Madrid accomodations

[jimb01930]

Greetings from Gloucester, Massachusetts!
We will be flying out of Madrid on Oct 20. We are looking for recommendation on where to stay the night of Oct 19. we are getting a lot of messages that hotels are fully booked.
Any suggestions as to where to stay in Madrid will be appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[trecile]

I stayed at Clement Barajas near the airport a couple of years ago. They had a free shuttle to the airport, and the room was very nice. They have availability on Booking.com. There are quite a few hotels available near the airport.

 

[KinkyOne]

Greetings from Gloucester, Massachusetts!
We will be flying out of Madrid on Oct 20. We are looking for recommendation on where to stay the night of Oct 19. we are getting a lot of messages that hotels are fully booked.
Any suggestions as to where to stay in Madrid will be appreciated.
Thank you!

Hi, Jim,

You didn't specify what exactly you are looking for and the budget range but there are plenty of possible options at the moment on Booking.
I would also advise to find something near the main metro/cercanias/bus knots and stations for easy access and ride to the airport especially if your flight is early in the morning.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Tryp Madrid Alameda. Near the airport with shuttle available.
Avenida de Logroño, 100, Madrid, 28042. Check Booking.com

 

[jimb01930]

I am getting a couple of places where Booking.com states they are full but others have encouraged me to contact the hotel directly. When I do, the hotel wants me to wire them money. I am uncomfortable with this. Why have a listing full on booking.com then ask for direct bank payment?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Probably because Booking.com takes care of the payments and requires cancellations to be made in a timely fashion — or you have your credit card charged — so the hotel isn’t stuck with a no show.

 

[peregrina2000]

I am getting a couple of places where Booking.com states they are full but others have encouraged me to contact the hotel directly. When I do, the hotel wants me to wire them money. I am uncomfortable with this. Why have a listing full on booking.com then ask for direct bank payment?

Hi, jimbo,
I don't know if this is your question, but it sounds like you may be wondering if the hotel is going to take your money and then when you show up, they will tell you it is full. But that shouldn't be a concern -- booking.com or any other internet site only has the power to book a few of a hotel's rooms, so that the majority are left with the hotel itself. Since this doesn't sound like a booking you will want to change, I don't think there is much risk in providing payment. For me the bigger problem is the huge charge that most US banks put on electronic transfers. If you have a bank that doesn't charge you, I'd love to know about it! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Deleted member 3000]

the hotel wants me to wire them money.

That is easy for Spaniards, but nearly impossible for non-Europeans. U.S. banks in particular are not set up to easily transfer funds. Wired funds are gone; there is no recourse as with a credit card regardless of circumstances. I have cancelled a few booking.com reservations during the free cancellation period, but still be charged. Booking.com has always had them reversed. After the grace period, I might as well have wired the money!!

 

[Tincatinker]

Would have thought that the odds on NOT finding a bed in Madrid on any given night are zero. Hotel occupancy outside of a few specific events like Royal weddings, funerals and the Oktoberfest are sub 60% in most places and around 80% in London, Tokyo and Honolulu. The crunch comes with the booking sites that are only allocated a limited number of rooms by the major chains. In any capital city its usually best to use the chains own websites rather than someone who is going to want their 10%. Or wait until a few days before you need that bed and see how the panic sale is going. The chains release rooms to booking sites only when they haven't sold them at walk-up rate.

 

[JohnInMadrid]

Anywhere in the central Madrid is no more than a 20-minute cab ride (30 euro's is the fixed rate) to the airport. If money is not a major concern suggest you take the opportunity to enjoy Madrid; it's awesome. Once upon a time I lived in your neck of the woods. Buen Camino

 

[trecile]

A few years ago I tried to get a hotel room in Madrid in early October, and prices were sky high - over 100 Euros for hostel beds! It turns out that there was a big convention in town - at least that's what my taxi driver told me. I ended up staying at Hostal Dominguez. It was inexpensive and clean. It looks like they have availability for your stay at 69 Euros for a double. http://www.hostaldominguezmadrid.com/en/cheap_hostel_madrid

 

[Deleted member 3000]

http://www.hoteldonluismadrid.com/en/reserva/busqueda

65E for a double. It is newly renovated, next to the airport, but you cannot walk to the airport. It is vehicles only.

 

[KinkyOne]

Would have thought that the odds on NOT finding a bed in Madrid on any given night are zero. Hotel occupancy outside of a few specific events like Royal weddings, funerals and the Oktoberfest are sub 60% in most places and around 80% in London, Tokyo and Honolulu. The crunch comes with the booking sites that are only allocated a limited number of rooms by the major chains. In any capital city its usually best to use the chains own websites rather than someone who is going to want their 10%. Or wait until a few days before you need that bed and see how the panic sale is going. The chains release rooms to booking sites only when they haven't sold them at walk-up rate.

True, but the OP is asking for a room on Saturday!!!
Prices and occupancy going up during weekends.

@jimb01930 I would say if you will get to Madrid in reasonably early hour then wait until then with reservation. Some pensiones and hostales are selling rooms for up to 30% less of the price on Booking for last minute (see also @peregrina2000 post). I guess you will have Spanish SIM card, so go for a beer somewhere, do a bit of Googling and make a few calls. You might be very surprised what you could get

 

[RJM]

Perhaps check out rates and availability through some of the other internet travel sites like expedia, hotwire, priceline etc. Those transactions are strictly credit card and secure in my experience, and I have gotten some good deals through them.

 

[Albertagirl]

I have stayed at Hostal Vicky and Hotel Don Luis, both in Barajas, near the airport. Hostal Vicky offers a free shuttle to and from the airport at any hour. When I stayed at Hotel Don Luis I took a local bus to the airport from the town centre, a block or two from the hotel. I found both clean, quiet, and a reasonable price. Booking.com has space available in both for your date.

 

[islandwalker]

[QUOTE="peregrina2000, For me the bigger problem is the huge charge that most US banks put on electronic transfers. If you have a bank that doesn't charge you, I'd love to know about it! Buen camino, Laurie[/QUOTE]
Laurie, I have the same problem and have stumbled across a method that may (or may not) work. Just after I paid the exorbitant bank fee for a deposit to be wired to a casa rural where I was making a reservation, the owner said they could accept the reserve deposit via PayPal. This page suggests that an international transfer of $100 via PayPal would cost $7.50, and all you need is the email of the person it is going to. PayPal sends them an email with directions on how to transfer the funds to their account. If anyone has tried using PayPal for international transfers, maybe they could let us know if it works or not.

 

[Glenshiro]

Hostal Viky (basic but clean, close to airport but in a "village" setting with bars and restaurants, free shuttle bus to airport) has vacancies for 19-20 October. Book on http://www.hostal-viky.com/es/

 

[Anton Bruno]

Greetings from Gloucester, Massachusetts!
We will be flying out of Madrid on Oct 20. We are looking for recommendation on where to stay the night of Oct 19. we are getting a lot of messages that hotels are fully booked.
Any suggestions as to where to stay in Madrid will be appreciated.
Thank you!

I stayed near the Atocha rail and bus station...many economical hotels there, then took bus to airport at Atocha. Cheap, fast.

 

[jimb01930]

Thanks to all. Your replies have been very helpful. we have made reservations at Hostal Dominguez. We start walking on Sunday. Very excited!

 

[marilyn van graan]

I stayed near the Atocha rail and bus station...many economical hotels there, then took bus to airport at Atocha. Cheap, fast.

I did the same - many really nice hostels with private rooms around Atocha and the yellow bus transfer to your terminal only costs 5Euro and is super fast - first time I did airport drop-off transport and it was 15 but this year it shot up to 26 - so for me the best option is the bus!!!Enjoy Madrid I love it and spend at least three days there after my camino- safe travels all round