I am planning on staying at Hostal Plaza D'Ort in Madrid in december, but after reading alll the bad comments on plaza santa ana I am just not sure, If i was going alone I wouldnt care and would beat the crap out of anybody trying to mug me, but with my wife its a different story.
How safe is this area? Is it safer than Puerta del Sol? Which one is better?

[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

Hopefully one of the madrileños will answer this question since they do live there.

Keep in mind that my arguments below are regarding safety at NIGHT and not during the day as you can go almost anywhere in Madrid during the day and be/feel safe. Nighttime is only a little different.

I've heard bad stories about both, but then I've heard bad stories about most areas of Madrid. That's NOT to say that all areas of Madrid are unsafe. QUITE the contrary, in fact. But things do happen from time to time. Keep in mind that in MOST Spanish cities there are people in the streets 24 hours a day so you'll likely feel and BE safe no matter where you are.

Puerta del Sol is busier than Plaza Santa Ana so if this is a factor in safety then I would choose this. It's also more wide open so there are fewer places for would-be thieves to hide. Plaza Santa Ana/Huertas area has more narrow streets, inset/dark doorways, and probably less lighting too than you'd have in Puerta del Sol. Less traffic in Plaza Santa Ana too.

In the summer at night in Plaza Santa Ana, this zone is PACKED with people so safety is rarely an issue. Same goes for Puerta del Sol. It's only at 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning when I'd be more cautious than during daylight hours.

There are pickpockets everywhere so be on guard, but a little common sense goes a long way. Also, if you are walking around with your wife you're probably less likely to be targeted for a mugging too. They usually choose singles. And even though muggings and pickpocketing is on the rise, Madrid is still very very safe. I feel safer there with 3 million people than I do here in Columbus, Ohio, USA with 500 thousand people!

Have a GRRRRREAT time in Spain! I know you will. Is it possible NOT to????

Saludos, MadridMan

I agree with the Madridman. Madrid is safe except for certain areas very late at night.

But if you worry still I think your previous choice of Hostel (the Plaza Mayor) is located next to a government building with a guardia civil on guard, 24 hours a day.

As MM pointed out though (in a different string) there has been a lot of construction going on in this area why you can expect waking up early (never a good thing in Madrid) unless they are finished by now.

Have a nice trip

I just spent 5 nights at Hostal Plaza D'Ort and felt safe in the area at all hours. As MM said, there are always a lot of people out on the street. The Hostal is a 10 second walk to Pl. Santa Ana and less than a minute's walk to Pta del Sol. As long as your things are secure in your front pockets, I don't think you have much to worry about - just be alert like you would be anywhere else.

I didn't hear any noise from my room. I had a rear facing window, though. Hostal Plaza D'Ort is definitely my first choice whenever I make it back over there.

I think the biggest danger at Plaza Santa Ana is that you might "break your neck" because of all of the construction going on! Perhaps things will be different in December.

Everyone speaks of the pickpocketings and muggings in Madrid. For that reason, I was very aware of my surroundings but not paranoid. I never saw anything out of the ordinary but we did speak with a middle-aged Canadian woman whose wallet had been lifted (in Dunkin' Donuts)her first day in Madrid. Although she was coping quite well, the incident had really caught her by surprise as she considered herself to be somewhat of a seasoned traveler. And we were told by one of the hotel clerks that some of their clients had very unfortunate experiences in the city.

Hi Carole Chiaro,
Would you happen to know if the area in front of the Reina Victoria was under construction? I hope that they finish by New Year's!

[ 11-11-2001: Message edited by: Booklady ]

Hi Booklady,

If I recall correctly that entire area (Plaza Santa Ana on which the Hotel Reina Victoria is situated...we stayed there in the early 1980s when bullfighters frequented the place AND hotel rooms were a fraction of today's cost!) is being renovated. Perhaps one of our contributing Madrileños can take a further look.

Booklady,
We stayed at the Hotel Reina Victoria last month and the area in front of the hotel is all under construction. However, there are still lots of cafes and tapas bars open in the square. It was disappointing that the square was all torn up though.

I had chosen this hotel because I was originally going alone and wanted somewhere that I would feel safe at night and would not have to walk far to my hotel. I thought the entire area from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Santa Ana was safe as long as you used good old common sense. Personally, I don't know if I'd choose this hotel again. It was very nice and had a great breakfast buffet however the atmosphere was a bit stuffy for my taste. It was my last city and I splurged as an ending to the trip but if I had to do it again would probably choose a hostel nearby with a reception area on the ground floor.

Thank you Carole Chiaro for the information.
CathyM, I am booked in this hotel because of its history and like you I thought it would be a good place to be near Sol and since Santa Ana is the place for Tapas...now after your post I may reconsider and look for a Hostal nearby. I don't like stuffy hotels. I am also staying at the Suecia for my first leg of the trip, it was most reasonable, only one bancotel check, but they are sold out for New Year's
Booklady

Update on noisy construction work in Plaza Santa Ana.
Well, I live right on the Plaza and have three balconies. The work is due to last 6 months, and involves pedestrianizing the square, and moving the entrance into the underground carpark, as well as repaving the square itself.
The noise, for the moment isn't too bad, and has brought surprising improvements. There aren't 10,000 boisterous revellers drinking outside my window, for one thing, and the threatening characters who used to hang out there have moved on, so security is much improved.

Hey THANKS, BARRY!!! So there you go, folks! Direct from the horse's mouth (no offense, Barry! hehehehe..).

That's great news Barry. I was there end of June and loved that plaza. Very convenient for Hostale Persal which was decent lodging about midway between Pl. Santa Ana and Pta.del Sol.

Hi everyone!
Today I had the day off, so I've run some errands and decided to go for a looong walk since the weather was GREAT after 3 or 4 days of really bad one. MMan, I had to pass by El Brillante on my way to the bank, and I thought of you(of course I was tempted to have a "bocata" de calamares!).
I can report several things: all the X-mas decorations are already in place!!(although either December 1st. or Dec.15th. will be lighting-up time); I've been running around both Puerta del Sol and Sta. Ana all day with my purse wide open("despistada" me) and nothing has happened! :p, and I look "guiri" too. And finally, yes, for those interested in the state of one of the most popular areas for "tapeo", La Pz. de Sta. Ana is not in its best moment, it's even fenced all the
way(the inner part), still, the rest of the "barrio" is OK; calle Huertas, Echegaray, Moratín, Lope de vega(where I live)
An alternative place for tapas & copas(drinks) is the area of Las Cavas(Cava Alta & Cava Baja), La Latina is the subway station, there you find less tourists and more locals.

saluditos.

Thanks for the detailed info, Pim, as I'll be in the area 12/21 for 5 days. Do you know if the bars and restaurants in your barrio and the streets you named are open on 12/25? Gracias y saluditos

Just returned on 11-16-2001 from 15 days in Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Segovia. Have traveled to Spain 6-8 times in the past, but last time prior to this trip was 1985. Have traveled extensively in Europe and Asia and NEVER been pick-pocketed, but was picked in Madrid TWICE in one day on 11-2-2001 near Atocha train station. Once was three women using the city map-ask-for directions routine (described in Frommer's) at about 12:00 noon and once was three men at about 7:30 PM - one pretends to spill coins at your feet while the other two go behind you. Didn't lose anything because we were both wearing concealed packs under several layers of clothing, but I felt them going through my pockets. Hotel desk people indicated that pickpocketing of tourists is an everyday event. Spain is still a great place and I still love it, but check the US Embassy web site and Frommer's and be careful. Best of luck.

Pim , I have also enjoyed the area around La Latina as it has much more of a local feel to it.Would it be fair to recommend it to people who are a bit nervous about Santa Ana/Sol as it is less likely to have the sort of people who target tourists there?

Hello, all. ¿Que tal? I stayed at Hostal Lopez on Huertas (me encanta!) the last two times I was in Madrid (feb of 2000 y feb of 2001). I passed through Pza Sta Ana every day & almost every night without feeling any more 'at risk' than in Sol. And by 'night' I mean anywhere from 2 am - 6 am, and I was there by myself. I was vigilant about my surroundings, as always.