4/10 Fair
21 Sept 2023
Past its best
This was my third occasion staying at the Hotel Villa Real. I've always liked the location close to Atocha station and the museums and galleries. For these reasons I have recommended it to friends. On my most recent visit I was severely disappointed. I had booked and paid for a superior room with a city view. I was initially pleased to be given a room on the first floor as soon as I arrived at about 1pm. However for the first time I experienced the noise problems mentioned in many reviews of this hotel. I could hear a guest sneezing in the next room and could clearly hear their telephone conversations. The walls are thin. the floors are timber and the corridors floored in marble so there is continuous noise from all sides. My attempts to sleep on the first night were frustrated by what sounded like the electrical motor of a lift with loud banging at the end of each episode. I thought that there must be a service lift nearby but no sign of one the following morning. My attempt to have a nap the following afternoon failed because of the same noise. It turned out that my room was directly over the entrance to the parking garage and the noise was from the mechanical opening/closing system. I was given another room to sleep in for my second and final night. I cannot understand how a room in this location could be described as "superior". The hotel is tired and old fashioned and needs a complete refurbishment.
Brendan
Brendan, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
