We stayed at the GranVia 65 (Espa) Hotel 4 nights in November. We are sorry to say that the only assets are its location and food prices in their restaurant. Check-in is on the first floor, no help with luggage despite several stairs that need to be negotiated. They helped with moving luggage from the check-in counter to the room (where there is an elevator). But on check-out there was again no help with getting the luggage to street level. The attendant just removed our luggage from the storage room and went back to the counter, although I was alone with 2 suitcases and 2 extra bags.
We reserved a suite, but were given a studio (that was corrected after we complained). Our reservation was for twin beds, but we got a double, with poor, worn-out mattresses. The rooms were clean, living room had a good size, but bedroom was small. Except for the bed, the furniture was OK, but rooms could use a make-over. There was only one small TV in the living room, none in the bedroom (no English channel).
The bathroom was good-sized with 2 sinks, but only had one of those wall-mounted hairdriers that take forever to dry shoulder-long hair while you negotiate the best way to hold on to the ever hotter plastic handle. Shower water was forceful, but the water temperature varied and due to the small glass door on the bathtub there was no way to keep the bathroom floor dry when taking a shower. It had a small kitchenette, but no coffee-machine or water heater, and we had to boil water in a pot for instant coffee that we bought around the corner.
Internet connection or breakfast were not included despite the rather steep room price, and the wireless connection (on the 5th floor) was not reliable with frequent undesired disconnects, e.g. while responding to an email.
Our plane left 6 hours after check-out time, but we were told that we could not stay an extra 2 hours without having to pay for a whole additional day. The hotel does not have a lobby where you could sit and spend the extra time waiting for an early evening flight on a windy, cold departure day. One would expect a bit more leniency from a place where you just spent 4 nights.
All in all not recommendable compared to other hotels in the neighborhood.
- Aparthotel Gran Via 65 Madrid
