We’re back from our trip (Madrid, Aranjuez, Toledo, El Escorial, Segovia, Cordoba, Sevilla, Ronda, Granada, Barcelona, Montserrat) and here are our reviews of the hotels we stayed at.

All prices and descriptions are for a double room with private bathroom. Prices do not include tax (7%).

I also included reviews on the night trains we took.

Let me know if you have questions on any of these or any city we visited.

Hostal Barrera (Madrid)
Address: Atocha 96
Site: http://www.inicia.es/de/mollo/Portada.htm
Contact: hostalbarrera@inicia.es

Close to Atocha and Anton Martin Metro stop. Also close to Reina Sofia.
AC, safe, TV, phone, elevator.

Location was great since it’s close to the station from which all our day trips left and from Reina Sofia Museum. It’s also wihtin easy walking distance of Prado and the “center”.
Very homey and friendly. Rooms are comfortable and have been recently tastefully redecorated. My wife especially liked the color schemes. Everything (furniture, bathroom,…) looks new. They even do laundry for a small fee. Windows are double pane so little street noise but walls are a bit thin.

51 Euros for a double with private bathroom. Great value.

Hostal Arias (Sevilla)
Address: Calle Marina Pineda 9
Site: http://www.arrakis.es/~reina
Contact: reservas@hostalarias.com

Around the corner from the Cathedral and the Alcazar.

AC, safe, TV, phone, elevator.

Room and bathroom older and small but utilitarian. Nothing to write home about but very well located. Our room was on the top floor and was quiet.

For 43 euros, what more could you ask for?

Hotel Goyesca (Ronda)
Address: Calle Infantes, 39
Site: http://www.ronda.net/usuar/hotelgoyesca/
Contact: hotelgoyesca@ronda.net

Within easy walking distance from train station, bus station and center.

TV, Phone, no AC but none needed thanks to thick walls.

Sitting room with sofa and TV, large bedroom and bathroom with azuelos. All rooms situated around flowered patio. Felt like home.
Owner Jose Maria’s hospitality is extraordinary. He even took all the guests to a nearby fiesta in the evening.
Breakfast was included and, to our delight, prepared, with love, by Jose Maria.
We sat and talked over coffee with him and other guests for almost 2 hours.
Would definitely go back again.
For 72 Euros (homemade breakfast included), an extraordinary value.

Macia Plaza (Granada)
Address: Plaza Nueva, 4
Site: http://www.maciahoteles.com/plaza.html
Contact: maciaplaza@maciahoteles.com

Siuated close to Albaicin and within reasonable distance from cathedral and Alhambra.

AC, TV, phone, Safe, double window, elevator

Comfortable hotel , good amenities, but impersonal. We had a good-sized quiet room. The quiet rooms on the side street are dark but the rooms on Plaza Nueva are noisy.

62 Euros

Hostal Girona (Barcelona)
Address: Girona, 24
Site: None found
Contact: Fax: 93 265 85 32

Situated in the quiet upscale residential area of Eixample. Close to 4 different metro stations. Within walking distance of Catalunya.

TV, phone, elevator, double windows, no AC but ceiling fan.

Spartan, small, dark, quiet room. Functional bathroom. Very unfriendly staff. Their attitude was not commercial at all and we felt we were a bother for them and not a customer.

54 Euros

Hotel Acueducto (Segovia)

Address: Padre Claret 10
Site: http://www.hotelacueducto.com/
Contact: administracion@hotelacueducto.com

Situated near the aqueduct and not far from Meson Candido (yum, yum!!)

AC, tel, TV, double windows, elevator

Large comfortable room with little balcony and view of the aqueduct.
Lots of amenities. Cold buffet breakfast included.

73 Euros

Talgo night train (Granada-Barcelona)

We booked seat in the Preferente class so we had a cabin for 2 (bunk beds).
Comfortable beds. Amenities: wash basin, toothbrush, soap, bottle water, comb, wash cloth, towels. Toilets down the hall.
Dining car and “café” car.
Clean cabin. Friendly service. Comfortable ride but arrived an hour late.

Great travel time saver.
Please note the tap water is not potable so BYOB.

85 Euros/person (Granada-Barcelona, 12 hours)

Estrella night train (Barcelona-Madrid)
We were in Gran Clase so we had a cabin for 2 (bunk beds).
Comfortable beds. Wash basin, shower and towels. No amenities like comb, toothbrush, bottled water,.. Toilets down the hall.
Dining car and “café” car.
Clean cabin. Friendly service. Comfortable ride but arrived an hour late.

Great travel time saver.
Please note the tap water is not potable so BYOB.

70 Euros/person (Barcelona-Madrid, 9 hours)

Did you book your night train tickets ahead of time? If so, how far?

I had planned on booking an individual cabin for my overnight train ride from Burgos to Barcelona when I arrived at the airport in Madrid (about 10 days ahead). Unfortunately, the only thing available was a bed in a shared "room" with 5 other woman in tourist class. It was an experience that wasn't too bad, but next time I'll be sure to book further in advance (it was during the time of a large festival in Barcelona so this may have made the difference).