on the Gran Via while there.

I can suggest the Hotel Senator Gran Via, we thought it was fantastic. 4 star hotel but trying hard to get another. I think the only thing holding it back from 5 stars is the 3 or 4 star room size.

Gran Via metro stop is literally outside the door, beautiful building inside and out, a bar with some certainly reasonably priced tapas and a rooftop swimming pool, which in August would be quite nice during Madrid's afternoon break. We enjoyed our afternoon swims.

Our room faced Gran Via(after we asked for one) and the soundproof windows blocked out all but the very loudest noises. Certainly didn't bother our sleep.

I had also researched the Tryp Ambassador before Madrid and my findings were that the hotel is two parts, the palace and the newer section. And peoples opinions of the hotel was also of two very different views. Perhaps, one needs a palace room there?!

After talking with the other paying parties in the group, they want to stay in the $100 to $115 range (that is US dollars, not Euros.) The Senator Gran Via looks great, but unfortunately runs $150 for a double. I want to be close to the action for the partying part of the group, upscale enough to suit my first time abroad sister. A Maribel choice I have considered is Hotel Campomanes. Anyone stayed there before? Anybody know if they have triples?

yes, I went back to the Senator Gran Via website and see now that it is a little bit higher than your budget.

Our rate there last week was less than what they are quoting for August, quite surprising as I believe that August is mid-low season in Spain.

I also recall now the reason we did stay in 2 hotels in Madrid was because the Senator Gran Via's rates went up 25 euros for our Monday night(which put it out of our budget range).

Sorry about that!!

We were very pleased with our recent stay at teh Best Western Carlos V. The location is great, minutes from Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Bus and metro is nearby. Madrid is a fairly compact city in general, we were able to walk almost everywhere.

I recently stayed at the Intur Palacio SM and it was lovely, but too expensive for this request. I personally consider the Gran Via much much less desirable an area than either Plaza Mayor or Puerta del Sol. It's close and centrally located, so getting around is no problem, it's just not nearly as nice in many ways.

I would suggest you try the Hotel Plaza Mayor which is a great location (near that, of course) and definitely in your budget at 70-80 euro for a double. I just read a good article about it in some travel section. I really would not expect upscale at that budget, your sister will have to understand that. You wouldn't get an upscale hotel for $100 in any major US city.

http://www.h-plazamayor.com/index.english.html

If a Maribel choice listed seems to suit everyone and your budget, I'd jump at it. Here is what one Fodorite had to say (Stayed there in March.)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34480156

By the way did you see their August special of 70E for a double? http://www.hhcampomanes.com/ I noticed on their website that they have mini-suites, you might e-mail them and ask if the mini-suite could be used for triple accommodations. email address is [email protected]

I sent Campomanes an e-mail this morning and am waiting for a reply on the triple option. Got a price of 70 Euros for Plaza Mayor on their website, which seems to get consistently good reviews.

We stayed at the Hotel Plaza Mayor, it was a great place for the price. The location was perfect (1/2 block from Plaza Mayor), the rooms were clean, and the staff was quite helpful. The only slight drawback was the matresses, which were new, but a little skimply.

We stayed at Hotel Europa in Puerta del Sol last year. Very reasonable. Around 100E from what I remember. Nothing fancy, just the basics. Large bathroom. We had a room that faced the courtyard so we were not bothered by the noise outside. Their website is www.hoteleuropa.net.

Looks like my choices are Plaza Mayor at 70 Euros for a double (no triples available at this time) or Campomanes for 87 Euros for a double with a triple available for an extra 31 Euros. Which of those two is the best choice?

The Hotel Opera is also an option at 89 Euros for a double and 120 for a triple. Decisions, decisions!

Some family members stayed at the Hotel Opera a few years ago and enjoyed it. If you really want to be in the middle of the bar scene, try the Tryp Reina Victoria in the Plaza Santa Ana. I've never stayed there, but it seems pretty good and is certainly in the heart of the nightlife district.

August will be scorchingly hot in Madrid, so make sure wherever you stay has decent air conditioning.

You may also want to see what is available via bancotel vouchers (www.bancotel.com), as you might be able to get the Reina Victoria or a comparable place for 1 or 2 vouchers (50 or 100 Euro) during this period.

good luck.

I stayed at Hotel Asturias a few years ago- don't remember it being over $100 US. I loved the location- right by Sol metro. It's listed at 2-star, but I thought it was quite nice.