Madrid has some of the best hotel accommodations in all of Spain. The capital city, Madrid, has many hotels with standard rooms that you could book. However, with so many luxury rooms in boutique hotels, any vacation in the city could become something extra special. What's more, given how upmarket the area in and around the city center can be, boutique hotel rooms often come in at affordable prices. Of course, price isn't everything when booking a vacation, but it is good to know you can enjoy some luxury and one-off design touches in a boutique hotel without breaking the bank. With a delightful location to stay in a property offering more than a standard hotel, why not consider a boutique hotel room when you book? After all, many of the hotels offer excellent customer service and have a high star rating.
Although prices vary depending on the size of the room you want to book for your stay in Madrid, boutique hotels in the city tend to have something in common. Firstly, your room will be individually decorated, perhaps with a one-of-a-kind layout or original art on the walls. Check for unique touches, such as whether your room will have its own balcony or private terrace. Again, many of the boutique luxury hotels in Madrid have spa facilities that guests can use. Sometimes, prices for spas are included within the price of the room but they can be separate so check this before making a booking if a spa is important to you. Although most rooms in Spain will offer a mini bar in the room from which you can take drinks, which will be charged after the contents have been checked, boutique hotels tend to offer something more. Typically, you can expect a cocktail bar or a tapas bar on the grounds of the property that is available to guests and non-guests alike. This means you'll often enjoy a lively atmosphere just meters from your room that you can escape from at any time you like.
Whichever location on the Madrid map you choose, you won't be far from the Metro system, so you'll be all set to explore every area in the city from your chosen base. Prices for the Metro are inexpensive and it's the ideal way for tourists to move quickly from one location to the next on the map. Salamanca is one area worth considering. It is known for luxury hotels that were built in the 19th century, each offering charming rooms with their own design style. Indeed, the Salamanca district is also associated with upmarket restaurant food, international cuisine, and high-end fashion outlets. There again, Chamberi is a more residential location, where you'll see more of the 'real Madrid.' In Chamberi, the Sorolla Museum and Art Gallery is located in a wonderful 19th-century property. The Retiro area is close to the city center, and hotels here will be only a few meters' walk from the world-famous del Prado art museum. There are plenty of parks to enjoy in this location, too. Just north of the city's central area, between the Palacio Real de Madrid - or Royal Palace - and the Museo Nacional del Prado, is the Justicia district. Here, there are some boutique hotels that enjoy a five-star rating, such as the Urso. Although the Urso isn't the only hotel with a top rating in Justicia, it is noted for one of the best spa facilities in Madrid. Visiting the Urso for its spa even if you don't stay in one of its rooms could be a good idea if you're in this part of the city. Note that any boutique hotel within a few meters of Calle Gran Via is likely to offer luxury. The Gran Via is the main shopping street in Madrid. It passes close to Plaza Mayor and other open spaces, such as Plaza de Espana. Just walking up and down the Gran Via and visiting every plaza en route can be a good way to explore Madrid on foot.
Whenever you are free to travel is usually the best time to set your dates for a boutique hotel break anywhere in the world, including the city of Madrid. That said, Madrid hotel room prices can be a bit more affordable in summer when it is hottest and many locals leave the city. Try to avoid national holidays when booking rates inevitably go up and hotels tend to put their prices up somewhat.
Hotel room prices in Madrid don't just reflect the star rating of the hotel but where on the map the accommodation is and whether certain facilities are thrown in for free within the price of the room or not. For example, not every hotel in Madrid will have its own private pool. If the hotel you're considering booking has a pool, check how many meters it is since some can be quite small. That said, most of the best boutique hotels - certainly ones with spa facilities - will at least have a Jacuzzi pool even if there isn't a swimming pool. In addition, most well-proportioned hotel rooms in Madrid will provide some sort of view. However, this is well worth checking before you travel because cityscape views aren't always on offer. Rooms set at lower prices may have a restricted view or overlook a courtyard. If views are important to you but you want to keep prices down, then see whether the property has a rooftop terrace or bar you'll be able to take in the sights without the need for a private balcony. Finally, consider whether the hotel prices you have been quoted include access to the hotel restaurant. Some boutique accommodations include only self-service breakfast, but other hotels offer fine dining in their restaurant. If your preferred hotel doesn't have an evening restaurant service, you would be well advised to check how many meters it is from your hotel to a suitable restaurant.