Smartrental Collection Gran Vía Centric — Hotel in Madrid

Absolutely fantastic place to stay in Madrid. From the quick replies via email during the booking and planning stage of our 23 day trip to Spain in September 2022 to enjoying a Flamenco show literally around the corner…. 42 Gran Via Capital checked every box. We rented the huge, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with terrace overlooking Plaza Callao….the view of the square and of the royal palace to the right was spectacular! The room far exceeded our expectations and we were delighted to land here after a long trip. I can’t say enough about the front desk staff…..always so kind and willing to assist. Top notch A1 service. Our room was huge, clean and very comfortable. Conveniently located with a Carrefour market one block away and with access to all forms of public transit, this property is exactly what we need when we travel. I need to make mention of one negative though……..about the surly welcome we received from the rooftop bar staff. We were given two vouchers for a complimentary beverage upon checkin. We ventured up there post Flamenco to enjoy the view and have a glass of wine / tinto de verano. My mum is a young, elegant 73 year old so I suppose we aren’t the target audience. We were snubbed by the waitress, a male supervisor and male bartender who rhymed off the beverages available on the ticket. I wasn’t interested in what was available on the ticket and ordered the drinks we wanted. I was met with a blank stare even after telling him I understand, I realize I have to pay. I left a 5 Euro tip with hope that our drinks would be carried upstairs by the waiter. They weren’t but we managed. I understand Spanish and the bartender flaunted his tip to the waitress all while mocking the complimentary vouchers. It’s why I avoid these establishments as there always tends to be an arrogance with the staff. Being 40 years in hospitality / food and beverage service, this did not go unnoticed. It made for a very uncomfortable and...

A nice and cozy urban hotel with a courteous and very welcoming staff. A few points to note and think about for those planning to stay. First of all, the hotel's location is excellent and right in the center of Gran Via, walking distance from most of the central and most touristic places, and adjacent to an accessible metro station and public transportation. Right nearby you can find a large selection of shops for shopping, fast food and entertainment.

The hotel itself is equipped and furnished in a fairly modern and innovative way, and in addition to the usual elements that you will find in almost every modern hotel, the rooms also have a full kitchen with a refrigerator, freezer, oven, and washing machine, which is a huge advantage for those who need it.

A huge bonus is the hotel's restaurant and bar, which are located on the top floor with a spectacular and breathtaking view, and there is no better way to start the morning or end the day in front of the view from it.

Things to consider: The hotel is located in the heart of the most central street in Madrid, and for those who are bothered by noise and busy city streets, you should consider interior rooms or ones that do not face the main street. In addition, since there are many restaurants in the area, sometimes there are cooking smells (actually not bad smells at all) that penetrate the room.

And one last and most important note. For those of you who book or search through Google or even through the official website, please note that this hotel is part of a chain of hotels, two more of which are located nearby at a certain distance from each other with very similar names, and there are probably incorrect links on Google and sometimes you end up at a different hotel than the one...

English version below.

Отель находится на центральной улице Gran Via, и это его главный плюс. Расположение действительно удобное: рядом достопримечательности, рестораны и активная городская жизнь. Но стоит учитывать, что с этим же связан и главный минус – шум. Наши апартаменты выходили окнами на улицу, и, несмотря на заверения ресепшн о хорошей звукоизоляции, шум был практически круглосуточным. Сирены, крики, движение машин – всё это мешало спать даже при закрытых окнах.

Апартаменты, которые нам предоставили, оказались просторными, но их состояние нас разочаровало. Номер выглядел “уставшим”: царапины на стенах и телевизорах, старая кухонная мебель с плохо закрывающимися и скрипучими ящиками, дверь душевой кабины не прилегала плотно из-за изношенной уплотнительной резинки. Всё это создавало неприятное ощущение, что номеру давно нужен ремонт.

Персонал был вежливым и старался помочь. Нам предложили переселиться на более высокий этаж, где, как обещали, шум был бы меньше. Однако это переселение могло состояться только на следующий день. Проведя одну ночь в этом отеле, мы поняли, что не готовы оставаться здесь на все шесть ночей. Состояние номера и общие условия проживания нас не устраивали. Мы привыкли к другому уровню комфорта, поэтому приняли решение переехать в другой отель.

Важно отметить, что наш тариф был невозвратным, и нас предупредили, что деньги не обязаны возвращать. Тем не менее, персонал пообещал обсудить ситуацию с руководством и рассмотреть возможность частичного возврата. Однако этого не произошло – деньги нам так и не вернули. Мы были готовы пожертвовать этой суммой ради комфорта и покинули отель.

В итоге, по соотношению цена-качество этот отель нас совсем не устроил. Мы не рекомендуем его, особенно если вы ищете тишину, комфорт и свежие, ухоженные номера. Есть куда более удачные варианты, даже в том же районе.

English:

The hotel is located on the central Gran Vía, which is its main advantage. The location is undoubtedly convenient: close to attractions, restaurants, and the bustling city life. However, it’s important to note that this also comes with a major downside – noise. Our apartment faced the main street, and despite the front desk’s assurances about soundproof windows, the noise was overwhelming. Sirens, shouting, and traffic were constant, even with the windows closed. The situation didn’t improve during the day either.

The apartment itself was spacious but left us disappointed due to its condition. It felt worn out: scratches on the walls and TVs, old kitchen furniture with creaky, poorly closing drawers, and a shower door that didn’t seal properly because of a worn-out gasket. These small but numerous issues made the space feel neglected and in need of renovation.

The staff was polite and tried to be accommodating. They offered to move us to a higher floor, where they assured us the noise would be less noticeable. However, the move could only happen the next day. After spending one night at the hotel, we realized we couldn’t stay there for the remaining six nights. The room’s condition and overall living standards didn’t meet our expectations. We’re used to a higher level of comfort, so we decided to check out and move to another hotel.

It’s worth mentioning that we had a non-refundable rate, and we were informed that the hotel wasn’t obligated to refund our payment. Still, the staff promised to discuss the situation with management and explore the possibility of a partial refund. Unfortunately, nothing came of it, and we didn’t get our money back. We were willing to forfeit the payment for the sake of our comfort and left the hotel.

In conclusion, the price-to-quality ratio of this hotel was disappointing. We cannot recommend it, especially if you value quiet, comfort, and well-maintained rooms. There are much better options available, even in...