After significant renovation work, this central Madrid hotel has reopened with modern style, an easy-to-reach location and fantastic views of the city. Marriott Madrid Princesa Plaza will quickly become a new favorite of Marriott Bonvoy loyalty fans for its amenity roster. While there are numerous luxury hotels in the Spanish capital, Madrid has quite a few options for Marriott Bonvoy members. Let’s take a look at five of our favorite features of Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa Plaza.
The rooms
Parquet floors and white walls create a clean look to these spacious rooms. Area rugs beneath the oversized beds add a bit of texture, and many rooms have built-in sofas by the windows. The work desk comes with ample power outlets, a reminder that this hotel is ideal for business travelers as well as tourists.
The bedding is soft with a duvet, four giant pillows and power or USB outlets on either side. A huge flat-screen TV faces it with a wide range of cable channels as well as the ability to connect your own devices to the big screen.
There is complimentary water, replenished daily, as well as a fridge for you to store your own purchases. And the coffee and espresso machine is always a hit for jet-lagged travelers. I only wish there were more luggage space, but the room is not small by any means.
You’ll want to get rooms on the highest floors, especially those facing the city, because you can see an endless skyline view. From my room on the ninth floor, I could even see the glittering lights of Gran Vía (and its famous neon Schweppes sign), Callao, Gran Vía and numerous other landmarks. Panorama rooms are worth it as an upgrade, and there are numerous suites on offer, too.
Rooms are divided between two buildings, one taller than the other. The latter has rooms that stare out directly towards Gran Vía, which are also worth considering.
All have bright bathrooms with fantastic lighting, excellent shower pressure in glass stalls and separate toilet areas. This Works toiletries, a Marriott standard, have a lovely scent and come in eco-friendly pump bottles.
The club lounge
The M Club is the signature lounge concept at Marriott hotels around the world. It offers a quiet retreat with all-day refreshments, breakfast and a light dinner with wine and beer, all built into the package. Guests can book a rate with access or can get in thanks to holding top-tier elite status with Marriott.
What this club excels in is the caliber of its food and beverage. While the space is not large, it has great street views with plenty of natural light. Breakfast is available from early in the morning and includes hot and cold items plus access to Nespresso machines. Throughout the day, the lounge has a light buffet of sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit, pastries, yogurt and drinks.
For dinner, there is a more substantial buffet, including four hot items. Throughout the day and evening, wine and beer are also complimentary. The alcohol and food offering slims down by 10pm, but the space remains open 24 hours a day with free refreshments.
If you have stayed at the Marriott Madrid Auditorium, you might recognize some of the staff here, and the club lounge here reaches the same impressive level of service and offering.
The amenities
In the basement, you’ll find an impressive fitness center, which is open at all hours. The treadmills have built-in TVs, and the array of free weights and other Technogym equipment provides a full workout. There are also yoga mats and exercise balls.
Meeting space is ample here, and the property hosts many top business and social events. In the lobby, you will find a bright space where guests can work on their laptops or hold small meetings with people. This concept is part of the new lobby design found in many Marriotts.
The location
In the Argüelles area of central Madrid, this property is within walking distance of Gran Vía, Plaza de España and the Royal Palace. You can stretch your legs a little further to get to Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Golden Triangle of Art.
Shoppers will find the adjacent El Corte Inglés to be especially convenient, but the big spenders can hop a ride on the metro (the station is just outside the hotel) to reach Salamanca and Serrano. That’s where the fanciest shops are.
There are plenty of great restaurants, bars and local shops around the hotel, which makes a stroll in any direction worth it.
The people
From the moment I arrived, my Titanium status with Marriott was recognized. Everyone I interacted with from the front desk to the restaurant team were upbeat, friendly and clearly proud of the hotel.
One day when I was having trouble with the lights in my room (user error!), I mentioned it briefly to the host at breakfast. She immediately went into action (without my asking) to contact maintenance so they could determine the issue. Apparently, I was not holding the button down long enough, and she came to find me at breakfast to let me know
On many occasions, the bell staff engaged me (and other guests) in conversation about how our stay was going, if I needed anything and when I would be returning to the hotel for another stay. This is something I noticed them doing with many other guests, and I heard them complimenting the manager team about it later.
That’s not something you see at every hotel, and this was a clear sign that they care about the guest experience. For that (and many other reasons), I will definitely be back since I spend a lot of time in Madrid.
