Melia Galgos, Madrid

Location: Calle de Claudio Coello, 139 Madrid 28006
Date of stay: Wednesday 1 April 2015
Duration of stay: 6 nights
Room type: Classic Double (after upgrade)
Average cost: £106 per night
My rating: 4*

Situated in Madrid’s fashionable Salamanca region, Melia Galgos Hotel* is suitably glitzy; the blue neon lighting lending a sultry disposition to the marbled foyer. Mirrors reflect sizeable ‘evil genius’ style seating, lavish black carpets and contemporary décor, (think boxy light fittings and ornamental centre pieces). In fact, you may even describe the initial ambiance as spacey; though comfortable enough to never begrudge being buzzed back to the mothership!

Check-in was a little long-winded as it transpired that booking a standard double via Booking.com is rather misleading given that it contained one teeny-tiny bed; a poor excuse for a double by the hotel’s admission and certainly not fit for a mother-daughter party, (whether adverse to a snuggle or not!) Consequently, we were offered an upgrade and although at cost (at 15 Euro per night), it was considered a no brainer given that the new and improved room contained two generously proprtioned queen-sized beds; each with cloud-like appeal and complete with soft cotton sheets and a choice of pillow. This was the extent of the extras however as all rooms offer complimentary (somewhat manly-smelling) toiletries, plus big fluffy towels, a flat-screen TV, trouser press (does anyone actually use this?!) safe and mini bar – the latter doubling up as a handy fridge if, like me, you shun said mini bar prices in favour of stocking up on refreshments from the first available supermarket! A distinct lack of tea and coffee making facilities will trouble anyone requiring an accessible brew and it’s not obvious how the windows open…though the room was effectively air conditioned and above all, kept to an exemplary level of cleanliness. The hotel is well-connected to the City Centre and a mere 20-minute journey from the airport. There are also a number of metro stations close by and parking is available on-site, though again at cost. Wi-Fi is free to use and available in all areas of the hotel.

This establishment also has a small fitness room and hot tub – the latter situated in a tropically-heated, wooden-clad room adorned with a pair of sunbeds. Large windows allow for a view of the rooftop terrace whereby unattractive astro-turf is pretty much all that meets the eye! That said, this was a great addition to the hotel’s facilities, especially given that we were lucky enough to bag this space to ourselves most afternoons. The gym too was empty each time I visited – probably as I’m the only person crazy enough to work out before breakfast whilst on holiday! The equipment was a little behind the times but in good working order nevertheless. I’d suggest that multiple bodies in either space would render them unusable; neither able to accommodate more than half a dozen people at a time.

Fitness Room

Spa








Breakfast was included in the price of our stay and can be appropriately referred to as a feast! Constituting the typical self-serve buffet, this included mountains of fresh fruit, pastries and cake, continental-style cheeses and cold meats, plus all the ingredients for a full English! For an authentic Spanish start, try the homemade tomato sauce on toasted ciabatta drizzled with olive oil or crispy churros dunked in Nutella coupled with freshly-squeezed orange juice – yum! The Galgos’s Diabolo restaurant serves a la carte Mediterranean cuisine and the Blue Lounge/bar serves tapas, hot snacks and burgers; dishes proving generously portioned and reasonably priced. What's more, ordering a drink equals complimentary nibbles– though who knew that Haribo jellies could be so amply paired with a free-poured g&t!

Overall, this was a pretty sturdy 4* hotel – clean, lavishly furnished and with a good grasp of culinary expertise. Although most of the staff were friendly and accommodating, there were a couple of individuals who could have benefitted from turing the frown upside-down! One in particular that relegated my Mother and I to a table at the far-corner of the bar as our card games were deemed offensive – I will hasten to add that this was merely a spot of Rummy and not strip poker…! That said, I’d certainly choose the Melia Galgos hotel again should I re-visit Madrid as nearby Calle de Serrano ticks all the boxes in terms of both site-seeing and shopping. For the record, I’d also recommend sister hotel, Melia Me Madrid located on Plaza Santa Ana – its rooftop bar an optimum location for panoramic views of the city and the hotel itself demomstrating the perfect balance between style and comfort. Despite having to fork out 15 Euro for a visit to its aforementioned bar (even, it seems, if you’re staying within the Melia chain), it's certainly worth considering if budget allows. Finally and quite incidentally, I've discovered that the Melia family have opened the first Spanish 5* hotel in the Middle East. With an trip to Dubai booked for later in the year, I certainly intend to investigate whether this 'urban oasis' has retained its Mediterranean charm amidst the bustling heat of the UAE...I'll keep you posted!

References:
*http://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-galgos