The Private Traveller

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Hotel Review: Gran Melia Palacio De Los Duques, Madrid, Spain.

The Private Traveller

Overview

Having not long been in Madrid for a long weekend, staying at the Gran Hotel Inglés (which was fantastic too), I wanted to try somewhere different to write up another hotel review on my website.⁣ In the heart of Madrid behind its Elizabethan-style façade, the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques boasts a modern design and facilities with grand architectural splendour. A former 19th century palace in a prime location next to the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real and the Almudena Cathedral, this hotel is a member of the exclusive group “The Leading Hotels of The World”. ⁣


Hotel website: https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/gran-melia-palacio-de-los-duques/index.htm

Would I stay here again?   Definitely, wish we had been here for a longer stay to enjoy more of the hotel and it’s great location. Madrid is just a lovely city too.

Location

It took about 45 minutes to get from Madrid’s main airport (Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez) but only about 30 minutes to return because of significantly less traffic. The hotel was located in an excellent residential area, close to shops, restaurants (and excellent food markets) and bars and within only a few minutes walk to the Grand Palace itself or the Plaza Major. It is also easily accessible to walk to the Puerto del Sol area.

We walked everywhere though Ubers are easily available within the city. From the rooftop of the hotel you had amazing views across the city, Madrid is picturesque in areas and you can see out to the open space beyond the city limits.

Accommodation

I had booked a Premium room with a guaranteed upgrade from Leading Hotels of the World to a Supreme (room #225). The hotel building we were in had four floors, adjacent but fully connected was another building with seven floors, floor 7 being the rooftop with the pool deck. Some of the rooms on each of the floors would look out into a central courtyard (internal), some to the front of the hotel but we had been allocated a room on the second floor with a view over the garden area.

Though smallish, the room was perfectly designed - very modern but with traditional touches like the ceiling rose. It was exceptionally clean, large (extremely comfortable) king size bed, mini-bar, coffee machine, desk area, seating and all the usual controls with a large TV. The floor to ceiling doors (internal and external glass for noise reduction) opened onto a Juliet balcony, so the room was very light and airy, though it also had very effective controllable air conditioning.

The bathroom was exceptionally appointed with Duravit and Hansgrohe fittings, all beautifully designed and spectacularly clean and shiny. There was a separate WC area with bidet and the bath and shower in a glass cubicle backing onto the bedroom area (though could be covered over with a curtain on the bedroom side for privacy). The only thing I would point out is that while it was a beautiful curved bath, the size of it adjacent to the shower area meant it was very tight when standing under the shower and I think could be very dangerous if you were to fall because of the limited space and fall onto the bath. There was a separate single sink, Clarins toiletries throughout and a pull out drawer under the sink revealed more amenities like spare toothbrush/toothpaste, cotton pads and buds, tissues, sewing kit and a shoe shine brush.

Food & Drink

With just being there for the one night, we didn’t eat dinner in the restaurant, choosing instead to walk to one of the local tapas bars, where we were kept entertained by a accordion duo. We went down for breakfast however (included as part of the LHW Aurelian membership, as is a guaranteed 4pm late check out if you need it) and this was exceptional. The Coroa restaurant is spectacularly designed, in the middle of this was a large bar, where on all four sides were different food stations - there was one with various yoghurts and milks, one for all sorts of fruit (including the largest grapes I have ever seen) and juices (with Cava to make Mimosas or Buck’s Fizz), one for bakery and pastry items and one with hot canapé type snacks and a separate egg station with scrambled eggs, fried, poached and delicious individual Spanish omelettes. Add to this the choice of additional hot food items to order and various teas and coffees available from your server meant this was a real highlight of our stay.

Facilities & Service

From welcome on arrival by the bell staff, at the speedy check in and followed through to attentive and friendly staff at breakfast (José particularly attentive to needs) nothing could be faulted about this hotel. It’s in a fantastic location and the hotel is very well appointed with a gym and spa, rooftop pool with jacuzzi and Veuve Clicquot champagne bar (pool deck open daily from 10am to 10pm). Unfortunately for such a short trip I didn’t get to try out any of these, but we did enjoy breakfast in the Coroa restaurant and there was a decent sized garden to the rear of the hotel where they seemed to serve throughout the day. Just one comment on room numbers - when we came out on the second floor to find our room, there was a sign for rooms 201-215 to the left and 230-216 to the right. Until I came to post this I was under the impression that rooms 216-229 were just not mentioned and thought this was really odd - I see now that it was just the way this was presented!

ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

  • The only thing was the bathroom - one I tend to like two sinks (a quality problem, I realise) but there was more of an issue trying to navigate the overhead shower without tripping over the bath - actually felt this was a potential hazard.

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

  • Location, location, location - just perfect.

  • Breakfast - the restaurant, the service, the choice of food; wow!

  • The Clarins toiletries in the bathroom.

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