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Review 3199: Friendly Rentals, Puerta de Alcala Apartment

www.friendlyrentals.com

Recommended. Review by Love2Plan from NM

1bed/1.5bath apartment near Parque del Retiro, Madrid

When

October-November 2007, 8 nights

Location

This first floor (one above ground floor) interior apartment is located one block west of Retiro Park and four blocks north of the Prado. It is excellent for walking to all areas in the central part of Madrid and easily accessible to the Metro (Banca de Espana Metro stop is a couple of blocks away).

Nearby Amenities

There are a few "mom and pop" and convenience stores on the east side of Retiro Park, but are within walking distance (15 minutes). There is nothing major in the way of a true supermarket, however, in the immediate vicinity. There are several restaurants and a couple of bars in the general area, though nothing outstanding. It is a nice, safe, upscale residential/business neighborhood. However, to significantly stock the apartment (i.e., more than just a light breakfast and snacks), taking the Metro (two stops) to the large Corte Ingles department store/supermarket (Puerta del Sol stop) is the answer.

The House/Apartment

The apartment was clean and modern, and included a combination washer/dryer as well as a dishwasher. The front door to the building is keyed to a concierge area, which is staffed part time. There is a buzzer at the street, which is part of a security intercom system. It would buzz occasionally when it was mistakenly pushed for another apartment. Since we were not expecting anyone, we simply ignored those few rings. While there is an elevator in the building, it does not serve this apartment, only the front apartments (those facing the street). After entering the lobby area, you walk through a door to a small interior courtyard, and then up one flight of stairs to a landing with two apartments – the Friendly Rentals unit is to the left. The windows in the apartment (there is one in every room) face a small interior courtyard. The apartment is relatively quiet (by Madrid standards), but there is some minor "noise" from neighbors – all at reasonable hours (note that specific voices/conversation could not be heard).

You can view the property directly: Puerta de Alcala Apartment.

Garden

There was no outdoor seating area; windows were open to a small, quiet interior courtyard.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

There were only two of us, which was fine for this size apartment. Although a sofa bed is in the living room, sharing this apartment with another couple would be crowded and not recommended, particularly since the shower stall and bathtub are located through the master bedroom. A family with a couple of small children or perhaps a teenager would be fine, however. The apartment was clean on arrival; all floors are wood, and the bathrooms have tile floors. It is exactly as pictured on the Friendly Rentals website. There is more than adequate lighting, with reading lamps on either side of the bed and at one end of the sofa. The heating system worked well, though was not really needed in the warm fall weather.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

In the bedroom there were two twin beds that were pushed together for a couple (which was why the apartment was billed as having a "king size" bed); they were quite comfortable. There were two king-size quilts on the bed, and more in the closet if needed (sheets were also king size). There was an incredible amount of wardrobe and drawer space (literally, the entire back wall – see pictures on the website). The newly-renovated bathroom was very nice, and again was exactly as pictured. There was good water pressure and adequate hot water. The glass-enclosed shower stall was quite large, plus there is a hand-held shower fixture in the large tub. There is also the customary bidet next to the toilet. Bathroom lighting is bright, and there is a hair dryer, iron, ironing board, and portable clothes drying rack provided. The half-bath is off the living room, and also tiled.

Kitchen

The kitchen was in good shape, all of the appliances were relatively new and the latest models. There was a ceramic stove and just enough pots and pans to cook a full meal. There is an adequate supply of dishes, glasses, and cutlery. There is also an electric kettle and coffee pot. The washing machine is in the kitchen, and it also functions as a dryer (somewhat unusual for rental apartments, which usually have only a washing machine). All soaps (bath, dish, and dishwasher) are included, with the exception of laundry soap.

Problems or Bonuses

Bonuses: Location! This is a perfect apartment to walk to basically anywhere in the Madrid center and feel very safe. It was especially nice to be a block away from Retiro Park and four blocks away from the Prado. Best of all, there is ADSL cable access (with a wireless router) – it was wonderful to have a computer connection right there in the apartment. The other bonus is the English-speaking Friendly Rentals staff, who are very helpful and very responsive to customer service issues. There is also a land-line in the apartment which can be used for local calls without charge (or to receive calls). It does not however have the ability to call cellular phones.

Problems: In order to access the apartment, you have to walk into a hallway and then to an outdoor courtyard to stairs, where it's only one flight up. The stairs however are old and worn. While not a hazard (i.e., they are not in disrepair), they are simply old and worn from age and use – so one must take a bit of care going up and down (especially with luggage). While the website shows the front of the building, the apartment does not have terraced windows facing the street. The website description of the apartment is correct - the windows face an interior courtyard. The website does not mention the first floor location, nor does it mention the lack of an elevator. This was not a problem for us, but may be a consideration for others.

We did have a few minor problems, none of significance which necessitated contacting the agency during our stay. We did however contact Friendly Rental's customer service department after our departure, and they were VERY responsive to our concerns. In fact, we are confident they will be resolved prior to the arrival of the next guest.

Agency and Representatives (and price)

The agency was great via telephone before, during, and after arrival. Our check-in representative Scott met us in a reasonable time when we arrived. He spoke excellent English (he should; he's British), as did our check-out agent Matt (whose first language is Polish). Scott was very helpful during the check-in process, and willing to answer any and all questions regarding Madrid in general. The price was very reasonable, €120 per night for two people for eight nights, plus a €40 cleaning fee.

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

We definitely would stay here again, but might seek out other alternatives (just for variety). And most assuredly we would rent again from Friendly Rentals.

Things to do in this area

Everything! The Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museums are all within a 10 minute walk, and the Puerta del Sol and most other central Madrid sites are a quick Metro ride away (within two or three stops).

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.

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