Hostal Casa Chueca — Hotel in Madrid

To give a review of Casa Chueca as a guest I would need to explain that it was the last lodging–the 33rd to be exact– after a 40 day challenging Camino DeSantiago and I wanted to spend 4 days in Madrid before returning to my country. I would also have to explain that my plan to do the Camino was all about the beginning and doing it–could i do it?–and I didn’t have a plan for after I did ie how to complete my trip and get home. As a result I found myself exhausted on a train to Madrid trying to find a place where I could stay for four days beginning on a Saturday night. After many phone call inquiries all I had was a good understanding of what it means when they say the word “completa”–complete, full, nothing available.||So when my last phone call was answered and after I explain my problem to the person on the other end of the phone and he says, “I am full for tonight but I’m going to find you a place to stay and you can come stay here tomorrow night for the balance of your trip.” My being felt a relief like the fresh cool breeze on that hot sweaty afternoon. ||So this is how I base my review of Casa Chueca. It all starts with the host and that is Mario and after 12 years working for somebody else he now runs a wonderful boutique hostel that I would give an A+. It is safe. It is clean. It is comfortable. It has amenities that made a difference to me – a small refrigerator, a hot water pot with herbal and caffeinated choices, a spotless toilet and shower room, an innovative use of hardware to dry washables, enough plastic hangers to dry them, a help yourself cabinet, a good quality of air and a simple pleasant unimposing decorative style that felt more like ‘casa’ then corporate. I did not know Chueca and came to discover it is like the West Village used to be in NYC —with great finds. The only open 24 hr Church (St Anton) in Madrid is nearby as is the best tortilla I had in Spain at El Bujo and arguably the best natural food store–Casa Terra.||As I discovered, the centrality of Casa Chueca’s location is excellent. I could go to the Prado and the other museums with a 15 minute walk and when I left it was a 25 minute taxi to the airport. Comments made by others in review are noteworthy: It is true that finding the front door of the building was puzzling until i realized there was a sign that was above me–higher than most–“ultreia” i say to pilgrim visitors. There is not an elevator. For me and my 30 pound backpack it was just one more hill on the Camino. And as for the snarky remark that the owner does not live in Casa Chueca, I would say, ‘I didn’t know this until i needed towels and with a call and five minutes time, I had them. As for any comment about noise I can only ask ‘have you lived in a city before?’ and ‘have you spent any time in old parts of European cities?’ If you have then you know the routine and that the deep narrow canyon calles echo all sounds of life.|I would end this review as I started by highlighting the person responsible for Casa Chueca–Mario. He is the person who steamed the scallop shell decal identifying me as completing the Camino pilgrimage onto my backpack. Muchas Gracias!||I give you the best compliment for innkeepers, ‘I look forward to seeinf you and staying at Casa Chueca on my next trip to...

I stayed at this hostel with a friend for five days. The hostel occupies one half of a building on the second floor, and as such, we missed the entrance and walked by it . So, look up for the sign when you get near the building.||||Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Mario, owner of the hostel. We were shown to our room, which featured a queen size bed and a separate bunk bed. The bathroom was within our room. The room was clean, and featured a flat screen TV, a dresser, a small fridge, an electric kettle, a rack with hangers, and an AC unit. The bathroom featured double sinks, a toilet and a shower stall. Towels, shampoo and body wash were supplied.||||Once we settled into our room, we asked Mario for advice on local attractions, and he was a wealth of knowledge. In fact, he booked a flamenco show for us to attend.||||The location was excellent, as there were restaurants, shops, bars and pubs within a block of the hostel. It was also close to the Cheuca Metro Station, and we did not actually take any transit, as many of the attractions were within walking distance.||||The hostel became our sanctuary for our naps during the warm afternoons, and our room was quite, allowing us to have restful sleeps after drinks and dancing at night. In fact, it felt more like a hotel, as the room was cleaned and new towels were provided each day.||||I would highly recommend this hostel and would...

Just got back from 10 day trip. First trip to Spain. First time staying in a hostal. Mario made the stay exceptional. I felt like I was someone's guest and not like a source of income. Mario's suggestions of clubs and sites were perfect. It is NOT a hotel. Mario (when not cleaning) was in his tiny office at the entrance for most of the hours of the day and could be contacted by phone at any time. I was able to print my return boarding pass (for a fee). I did a little bit of laundry in my sink and hung the items on a clothes line above a small open air courtyard/air-vent in the center of the building. Yes, one could find minor details to pick to death, but all the 7 rooms I saw (Mario gave me a tour) were clean and designed with care. My room was small with a weirdly situated toilet. I had air conditioning. The room was cleaned each day and the sheets changed twice during my stay. My buttocks are a tiny bit sore from climbing the 40ish steps several times a day. I felt safe. I would go back in an instant. And I saved a little...