Novotel Madrid City Las Ventas

From check-in to check-out this was a strange experience. There is no front desk, so you have to find one of the roaming agents to help you. They were busy when they arrived and there was no indication of a front desk, or what the process was. Finally one of them approached us and was helpful but it was very strange and we were tired.

It's worth noting that there are two hotels in the same building, the budget Ibis brand takes up the lower half, and the Novotel brand the top half. They seem to share facilities. Unfortunately, they also share only 2 elevators. There are frequent long waits to use the elevators going up or down.

The drainage in our shower was poor, causing water to spill onto the floor. Moreover, parts of the room were in poor repair and not maintained well.

We had a premium room, advertised as being on a "high floor" and with a "view". It was 2 floors above the budget Ibis rooms and in the middle of the hotel, and our view was of an office building.

Finally, the location is generally very poor for Madrid. There is no metro close by, only a bus, and the bus only takes you to the centre. There are very few services nearby which again is highly unusual for Madrid.

This was our first time staying at a Novotel in awhile, and I don't see why we would consider this brand in the future based on this experience.

For the number of hotel rooms in this building, there are only 2 elevators. So expect that there's always a queue esp when clients are checking out or going for breaky in the morning.

The first 4th floor is shared by Ibis Style (budget hotel), and the rest is the Novotel hotel (4 stars) in one roof ;)

Now the bed and the coat bed are very comfortable,it has bigger room but they obviously have a draining issues. It overflows every time we use it. The view is either the main highway, or the streets or the next door building. However, you don't hear all the traffic outside.

When we were out for a walk, there was a homeless person encampment just behind the hotel wall. There's rubbishes. It just doesn't look appealing, at all.

Breakfast which is pretty stiff, at € 20 per adult, but kids are free (we are a family of 3, still I can't justify spending €40).

It's nice that the hotel has a swimming pool and a life guard but when there's quiet a number of kids swimming plus adults, it's not really relaxing and enjoyable. Maybe avoid summer?

Location is excellent when you are driving since the hotel is right next to the highway. Easy to come and to go but when you are commuting (it's a bus ride, and a train ride going to Centro Madrid. Night bus schedule is a different story, prepare to get an alternative ride from the station to the hotel.

I did not like this hotel. The AC in the rooms was not working; I changed rooms and the technician tried to fix it, yet it simply did not work in any of the 2 rooms I had. The bed is not comfortable and feels cheap with low quality linen. Also, the bed in my room was making annoying noises. The staff is very friendly and tries their best though, and the hotel and rooms are very clean. However, it's simply too expensive for the very mediocre rooms. I would not stay here again.