Hotel Ateneo - Madrid

Average rating:  6.6

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in May 2008

Dodgy enough location - a lot of prostitutes on the particular street the hotel is on. Apparently they move streets relatively regularly but not the nicest thing to walk out your front door too. Upside is that the hotel is right in the center (5 mins to Plaza Mayor).

Guest name: FR, Ireland

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Apr 2008

Location, location, location! Excellent reception from Alejandro at the desk. Modern, clean, sleek. Good Value. In-house breakfast great way to fuel up for the day. Close to 2 Metro stops - Sol & Gran Via. Calle de la Montera no problema! Well groomed "girls" up the street, Police Department a few steps away down the street. Have no fear.

Guest name: Patricia Callahan, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Family with young children

stayed in Apr 2008

perfect location.... we had an inside room which was very quiet

Guest name: GH, USA

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Group

stayed in Mar 2008

Excellent hotel for the price in central location. I had thought the breakfast was included in the price but at €6 for a buffet breakfast it was great value. Reception staff very friendly and helpful.

Guest name: Paul Taylor, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Feb 2008

cleaness, helpfulness and kindness are words that well describe Ateneo hotel and its employees. Full correspondance between web pages and the hotel. We recommend this accomodation for every kind of voyagers.

Guest name: VG, Italy

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jan 2008

The best part of this hotel is the location, it is truly unbeatable for the price. Yes you do see quite a bit of young women "working" the street but it never bothered us. If you are light sleeper, I recommend you ask for an interior room since the hotel is located on a busy street. The staff were all very nice and the free internet in the lobby was great. I would definitely stay here again.

Guest name: CP, Spain

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Dec 2007

I stayed in a really noisy room, if you're staying over the weekend ask for a room that is not facing the street. Couldn't sleep a whole hour during the weekend night, even though I was using ear plugs!

Guest name: AJ, Israel

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Dec 2007

The Hotel is near to the metro Sol and Gran Via, it's full of life and shops and so on, but if you have a room on the street there is noise till 4 a.m. Anyway it's cleaned, practical and very easy to reach at any time with any public transport. It's perfect for a short stay.

Guest name: BS, Italy

Average rating:  5.7

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Dec 2007

Although centrally located and a very helpful staff (and free email), the hotel needs a make over. Lack of hot water in morning NOT helpful on a December morning. Staff very helpful in arranging hotel to airport transit, and recommendation for a restaurant. Nearby street walkers an interesting touch.

Guest name: KF, USA

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

Great Location. Close to everything. Red District just up the road more charming than a problem. Front desk staff outstanding. Excellent value breakfast

Guest name: MV, Greece

Average rating:  6.3

Guest type: Group

stayed in Nov 2007

Bell'albergo,pulito,buona posizine....ma,lo sconsiglio alle famiglie. La strada difronte all'albergo è frequentata da signore della notte

Guest name: FF, Italy

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: 

stayed in Oct 2007

the hotel was in a great locatio, within walking distance of everything we wanted to see. We had a room for 3 and it was perfect and the staff were very helpful with everything.

Guest name: PW, USA

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Oct 2007

The afternoon desk staff were very helpful. Unfortunately, the phone system in the rooms was broken and we could not dial out and Iberia had lost our luggage. So I spent hours on the phone at the front desk and they were very friendly and chatted while I was on hold

Guest name: TP, USA

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

Hotel rooms was great. Very central, which meant lots of noise outside till the early hours. That's the trrade off I suppose.

Guest name: TD, Australia

Average rating:  8.3

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2007

Great location, walking distance from Sol metro stop. Great shopping and restaurants nearby! There was construcion going on to the rear of the hotel, but it was not too noisy.

Guest name: AH, Mexico

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Oct 2007

This hotel is well located in Old Madrid on a very lively block bordering on a "red light" district. Balconies overlook the street and it is lot's of fun if you don't mind the noise of night time activities. We were there on the weekend of a national holiday, so everyone was out partying. The front desk staff was extremely helpful with restaurant recommendations and helping to arrange our pick up for the airport. Excellent breakfast for 6 Euros. The cafe right in front of the hotel was also very good.

Guest name: RM, USA

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2007

Als ich das Hotel auf der Webseite auswählte war der Preis 86 Euros, als ich wenige Tage später buchte, kostete es 107 Euros. - Der lichtdichte Rouleau des Fensters war defekt, der Internetanschluss verschwand in der Wand und die Telefonleitung war tot, im Bad hingen die Drähte aus der Wand. Auf meine Reklamation half der Concierge sofort, die Internetverbindung herzustellen und Tageslicht ins Zimmer zu bringen. Von da an fühlte ich mich wohl. Den kostenlosen Internetanschluss habe ich sehr geschätzt. Das Zimmer war geräumig und ruhig (kleiner Innenhof).

Guest name: MH, Switzerland

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Group

stayed in Sep 2007

overall i dont really have a bad thing to say about the ateneo and would without a doubt stay again!!!

Guest name: Niamh Connor, Ireland

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2007

good place to stay close to everything

Guest name: JP, USA

Average rating:  9.4

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2007

I asked for a twin bed room, non smoking and was very pleased with our room. Nice room and nice bath. Nice beds. And the breakfast at this hotel is incredible for just 6 Euros. It's true the hotel is near the "red light district" but the girls don't bother you and if you walk 2 blocks away, you're in the prime area. I'd definitely stay there again.

Guest name: Julie Lueker, USA

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jun 2007

Very nice room with balcony overlooking street and square. Very welcoming, breakfast was very good.

Guest name: Gary Bryant, USA

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in May 2007

This hotel is my favourite in Madrid. I like it in all aspects.

Guest name: Ulla-Maija Mäntylä, Finland

Average rating:  8.0

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2006

The hotel is nice inside, the rooms are clean and ours was quiet. Staff was attentive, and breakfast was good. The stretch of street towards Gran Via is not very inviting (but not dangerous at all, just a bit sleazy looking, many prostitutes), but this in no way constituted any impediment. The stretch towards Puerta del Sol is ok. The location is excellent. I would go back there.

Guest name: Daniel Schwabe, Brazil

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Group

stayed in May 2007

The location is exellent, in the middle of the city, so is possible walking all around without the metro. So, it is in the shopping area.

Guest name: GF, Italy

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Apr 2007

WE specified a non-smoking room and that's what we got. It looked on to an interior courtyard and was amazingly quiet! Although the hotel is in a street which is part of a red light area that causes no problems whatsoever and in fact the location is ideal otherwise. It's near two metro stations (Gran Via and Sol) and within easy walking distance of lots of the main galleries, shoping and eating areas. We will definitely stay here again.

Guest name: Eugene Clarke, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.5

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Mar 2007

Good place to stay in the midle of Madrid's city center.

Guest name: Lluís Cuchí Carbó, Spain

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Mar 2007

This is a perfect centrally located hotel, the room was much larger than expected. Lovely cafe next door for early morning coffee/late night beer. Tax is always extra in hotel prices in Spain - it's not much but it should be mentioned. I would use this hotel again.

Guest name: Pauline Lane, Ireland

Average rating:  6.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Dec 2006

Fine hotel. Was given a street facing room, which was very very noisy. If you need to sleep, avoid; but not everyone goes to Madrid for a good night's sleep!

Guest name: SD, Ireland

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Feb 2007

Travelling alone

Guest name: MW, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Feb 2007

The stay at the property was good, however I was not given a non-smoking room, as requested and because of availability, I was not able to move to a non-smoking room until the next day.

Guest name: KS, USA

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2006

Hotel Ateneo is ideal for the leisure traveler that does not intend to spend much time in the hotel room; location is excellent but the rooms are small. They are also very clean, and I found my single room to be very well suited to my trip, particularly given the price. I would have no problem recommending the Ateneo.

Guest name: Andrew Delano, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Nov 2006

Excellent location if you don't mind walking in the red light district. Plentiful breakfast buffet with a good variety of options.

Guest name: ML, USA

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Nov 2006

OK as with most budget hotels in Europe the room was small, but it was very clean and modern and the in-house use of internet (lobby) and the data-ports in the room were a huge benefit. Additionally, the hotel is in the middle of everything in Sol (right near public transport, shopping, and tons of restaurants. The daily breakfast for 6 euros is worth it, especially for those travelling on a budget (and it's pretty tasty.) The staff speak English and a few other languages and are very helpful when asked questions. This is the best hotel I have found with Venere, and I have used the service for six international cities. On a side note, I forgot a package at the hotel on my last day including cameras and paintings I had purchased as souvenirs, the hotel kept it for me and I sent them a self address stamped envelop and they mailed my belongings back to me! Terrific service!!!!

Guest name: TM, USA

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2006

This is the second time that I've stayed at the Ateneo. I came back because I found it friendly and service-oriented the first time I stayed. The location can't be beat and the staff are helpful.

Guest name: BW, USA

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

Very pleased with the hotel. HUGE room by European standards, clean, modern, free high-speed internet in the lobby, very close to Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, area maybe a bit dodgy very late at night but overall we are happy to recommend this hotel

Guest name: Paul Mitchell, Australia

Average rating:  7.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Oct 2006

In our double room there was a spacing of 20cm between the bed and the wall on one side and the same between the bed and the desk on the other side. The room is certainly much too small for 2 persons. We requested in advance by e-mail to the hotel a very quiet room and we got such. However, we have got no reply from the hotel to my e-mail in which I asked if they can offer us a room sound proof and I had to contact the hotel by phone to learn if it is possible. In our view the hotel price is much higher (difference of some EUR 30) than in Italian hotels of the same category in touristic sites (e.g. Rome, Venice, Florence) except Milano. Excluding the above inconveniences we really enjoyed our stay in Ateneo.

Guest name: Małgorzata Skorupa, Poland

Average rating:  5.4

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Oct 2006

Very noisy during the weekend if you get a room facing the street. The staff did not manage to order a taxi. The taxi company cancelled the hotels request so we had to walk up to Gran Via, through the red light district, to get a taxi to the airport. Horrible breakfast on sunday, the waiter did not clean the tables and did not refill bread, cheese, ham++. But the hotel is centrally located and clean.

Guest name: JM, Norway

Average rating:  2.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jun 2006

The room was an attic type with a sloping ceiling. My head would hit the ceiling when going to bed. The shuttle service to and from the airpport as advertised on their web page was non existant. It was a very noisy room and certainly wasn't worth the tarrif.

Guest name: PETER BAXTER, Australia

Average rating:  5.0

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Jul 2006

Air-condition did not work. Which is about the most important thing you want to have in a Hotel in Madrid in summer.

Guest name: VP, Austria

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in May 2005

we'll be back

Guest name: Roberto Toscano, Canada

Average rating:  8.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2006

Pretty Much a great central location, The lady at the front desk was helpful in booking some Flaminco dancing for us, and showing us the main places to visit on the map of Madrid. Would recommend to other travellers.

Guest name: Adam Wood, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jul 2006

Newly renovated hotel, ideal for the one night stay/no frills we required. Only slightly let down by being at the southernmost end of the cities red light district but not a problem whilst we were there. Would not have a problem staying there again.

Guest name: Holly Scott-Donaldson, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Jun 2006

Ataneo is two hundred metres north of the Sol metro on a relatively quiet and mostly pedestrianised road. It has been recently and nicely refurbished with double glazed french windows in the bedrooms and quiet controlable air conditioning. For a city centre location it is reasonably quiet (the sound of revellers will break through the double glazing until dawn over the weekend, but that's life)very conveniently located, good value for money, and just as diplayed on the web site. Highly recommended and we will certainly go back again. The cafe / bar next door is fine too if you don't fancy a walk at the end of a long day.

Guest name: Cameron Thomas, United Kingdom

Average rating:  5.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jun 2006

they dont change towell often, dont offer soap more than one, they put an extra charge for security box, the closet's doors were boken and they did not fix, the towell holder was broken to. The localization of the hotel on city is very bad in RED ZONE

Guest name: Ricardo Garcia, Colombia

Average rating:  6.9

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2006

I had a nice stay

Guest name: MD, Netherlands

Average rating:  6.1

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Nov 2005

Googd location, very central, the only problem was a very bad smell in the bathroom that never went away.

Guest name: GL, Italy

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Gay Couple

stayed in May 2006

hotle was situated in fantastic location for tubes and local facilaties had a really good stay. We had a good quite room on the front with the extra window on the balcony which kept out the extra noise i think it is also a fair price for the hotel i have stayed in worse and payed a lot more. rooms where very basic but addiquite and clean could do with a few little repairs here and there but on the whole very good if i was to go back to Madrid i would stay there agian. it was a great location for gay areas and great for all the trendy shops.

Guest name: SO, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.8

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2006

L'albergo è situato in un'ottima posizione, a pochi passi dalla centralissima Plaza del Sol e Plaza Mayor. La strada è molto frequentata sia di giorno che di notte, soprattutto da ragazze che sostano sui marciapiedi. Ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo e camere pulite, possibilità di accedere ad internet gratuitamente dalla hall. Consigliato.

Guest name: Alberto Mariani, Italy

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Apr 2006

E' un Hotel molto carino e curato... unicà peccà... di notte non è silenzioso... ma se andate a Madrid vorrete divertirvi è lo scotto da pagare in qualunque hotel andrete per essere veramente al centro è quello di sentire continuamente gente che si diverte!!! Consigliatissimo per il personale... sempre disponibile!

Guest name: DM, Italy

Average rating:  7.6

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Apr 2006

Everything was fine except the loudness, although w the windows closed it wasnt bad

Guest name: Deborah Gaffaney, USA