Hostal Las Fuentes, Madrid

Advantages: center of the city
Disadvantages: center of the city

...Looking for budget accomodation in Madrid ? Start looking in the streets around Placa del Sol, they are full of cheap hotels and hostals. The places we stayed at varied in price fom £20 per person per night (B&B) to £4 per night (room only). The accomodation varies in quality according to price and in some places you may have to share a bathroom between a floor. You can ask to see a room before you take it which is a good idea in some of the cheaper places, but overall the hotel and hostal accomadation is cheap and clean and quite safe. Most of the hostals are on the second and third floors of buildings but don't let this put you off, they aren't as dodgy as they seem. A simple way to find Hostals is by simply looking out for signs on the 1st floors of buildings and plaques on door frames advertising the different hostals... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful Sights, Many Attractions
Disadvantages: Many Tourist Traps and Pushy Salespeople

...Barcaelona is an absolutly gorgeous city, infinately better than Madrid. There is so much history and cultre, many beautiful attractions and very nice beaches. The beaches do have some trash and cigarette buts on them, but it's Europe, what do you expect? La Sagrada Familia is definately a must see when in Bacelona. If you are making a trip to Spain this is my advice, skip Madrid and spend an extra week in Barcelona. The subway system in Barcelona is not overly expensive and quite convenient, but if you get a good hotel or hostal, you can pretty much walk to anything you'd like to see. As with any major city, you have to keep on your guard when walking around. Don't do anything to display your wealth, that will attract, if you're lucky pickpockets, and if you're not muggers. Just be aware, don't travel on empty streets at night... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...If you're looking for somewhere atmospheric, cheap and with the most interesting old bars in Madrid head for the Plaza Santa Ana. On the square itself theres another Hemingway favorite Cervecia Allemana which gets pretty busy most nights. If you're looking for upmarket top of the range accomodation also on the square is Gran Hotel Reina Victoria which has a famous bullfighting bar inside complete with real bullfighters who sometimes stay there. Downscale there are several good hostals including Hostal Carreras at c/Principe 18, 3rd floor. Rooms are larger than usual and owners are nicer than usual.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful