Deals: Madrid Hotels Under $175

By Andrew Ferren

From the September issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Hotel Vincci SoMa › Barrio Salamanca

Located on Goya Street, the city’s bustling shopping boulevard, the Vincci SoMa is popular with fashion and business types who flock to the tony boutiques and cafés of the affluent Barrio Salamanca district. Just a short stroll to Retiro Park and the Golden Triangle of major museums like the Prado, the SoMa’s 178 modern rooms feature spa-like bathrooms, black-and-white photos, and bold punches of color. The restaurant, with windows that stretch across the entire facade, has a lively after-work bar scene. From $140.

Hotel de Las Letras › Chueca

One of the hippest of the grand hotels along Madrid’s architecturally rich Gran Vía, Hotel de Las Letras offers a chic combination of pared-down minimalism with period touches like curlicue iron railings and hand-painted century-old tiles. High-ceilinged guest rooms are made comfy with oversize armchairs and walls painted with quotes from Cervantes and Neruda. Cool off with a glass of cava on the roof terrace after a day trolling the galleries in Chueca. From $170.

Hotel Alicia › Barrio de Las Letras

The Room Mate chain’s tagline is “your friend in the city,” which explains the first name for each of its four hotel properties in Madrid. Alicia’s 34 rooms and two duplex suites (with private terraces and plunge pools) mix the best of design, location, vibe, and value. Designed by Pascua Ortega—whose clients include Prince Felipe—the rooms are compact but sensibly decorated in a palette of blond wood, sage green, and slate blue. Classic tapas bars and the Plaza Mayor are just steps away. From $144.

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