Having to go to Madrid to spend a weekend at the end of last summer, I chose the Intercontinental. The reason is simple: the hotel is located next to a metro station, 20 minutes from Madrid Bajaras airport with only one small connection and well located in relation to the accommodation of the friends I met there. Another criteria for choice: the price. An Intercontinental at 160 euros per night does not happen every day. Still under the charm of my recent stay at the Intercontinental in Hong Kong I can’t miss the opportunity to live a similar experience.
I arrive at the hotel. It is relatively well located, especially near the Prado or the Thyssen museum but not exactly super central either. In this case it suited perfectly my constraints and my research.
The building, old, looks really good and once you pass the door the lobby embodies all the standing of the property.
It takes me a few seconds to find the check-in counter: they are two kind of angled counters that are in the back of the customer once the entrance is passed. Not obvious at all. As for the sign indicating the line dedicated to elite members of the Reward Club program…I only saw it the day after. Without prejudice: I am taken care of directly by a very friendly staff.
An efficient but rushed welcome
I was immediately given my room key (it’s always better when the staff anticipates arrivals…) acknowledging my status in the loyalty program and thanking me for my loyalty to the brand. And so I head to my room. Surprising attitude of the staff: being a “gold ambassador” I normally benefited from an automatic upgrade but the staff never mentioned it while they usually let you know that “we are happy to upgrade you to…” and to list all the advantages of this new room.
A welcome which, although efficient, seems to me a bit rushed.
I got a “Club” room, much more spacious and larger than the standard room I had booked.
A beautiful room that could use a little sprucing up
The room overlooks the interior patio and the hotel’s restaurant and has a beautiful balcony.
A closer look shows, however, the relative dilapidation of the room and the furniture, which would be well worth a refurbishment. Numerous scratches on the wallpapers, traces of burning at the level of the electric plugs…
The bed is big but much too soft for me (or is it the age of the bedspring?). The bedding is good but we are far from a Sofitel My Bed, a Heavenly Bed at Starwood (Westin, Meridien) or a Sweet Sleeper (Sheraton).
It’s getting late and too tired to look for a restaurant, I decide to try the one in the hotel.
I choose to dine outside in the patio. Whether in the room or outside the setting is really pleasant. Even if the staff is far from being overwhelmed, I have to wait a bit before being placed. My order is quickly taken. The idea being rather to had a quick snack before going to bed I go to the simplest: a burger (the card proposed nevertheless alternatives otherwise more gastronomic).
I am quickly brought an appetizer. The wine arrives as quickly. As for the bottle of sparkling mineral water also ordered, it will never arrive at my table.
Restaurant: a nice menu but the service is a bit sloppy
After a little wait the burger arrives. I let you judge the aspect and especially the fries. Verdict: good but not more.
The staff is friendly but the food and drinks a bit “thrown” on your table, sometimes without a glance, sometimes with a some kind of familiarity.
At the end I would wait a good 20 minutes for the bill. The head waiter will bring it to me apologizing at the limit of “sorry I was busy elsewhere”.
An unsurprising but light breakfast
To stay in the food I will take twice my breakfast at the hotel.
A first time at the “club”. Very pleasant place, efficient and very helpful staff, but the offer is much too limited. On the other hand, without surprise, the cold cuts are of first quality as often in Spain.
The second day I will take my breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel. Much more consistent offer but the names of the dishes are not even mentioned, which leaves the customer sometimes in expectation about the content of a display. On the other hand, the hot offer is classic: apart from the usual bacon, scrambled eggs and co, no surprise or inventiveness. The buffet was not quickly replenished which left an impression of neglect: many dishes half empty, having to wait 10 minutes to finally have a slice of salmon etc..
Last surprise: the person at the front desk that morning didn’t speak a word of English (or refused to make the effort).
I will not have the opportunity to test the bar of the hotel.
I leave you with some pictures of the property.
Really a beautiful building that honors the brand.
The rest of the stay and the checkout will go smoothly.
A mixed feeling
What to remember about this stay? There are two ways of looking at this.
1°) An excellent service in a very nice hotel in a European capital for 150 euros a night.
2°) Too much sloppiness and approximations for an Intercontinental, especially on the restaurant part.
Following this stay I answered a satisfaction survey. The hotel sent me an email back in a French-Spanish idiom worthy of a translation done by the worst online translator. Not having been able to understand a single sentence, I am at a loss to tell you more, except that the impression of amateurism seems to be much more than an impression.
The entire photo gallery is available on flickr.
Articles similaires
