Get a Madrid Card if you go on the Metro. It is very handy if you are visiting as a tourist!!!!read more

This was my first stay at the Avani Alonso Martinez hotel. It is part of the Minor hotel group,…read morewhich is why I selected it. The hotel is quirky, with local artists featured on the walls of the lobby and many photo-ready spots. There is a small elevator, or a gorgeous spiral staircase. My room was lovely and quite large, with a fantastic bathroom. There was a desk, small sitting area, and there is a safe in the closet. The hotel is walking distance to Gran Via, Salamanca, Retiro Park...just a fantastic location. There is also a metro stop just outside of the hotel door. The staff was friendly, helpful and available to answer questions. I will absolutely be back to enjoy this hotel!

very beautiful terrace with stunning panoramic views. a must visit in madrid. very busy so make…read morereservations early.

My mom and I did their 4:00 PM E-bike tour this past week. It was a great experience and our guide…read morewas excellent! I would recommend doing this tour on your first day/afternoon in Madrid so you can get acclimated to the city and see some of the main sites. Our guide, Fran, was knowledgeable, personable, and animated. The background he provided at each of the sites was interesting and helped us learn more about Madrid and Spanish history. He also had great tips and recommendations for where to go in Madrid. The tour was about 10-15 people I'd say. It was a good size to command enough attention to safely drive on the road in a lane but have everyone stay together. They provided a water bottle, helmet, bike. Fran even took us to a special "surprise stop" at the end (churros!). With the E-bike, you could adjust the assistance and you still pedaled to make the assist go, but it was a good choice to have some assist as there are hills and you don't want to worry about having to keep up on going when you're driving in a lane on the road. The shop also has bikes, roller blades, and skate/penny boards for rent.

Best way to spend 2 hours at Parque De El Retiro. The park is rather large but flat so exploring…read moreby bike is not only fun but makes for a fun way to see the park. Rental was quick and easy, you have to leave your ID and 2 hours was about $7.50 euros per person. We easily explored the parque in 1 hour with time for photos and admiring the beauty it offers. Definitely recommend!

I ended up in the train station a few times and wowwww is this station massive! I mean, I should…read morehave expected it, seeing as how it's in a major city, but it's even bigger than you expect, especially when it's 6 am and you're trying to find a train. Everyone who worked here that I encountered was super nice and helpful if I asked for directions. The bathrooms were really clean too, you have to pay 1€ to use them so have change or your credit card ready. Also if you're American, prepare to go through security. I hadn't seen that before and for a moment worried I was in the wrong place instead of the train station, but nope, they just take precautions here.

The building is currently under construction and definitely hard to navigate if you don't speak…read moreSpanish. Part of the issue is that there are multiple train companies and they are not easily identified. We waited in line 3 times.. and each one was the wrong one. But 4th time was the charm.

this is the strip of pavement/sidewalk that runs the length of the prado museum and botanical…read moregardens. it's a great place to people watch, take in a few minutes of a street performer, shop for souvenirs, or go for a run. hubby and i actually did all four when we were touring madrid. keep in mind that this area is very, very busy and populated so you need to keep your eyes and your hands on your personal belongings at all times else you will be pick-pocketed. if you enjoy walking, then this is a "can't miss" item for your list of things to do!

Nothing too big or crazy but nice to learn about Spanish culture, appreciate the monument and the…read morefountain as well. Madrid has many plazas and each has a different figure or statue with a story behind it. This is another one worth a stop and learn!

A comfortable 4 star hotel in a mostly residential area of central Madrid. The Sainz de Baranda…read moreMetro station is just 5 minutes away and offers step free access to the street via an elevator- handy if you're bringing luggage along. All the main sights of Madrid such as royal palaces, government buildings and shops are within a 10 minute Metro ride or a half hour walk away. The rooms are beautifully appointed with a comfortable bed and spacious wardrobe. Lots of lighting options to the point that turning them all off at night can be a bit of a quest. Free water is provided in the fridge. There are spare pillows already provided in the wardrobe. Free wifi is there but a bit clunky to use. I managed to connect my iPhone ok but my iPad was having none of it. It also seemed to require connection for a few minutes before the speed reached a useable level. Reception staff were courteous and spoke perfect English. Breakfast was offered at €10 when booked the day before or €12 on the day which I declined as I picked something up in downtown Madrid for less than half that. For what I paid, the hotel was a bargain and felt quite luxurious. Booked 2 months in advance I paid GBP £39, and I'll be getting £5 of that back from quidco! Would I stay again, at those prices for a 4 star hotel in a central location in a capital city- most definitely!

I chose this hotel because of the location; and also because the pictures looked nice ;)…read more- easy accessible from the airport, - 2 minutes walking to the metro (the metro in Madrid is one of the largest in Europe and very user-friendly) - 10 minutes walking to the beautiful Retiro Park - A bank across the street - outside the center so cheaper than other ****Hotels The environment is fairly quiet, except the main road next to it, is noisy during rush hour. The biggest disadvantage for us, was that the windows are locked, and you have to ask the receptionist to open them. When they are open, you cannot close them anymore (at night for the noise..) So it's either open or closed.. I don't now if its like this in every other room..? The people are very friendly, the service is good. We did not take the breakfast because we prefer to have breakfast in the city, but the bar in the hotel is good, great coffee. We enjoyed our stay in the Ayre.