Excellent airport hotel (Auditorium Madrid Hotel)

Member Name: whatanoldbag

Product:	Auditorium Madrid Hotel
Date:	04/02/08 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Close to airport, clean, good value, great breakfast

Disadvantages: Bit anonymous, so big you get lost, service can be variable, not near city centre

I and various members of my friends and family have stayed here several times as it is within walking distance of my Dad's house and sometimes there are too many people for him to put up.

Location

They run free half hour shuttle buses to the airport which is great. It is only about 5-10 minutes from the main Madrid airport. It is not so easy to get into the centre of Madrid by public transport from there though - you need to take a 10 minute walk to the 77 bus then go to the nearest metro at Canillejas then take the metro to where ever you want to go. This would take an hour or more, say to get to the Prado or Puerta del Sol or similar. A taxi would be about 20 mins though so for most people that's the best bet. They have parking if you have hired a car but they make you pay extra per day.
Near the hotel there is nothing much you can walk to except a few bars and very local menu del dia cafes beloved of local lorry drivers - one three star hotel nearby with a reasonable but overpriced restaurant (nice terrace) and a nice trade in ladies of the night! It is right on the motorway - hence convenient for the airport.

Facilities

It is apparently the largest hotel in Europe and is MASSIVE. So if you want anonymity - perfect!

It has a great great breakfast with loads of lovely fresh fruit etc - continental style so don't expect any black pudding or waffles. As much coffee as you like etc. If you want breakfast in your room you can have it for only 1 euro extra (2006 prices)! Brilliant (though then you can't browse all the fruit and drink 6 cups of coffee whilst reading the newspaper if you do that..... )They serve til 11am.

The decor is amazing - loads of old pianos and antiques, and they have a whole car in the lobby! The hotel bars are not local prices (i.e. not dirt cheap) but on a par with UK drinks prices. They will serve you spirits until you say "when" though, rather than in piddly little UK measures so it's still good value. If you are a night owl be warned though - the hotel bar closes around 2am and there is no 24 access for residents so you might have to resort to your limited minibar.

The rooms themselves - most have massive 6 foot beds and are modern, clean and comfortable if not huge. Certainly good value for the price.
They have some English-speaking desk clerks, and a "won't rip you off" cash machine in the lobby.


To sum up:

* Good, reasonably-priced rooms, clean modern facilities
* good location for airport, less good for city centre
* best if you are not looking to do much on foot around the hotel, and if you hire a car.

Summary: Perfect if you need a reliable airport hotel in Madrid