QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING
Central Park, a cool oasis in a heat
wave, is 8 short city blocks north.
I also walked to Grand Central Station
and took photos of the nearby Chrysler Building.
The AC worked great in stifling hot
weather.
And the shower water was plenty warm
for washing off the sweat from a long day of urban exploring.
QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING
The lobby is tiny, but the staff was
great about running up an extra bed sheet, some plastic cutlery for in room
dining, etc.
The MET and other classic galleries on
Museum Mile are walking distance or 20 minutes via train/bus.
Even in the heat, I was close enough
to walk to a pair of dramas in the Theater District.
QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING
The bed was super comfy.
The room has all kinds of surfaces by
the desk and bed -- perfect for your laptop, in room eating, noise machine and
bottle of water next to the bed.
The room has a microwave (perfect for
warming that leftover bagel or NYC pizza slice) and a mini fridge upon request.
QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING
Next to Rockefeller Center, it is near
every great subway and transit option in the city.
Under the Rock provides nearby
breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
MOMA and 5th Avenue shopping are very
close by.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
Some trivia?
Its guests have included actors and actresses of the stature of:
Catherine Deneuve, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Rita Hayworth, Fernando
Fernán Gómez, Emma Cohen, Arturo Fernández and Johnny Depp.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
The only downside of my Hotel Carlos V stay was the famous rooftop lounge, sporting the best vistas in all of the old city’s upper town, was closed for renovations.
I knew this at the time of
booking and staff said the room rate was discounted accordingly.
Still,
knowing Carlos V’s perfect location and Toledo’s low rise buildings, it would
have been wonderful to have a morning coffee or evening cocktail from the Azotea.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
I was not
happy that my economy room was located right in front of the pair of elevators
-- but Carlos V must draw a high caliber client, because I heard none of the
loud talking often associated with tipsy tourists stepping out of an elevator.
This is
not a little inn or apartment that you never get service from after getting the
key.
This is a
truly full service hotel.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
I went in
May, an ideal time for central Spain, and the price was well below 100 euros
for the room plus taxes.
My room
was small, but very well appointed, spotlessly clean and with a comfortable bed
and warm shower.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
Footsteps from the
bus the circulates between the Renfe train station and the core of the ancient
city.
The hotel
is next to the Alcazar and very close to the main town square.
The
cathedral and all historic sites in the upper town are a 15 minute, maybe 20
minute at the most walk from Carlos V.
IN PERFECT LOCATION AT AN STUNNINGLY GREAT VALUE
It is a
full service property with history and renovated rooms.
The staff
is top notch -- one young front desk person went on a hunt through housekeeping
with me to find a pillow more to my liking.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
I only
used rideshare once -- on a rainy day when I was visiting an historic cemetery
outside the old city.
The well-trained and warm staff gave suggestions for a pair of authentic tapas bars that were within 5 minutes walking distance.
Staff also respected my request for limited housekeeping.
Many places ignore this, but
Miau's team is on top of everything.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
The only thing is it is cool, not really cold.
I could not find a knob to adjust it to a colder setting.
While this was fine for sodas and bottled water, some milk I had for medication was not cold enough.
I worried a bit that it would spoil within a couple days, vs the 10 day expiry on the label.
Once again, this is a very
small deficiency at a very excellent boutique hotel.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
It is odd
that the double doors tamp down raucous sound from Plaza Santa Ana, but the
interior modern renovation lets noise in.
Each night, I heard fellow guests talking in the hallway (the rooms are small, so groups in 2 or 3 rooms seemed to hover in the hallway at all hours.
They were
not drinking or making trouble -- just talking loud enough to disturb my sleep.
Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. It is lavish, so it is hard to complain.
Plus I understand that Spaniards eat small breakfasts much later than Americans.
But maybe opening at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. on weekends would be a compromise.
I'm an early riser.
I had to kill time before the breakfast room (2 doors down from hotel) opened.
Again, my words are more advice than complaint.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
The price
point for a perfect location in May was under 200 USD fully loaded -- delicious
breakfast and taxes included.
Miau --
yes it has a cat theme in its logo, etc. -- is very close to Sol, the biggest
transit station in Madrid. Anton Martin and others are close by too.
Puerta del
Sol, Plaza Mayor, Opera, Prado, El Rastro, Gran Via and dozens of top areas are
no more than 15 minutes walking distance.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
I could hear faint
sounds, but the double doors provided quiet nights in a roof with a small
balcony and historic views.
The breakfast is beyond lavish.
Most free breakfasts are crappy little cold food huts.
The buffet has variety, hot foods, gourmet coffee and a super hardworking
staff person.
My bed was
super firm and comfy.
The
bathroom is large and the shower tube had lots of hot water.
WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST
The staff is amazing.
This is a tiny, boutique hotel with barely a lobby.
I was not 100% sure it was staffed 24/7.
Not only is it staffed, but its English speaking
front desk crew is responsive in person and to emails.
Staff helped me plan for the trip and helped hugely during -- even got me a doctor in less than an hour when I couldn't shake a cold.
PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD
I almost booked a similar sized
apartment in MicroCentro.
While that area has a lot of famous
spots and places the tourists go -- it is creepy after dark.
Palermo SOHO is vibrant 24-7.
A few blocks in either direction and
it would have been noisy.
But this is a quiet, mostly
residential street.
Lots of buses nearby as well, to make
it easy to visit other parts of the city.
Two people could live in this unit for
2 weeks (4 with 2 bed configuration) and not feel crowded.
PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD
There are plenty of racks to dry
clothes washed in the sink, to allow for light packing.
Check in is after 3, but my flight
arrived at 4 a.m.
They got me in my room a little after
10 a.m., which was great.
It is an apartment hotel, meaning it
does not have an onsite restaurant, large lobby or those kinds of offerings.
There always is one person at the
front desk to troubleshoot if you have an issue.
It is very secure -- they give you a
code to get into the lobby.
Great working elevator.
PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD
While not presenting a gorgeous view,
the courtyard-facing balcony was a great spot for end of day gelato (huge
freezer in unit kept it ready for consuming) or malbec (really good less than
$10 USD bottles at shops nearby).
I slept was well as I've ever slept --
and I'm a light and fussy sleeper on the road.
PERFECT APARTHOTEL FOR A LONG STAY IN BA'S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD
Twice, I overindulged at nearby
restaurants – so I brought home the leftovers and had a great meal and saved
money.
You can't do that in a tiny hotel
room.
