Room Cibeles

“SO underrated!!! What a bargain!!!”

What a shame that this place did not have more reviews. In itself, the place is not exactly "excellent." If you factor in the location, the cost, and the amenities, however, this is an A+ choice for families. We arrived at these apartments after staying in hotels for about two weeks. That's when... more

What a shame that this place did not have more reviews. In itself, the place is not exactly "excellent." If you factor in the location, the cost, and the amenities, however, this is an A+ choice for families. We arrived at these apartments after staying in hotels for about two weeks. That's when we really figured out how much we appreciated: 1) the tub in the bathroom. Really works for entertaining our toddler who was hot and sweaty from all the sightseeing. This became an attraction unto itself!!! 2) Plenty of hot water that stayed an even temperature. Ah. 3) Good pots and pans, even if there were only 4 of them, it was enough. 4) Wow! What a location!!! The block opened up to the side streets off Plaza del Sol (when we first got there, we walked down the main street to the Plaza, but we figured out this was the long way. Walk down Jardines). Down toward Gran Via (about 2 city blocks away) was a great Supermarket (DIA). Thank you!!! 5) tons of great restaurants nearby. train station about 1 city block away. Great inexpensive diner (VIPS) and a Starbucks on the corner. 6) There was parking on the corner that I don't think would have worked long-term, but was just perfect for unpacking our bags. 7) a room at the back of the building...so quiet. Is this Madrid? 8) a lift. 9) comfy bed. Really. Shocking, I know. I think it was a queen. And there was a fold-out futon in the living room that doubled as another bed for watching TV! 10) Did I mention so cheap? So cheap. No additional cleaning fees, taxes, etc. We booked on booking dot com. 11) the minuses: naked bulb in the bathroom, but I didn't notice until day 3. It doesn't feel like a naked bulb, and then there are those framing the bathroom mirror. 12) towels were fine. Not thick, not thin. 13) another tip: it has one of those double-sided locks. We didn't know leaving the key stuck on the inside of the door would make it impossible to open from the outside the door. You're responsible for the locksmith fee. I really wish we had known this before...but maybe it's a European thing. 14) We loved the washer, but no dryer :( 15) that A/c is kicking!!! You could have worn a coat inside if you wanted it that cold! 16) It had those metal blinds on the outside of the window...perfect for blocking sunlight. 17) The cleanliness of the apartment when we arrived was adequate. There was some trash left behind in the bin under the sink. 18) Plenty of storage everywhere. 19) The person who met us to give us the keys doesn't live there, but when we called after we locked ourselves out, he showed up about 20-25 minutes later. We felt he was responsive to our needs, but I wish he had told us more about what we needed to know (like the lock). 20) for some reason, our ipod could get the wifi signal but the phone and the tablet could not. My husband said it has something to do with the router being outdated because it was working on DSL. On the ipod, I felt the signal was strong and could surf quickly for what I needed. I would have totally been fine with this place as a long-term option.

less

“Live like a temporary European”

I saw some complaints in earlier reviews, and reserved judgement, and was glad I did. No, it is not a being-catered-to five-star hotel experience. It is a livable, tidy, and very conveniently located short-term rental apartment. It has a/c and and a clothes washer and a full kitchen with utens... more

I saw some complaints in earlier reviews, and reserved judgement, and was glad I did. No, it is not a being-catered-to five-star hotel experience. It is a livable, tidy, and very conveniently located short-term rental apartment. It has a/c and and a clothes washer and a full kitchen with utensils. There's a tiny grocery up the street and a bakery on the corner and a pharmacy on the ground floor. The turn into Calle Jardines has a "do not enter" sign, but I was told that it is OK to do so in order to go specifically to the parking deck area a half block up Jardines from the entrance. There is no front desk. It is an apartment, it feels like home, just remember to call the owner in advance (i.e, from the airport or train station) and he will meet you there at an agreed time to hand over the keys and check you in. Leaving, just leave the keys inside and go. Simple. Don't just turn up unannounced or you will wait. Entrance is immediately to the right of the farmacia. There is a small lift. I plan to stay here again on my next trip to Madrid... the apartments are compact but comfy. A few dings around the edges, not pristine, just like any other apartment. Live like a native, temporarily...

less