Barceló Torre de Madrid — Hotel in Madrid

Have you ever wondered how a Magic Trick is done, well stay here and you will instantly learn how a picture tells a thousand lies. And welcome to a modern day con story, sit down this is true Netflix and kill your Holiday/short term stay time.||The chapter opens with warning signs, ignored emails, lots of different people replying with their own replies that have nothing to do with your original question. And stupid gets a new name as you will be feeling stupid after you attempt to speak to them on the phone, their English becomes very poor the minute you ask anything that replies a basic polite question. If you have ever watched a reality show be prepared to come in touch with the worst characters you can imagine multiplied by Infinity. Bearing in mind you will have spent big budget money, the person they send to check you in. Well to describe them as a inarticulate Soap dodging, shower avoiding incompetent individual would be a compliment. Oh warning when you arrive you have to wait in reception for a good half hour even if you tell them when you are leaving the Airport. And don't expect any help with your luggage from the Concierge/Reception/Security. Even with a struggling crying baby, they do a incredible impression of hands over eyes fingers in ears.||When you arrive in your room, it hits you like a bucket of sick in the face you've been conned. Even a basic request like a bed for a 10 week old baby couldn't be met, (they gave us a playpen more suited to a 5 year old) but I distract. You'll be almost threatened with sign this document give us your credit card (even after they've already taken a 1000 Euros off you). And wo betide you utter any what exactly are you playing at, they'll connect you to somebody who has clearly watched too many episodes of Narcos mixed in with watching Judge Judy on youtube clips. Who literally I kid you not started threatening us at 23.00 at night with Court and calling the police, because we refused to sign and hand over more money. I implore you if you are even thinking about staying here, don't. I promise you a sewer rat would treat you better. They'll sell you it's got a good view, shout at you...yes shout at you..."Stupid you you should look at the pictures" Again you almost think it's a bad scene from a Tele Nova but it's worse than that. This place is the equivalent of somebody who would shoot the wounded in the war...totally unprofessional, uncaring money grabbing, shambolic and despicable behavior. Employing those who decided respect, intelligence and education are not for them. And have zero pride in their job and also clearly don't love their country. Why would you treat people who've come to enjoy all that Spain and Madrid have so badly.....they truly deserve never to have another...

We were very excited to stay at the well reviewed Barceló Torre de Madrid - a hotel toting five stars. However our experience of Barceló did not line up with a five star hotel. In fact, by comparison, many of the four star hotels in Spain surpassed Barceló both in terms of service and quality. Meanwhile, five star hotels in Spain were well maintained and displayed an overall higher standard of care.

Although well appointed, the hotel is showing signs of wear and tear. Stains on toilet seats and blackout drapes with tears hardly qualify at a five-star level. But what disturbed us the most was the smell as well as the manner in which hotel staff approached the issue.

We were initially placed on the fifth floor which required an elevator to the second floor and then a switch in elevator to access the fifth floor. The second floor air was heavy with floral perfume. By contrast, the fifth floor smelt like sulphur (a mix of egg and feces).

A sign on the fifth floor advertised minor construction was underway and so we attributed the smell to those repairs. However, I felt obliged to bring it to the hotel's attention. In my opinion, the floor should have been closed and guests accomodated on other levels. The customer service that followed was truly shocking. I was told that the hotel staff could not smell anything (a sheer impossibility given the stench was overwhelmingly strong). The staff said they would not entertain anything to the contrary and preferred, instead, to resolve the issue with a room change. Certainly that might resolve the issue for me, but not other guests.

Ultimately, since we were only in Madrid for one night, I did not really want to change rooms. Moreover, instead of a band-aid approach, I would have preferred the hotel acknowledge the issue and address the root cause. In the end, we changed rooms which resulted in an upgrade featuring a balcony on the seventh floor. I suppose I ought to be grateful?

In the morning, however, the same smell was present in the hallway. This leads me to believe there is a more serious underlying issue affecting the main corridors of the building. Coincidentally, the second floor which operates as a central hub for the buffet breakfast and reception area seems to have elected to implement their own band-aid solution - masking the smell with an alarming amount of perfume. At any rate, the hotel needs to take some definitive strides to...

Ok so there are good point and bad points. I visited for 6 days with my son age 7. We stepped out of the cab and immediately the doorman helped us with our luggage. There is a bar and reception downstairs. The reception checked us in. She explained something about the elevator which I did not understand but how difficult must it be? We went upstairs without our luggage. Elevator had two floors only. Upstairs on the second floor there was another reception. I suppose we don’t need to check in again. There are other elevators here going up to 9th floor. So you have to take two elevators to reach the rooms. Once upstairs the doorman was already there (secret elevator that does go up in one go!).

Room was ok. Definitely Not 5 star. socket almost came out of its place bathroom floor here and there loose however most importantly the toilet stopped flushing after two days. However was fixed within half a day airconditioning was awesome screenmirroring tv does not work. A friendly guy was sent up to help and explained the tv is old. Near the desk there is a hdmi socket to plug your laptop so bring your hdmi cable if you dont like to watch spanish tv all day

The pool hours are from 11-14:00and 16-20:00 Which is ridiculous as the pool is small and you need to make reservation for an hour. By the way nobody tells you this so you have to enquire. why not open from 7 to 23? And special kids hours available? why they have so limited hours no one knows Another riddle: one swimmingpool guard is chill and relax and let kids be kids also never telling you to leave and the other one walks around with a stick up and looking angry and telling kids this is a relaxing pool and they should stop playing while there are mostly kids there. Also telling us to leave 59minutes after reservation while no one else has come in. Riddle riddle and definitely not 5 stars.

breakfast was fine. It says the best breakfast of your life… that wasnt the case but not bad

Carlos at the desk (second desk) is such a friendly and helpful guy. Makes you feel at home. He was really 5 stars.

Hotel location is excellent

turn down service...