My journey to Madrid was a visit of many firsts. From my first-ever worldwide business-class flight over the Atlantic Ocean to my first grownup solo journey, I had no concept what to anticipate, what to do and what to see — particularly in such a restricted period of time.
It was go-time as quickly because the airplane touched down at Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). I had 5 days and plenty to expertise. Within the phrases of Woman Gaga, it was very a lot “bus, membership, one other membership, one other membership, airplane, subsequent place.”
Earlier than I dove head-first into the motion and started to discover the town, I used to be wanting to get to my resort and drop off my luggage.
After navigating my first time on Madrid’s metro system — which, fortunately, was not too advanced in comparison with New York Metropolis’s — I discovered myself within the neighborhood of Arguelles. It is a residential however energetic space filled with espresso outlets and shops the place I discovered loads of Madrilenos name dwelling. It could be my dwelling for the subsequent couple of days, too, as I stayed at Lodge Indigo Madrid Princesa.
From the lovable neighborhood to my expertise navigating European adapters and lights (which required housekeeping to assist me flip them on), here is what staying on the Lodge Indigo Madrid Princesa was like.
Getting There
It is fairly simple to succeed in the resort, due to Madrid’s sturdy and dependable transportation system. Positive, you may take an Uber or a taxi, which may be fairly inexpensive in comparison with different massive cities, however if you’d like the true Madrileno expertise, I extremely recommend taking the metro. Should you take an Uber or a Cab, you may count on to pay anyplace from 25 to 30 euros ($27 to $33) on common from the airport to the town middle.
There is a practice station inside the airport the place you may choose up a Multi card; just like a Metrocard in New York Metropolis, you may load and reload as a lot as you would like onto the cardboard.
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I paid 28 euros ($30) for a five-day go, which gave me limitless entry to the metro inside the metropolis. Nevertheless, if you wish to enterprise outdoors the town middle, you need to pay an extra charge. If taking the metro to and from the airport, you will additionally should anticipate an extra airport charge of two.5 euros ($2.75).
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All through my time in Madrid, I discovered the metro extremely dependable. The truth is, I by no means took an Uber or a cab as a result of navigable transportation community and the walkability of all the things.
Reserving the resort Indigo Madrid Princesa
Because the Lodge Indigo chain is part of the IHG household, you may use IHG One Rewards factors to cowl your keep. On common, you may look forward to finding redemptions anyplace between 20,000-30,000 IHG One Rewards Factors per evening, relying on the time of 12 months you go, in fact.
Sometimes, charges at this property fall someplace beneath $200 per evening; for a Full Mattress City Customary room like mine, you may even discover charges for as little as $102 per evening, relying on the time of 12 months you go.
For 2 nights, I paid a complete of 332 euros (or about $365.23) utilizing my Chase Sapphire Most well-liked card, which supplies me 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases, equivalent to lodges for one.
I did not assume the worth was dangerous for a two-night keep. Had I stayed at trendier, closer-to-the-action lodges just like the Thompson Madrid or the Hyatt Centric Gran Through Madrid, I might’ve needed to fork over far more for a two-night keep.
Standout Options
- The placement: Located within the Arguelles neighborhood of Madrid, which is adjoining to common neighborhoods like Sol or Callao, you will be proper within the coronary heart of the motion. Nevertheless, you may get a bit of respiratory room while you want a respite from the busy streets.
- The smooth, trendy design made this boutique resort really feel like an upscale property for a considerably decrease price.
- Each interplay I had with the resort employees — from the type entrance desk employee who shocked me with an early check-in to the pleasant housekeeper who got here to my assist once I could not work out the sunshine change — was optimistic. The individuals made my expertise that a lot better.
Drawbacks
- The rooms are undoubtedly on the smaller aspect, so it ‘s not essentially the most remote-work-friendly. If you wish to get some work accomplished, chances are you’ll need to make the most of the enterprise middle downstairs or head to a close-by espresso store.
- The resort’s facilities had been minimal; the small gymnasium may simply get overcrowded if greater than three or 4 individuals used the gear directly.
- I discovered myself wishing the closet area was greater and that there was more room for my belongings. For instance, I may’ve hung extra of my gadgets if the closet rod was a bit longer.
Checking in
After a 40-minute practice trip from the airport, I stepped outdoors the station with my little suitcase, and at that second, it hit me that I had lastly made it. “Toto, we’re not in New York anymore,” was the primary thought that got here to thoughts.
Fortunately, I may spot the resort from the metro cease, and after crossing the busy avenue, I discovered myself proper in entrance of Lodge Indigo.
Once I entered, I used to be greeted with a wealthy, citrusy bergamot scent, which I loved. The foyer was modest in measurement and never crowded. The truth is, it was very quiet, and the vibes had been mellow.
It was midday once I arrived, so I used to be not anticipating my room to be prepared. I had ready to kindly ask if the entrance desk would maintain my luggage whereas I began on some sightseeing. To my shock, although, the useful front-desk agent knowledgeable me that my room was prepared and I may examine in if I wanted.
Wanting to drop off my baggage and perhaps wash the airplane scent off, I excitedly took my room keys and took the small elevator to the third ground.
For these of you new to Europe like me, the lodges do issues a bit of in a different way than we do right here within the U.S. For starters, the bottom ground, which I might name the primary ground, is, in reality, ground zero. The second ground is the primary, and so forth. So in principle, again dwelling, my room could be on the second ground.
The Room
Once I first entered the room, I panicked. No, it wasn’t that the resort had given me another person’s room key, however relatively I used to be confronted with my first dose of tradition shock.
The room mild change wasn’t working. After spending 5 minutes making an attempt to determine the sunshine scenario, I used to be about to move again downstairs once I got here throughout a pleasant housekeeper. I defined my scenario and my ineptitude with European mild switches since this was my first time on the continent (not to mention touring solo to a spot I might by no means been earlier than).
Kindly, the housekeeper adopted me into my room and turned on the sunshine in two seconds. All it took was putting my resort keycard in a slot subsequent to the door and there was mild, a fan, the entire works. Due to my restricted journey expertise, I used to be unfamiliar with this process, however it’s far more frequent than I spotted.
As soon as I discovered the lighting scenario, I used to be capable of benefit from the area. My room confronted the rear of the constructing, so I did not essentially get any jaw-dropping Madrid views. Sadly, that additionally meant it did not have a lot pure lighting.
Coming into the medium-size room, I felt like I used to be again dwelling in my East Village bed room. It was small however snug and had sufficient area to lounge, loosen up and get some relaxation.
At simply 172 sq. ft, it is secure to say the room’s compact measurement encourages one to get out and discover the town relatively than lounge round.
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The closet, which was much less of a full closet and extra like a utility cart, had many hidden drawers and areas for storing my belongings. Though I wanted there was area to stow my suitcase there, it was purposeful sufficient to get the job accomplished.
At first, I had a tough time finding the room’s secure, which is one thing I are likely to make the most of throughout my travels to maintain all my essential paperwork and belongings. After toying round with the open-concept closet, I pushed on what I believed was only a wood accent piece; lo and behold, there was the secure.
The total-size mattress was snug, however the pillows had been unbelievable — I might’ve liked to take one dwelling.
Irrespective of what number of occasions my travel-expert pals at TPG advised me, I did not put together for the bane of a U.S. traveler’s existence: the dreaded European energy shops. The partitions did have USB ports, however since my telephone and laptop each use USB-C chargers, that did not assist me. Take into account this a pleasant reminder to not neglect a journey adapter.
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The toilet was sizable in comparison with my small New York Metropolis condo rest room. The bathe, which had full-size bottles of citrus-scented Zenology merchandise, was a spotlight, due to the oh-so-sweet sensation of closely pressurized water.
Nevertheless, very similar to different components of my journey, getting used to working it was an adjustment. Not like the showers I’ve used at dwelling, this bathe was fascinating, to say the least. What appeared like a stainless-steel rod was, in reality, not. You needed to twist the left aspect of the rod to show it on, and the fitting aspect managed the temperature.
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The Vibe
The resort’s design was very a lot what I name cosmopolitan. From midcentury modern-inspired furnishings to the nice and cozy hues all through, it was evident upon coming into the resort that this it’s for metropolis slickers — those that are all the time on the go and wish a snug place to relaxation their head when the occasion is over.
The resort provides one thing for everybody, from households to enterprise vacationers to even a few fellow solo vacationers I had the chance to fulfill. In different phrases, the clientele was numerous.
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I observed that all the things in regards to the resort appeared smaller than American requirements. The whole lot was smaller than anticipated, from the elevators to the visitor room. Trying again, although, I notice the fantastic thing about it: Cut back the scale of your area so you may exit and discover the vastness of Madrid.
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Meals and Drink
The resort’s restaurant, referred to as Finest, is adjoining to the foyer. Right here, diners can get pleasure from conventional Spanish tapas; some traditional consolation meals like hamburgers, steaks and quinoa bowls; and all kinds of wines, beers and cocktails.
The jet lag from my seven-hour flight disrupted my starvation cues a bit. Nevertheless, at 7:30 p.m., I nonetheless opted for a lightweight snack (or merienda, because the Spanish say) and sat on the dimly lit bar. I ordered chips and guacamole ($10) and a glass of the favored Spanish drink tinto de verano ($8), which is basically crimson wine combined with lemon soda and topped with a lemon.
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Since I bought simply an appetizer and a drink, my whole was $18; for lunch and dinner on a typical day, I might advocate budgeting between $20 and $35 per meal.
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The resort provides breakfast, and if you happen to’re an IHG member who hit IHG Diamond Elite standing, breakfast is included as a welcome amenity. Nevertheless, as a factors and miles beginner, I paid for my meal, which was $12 for the continental breakfast. If I had standing, it could’ve been good to not pay for breakfast and use that $12 on one other memento or one thing of my selecting.
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The unfold could be very conventional for breakfast, with choices equivalent to pastries, fruits, chilly cuts, meats and a number of orange or pineapple juice.
You even have the choice to order a la carte if you happen to’re in search of one thing heartier, like an omelet or a specialty merchandise, although this is able to price additional. I used to be in search of a fast chunk earlier than getting outdoors to discover.
To maintain it mild, I settled on just a few totally different breakfast pastries in addition to a chunk of the Spanish omelet with a aspect of pineapple juice and a black espresso. Total, the meals was good, however I would not go so far as to say it was something phenomenal. Nevertheless, it did get the job accomplished, and I used to be fueled up and able to tackle the day.
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Facilities
On my second day, I checked out the gymnasium, which is supplied with fundamental gear like a treadmill, a set of weights and an elliptical machine. It is simply superb if you happen to’re in search of a fast exercise; if you happen to’re in search of a full exercise, I might recommend signing up for an area health class close by because the area is sort of small and may get crowded simply.
It wasn’t till my final day that I spotted there’s an outside courtyard proper behind the resort restaurant. It occurred to be closed once I inquired about looking. Nevertheless, the courtyard would’ve been an amazing place to take a seat, learn and sip a pleasant glass of sangria within the heat climate.
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If you wish to get work accomplished, the resort has a small however decently geared up enterprise middle with a pc and a printer. Since my room didn’t include a desk, I spent most of my time catching up on work within the enterprise middle, however I might recommend going to an area espresso store if you happen to’re in search of more room to unfold out.
Out and About
Because it’s within the Arguelles neighborhood of Madrid, the resort is right for vacationers who need to be near the motion whereas nonetheless having room to breathe.
Top-of-the-line components of my journey was the neighborhood itself. Whilst you’re nonetheless very a lot in Madrid, you are not smack in the course of the town. You get an genuine, native expertise with out feeling overwhelmed, and if you wish to be within the middle of all of it, you are solely two practice stops away.
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You will discover the Metro station for Arguelles simply two blocks from the resort entrance, and it’ll take you nearly anyplace. Or, if you happen to’re like me and revel in getting your steps in, all the things in Madrid remains to be walkable from right here.
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A simple 15-minute stroll south, you will end up on the entrance door of the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Teatro Actual. And simply east of the resort, you are a 10-minute stroll from Parque Del Oeste, which has beautiful tree-lined paths and views of the outskirts of the town if you happen to’re in search of a bit of nature.
Granted, if you happen to’d relatively keep extra within the middle of all of it, chances are you’ll need to contemplate the Sol or Callao neighborhoods; they’re prime areas and provide the most effective relating to Madrid’s hotspots equivalent to Gran Through, Plaza Mayor, or my private favourite, Puerta Del Sol.
Accessibility
The resort options accessible facilities equivalent to wheelchair-friendly elevators, accessible restrooms within the foyer and two accessible rooms on the primary ground.
The foyer has a wheelchair-friendly ramp resulting in the resort’s entrance and exit; the resort restaurant additionally has its personal separate exit and entrance with wheelchair-accessible ramps.
Whereas the elevators had been smaller than we could also be used to right here within the U.S., you may match a wheelchair and one other individual if want be; nevertheless, take into account that most occupancy is three individuals.
The rooms themselves had been first rate sizes and, if want be, you may match a wheelchair in a non-accessible room. Nonetheless, remember that there is not a lot area because the mattress and closet take up a big portion of the room.
Testing
On my final day, trying out was fast and simple. With an 11 a.m. checkout time, I may sleep in a bit and seize a fast chunk earlier than amassing my belongings and heading out to discover Madrid one closing time.
The resort is small and provides fewer facilities than you’ll count on from different lodges within the space, such because the Thompson Madrid. Lodge Indigo Madrid Princesa, whereas tiny, remains to be mighty by way of its prime location and accessibility to middle spots.
In case you are in search of a resort extra within the middle of all of it, you may look into staying at Princesa’s sister resort, Lodge Indigo Madrid — Gran Through. Because the title suggests, it is proper on Gran Through, Madrid’s busy, common industrial avenue. Its charges normally fall between $130 and $160 per evening.
Nevertheless, from the spectacular location, modestly sized but snug lodging and strong meals choices, I extremely advocate this resort for a solo traveler’s first journey to Spain. It is an amazing spot if you happen to’re seeking to get out and discover the town for many of your keep.
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