Smart,
contemporary interiors with vintage touches
Opposite Príncipe
Pío Metro and commuter train station
Surrounded by
three of Madrid's finest parks
Walking distance
to lively Gran Vía
Top-floor solarium terrace
with lovely views
Spacious, stylish lounge
with plenty of seating
Some rooms open
to balconies with park views
Free Wi-Fi and
Internet corner
Secure underground parking
on-site
Poor sound
insulation in rooms
Some rooms are
tiny
Overlooks busy
road
No in-room refreshment
amenities
The 99-room Hotel Acta
Madfor is a mid-range property that opened in 2012 opposite Príncipe Pío train
station to the west of Madrid's center. While immediate surrounds aren't that
attractive, there's plenty of green space within walking distance -- as is the
city's liveliest street of Gran Vía. Rooms are fresh and modern, though can be
small with poor sound insulation. Views from
higher-level rooms and the roof-top solarium terrace are a real highlight, and on-site
parking is a real boon for drivers. Overall, it's a good value option with good
transport connections -- though earplugs might be required.
Scene
Modern hotel with antique accents
Opened in 2012, the
Hotel Acta Madfor occupies an inconspicuous piece of contemporary red brick
architecture whose modern entrance is fronted with smart black awning and
potted shrubbery. Through a set of sliding doors, guests enter a tidy,
low-ceilinged reception area decked out in simple modern black-and-white
styling, contrasting with a few pieces of classical-style furnishings. The
juxtaposition of fresh and contemporary interiors with recovered traditional
pieces continues throughout the hotel, with chandeliers and old-fashioned
ceiling lights illuminating modern wood floors that lead up to a spacious
mezzanine open-plan lounge dotted with a mixture of low-profile design pieces,
Chesterfield sofas, and 19th-century antiques. The blend of vintage and new
creates playful yet tasteful interiors resulting in an atmosphere that is both
modern and cozy.
Location
Opposite Príncipe Pío train station, 15 minutes' walk from Gran Vía
The hotel is
located on a fairly busy road in the Casa de Campo area to the west of Madrid's
center. Although not the most attractive neighborhood, the hotel is surrounded
by some of the capital's finest parks including Parque del Oeste, La Casa de
Campo, and Campo del Moro. Transport links are also good with the Príncipe Pío
Metro and commuter train station just opposite and connects easily to all over
the city. Madrid's famous main shopping and entertainment thoroughfare -- Gran
Vía -- is a brisk 15-minute walk away while the Príncipe Pío shopping mall is
just around the corner. Access by car is also convenient with the hotel just a
block from the M-30 highway exit and there is garage parking on-site.
Rooms
Stylish rooms, some with pleasant park view balconies
The hotel has 99
rooms, all of which are decorated in fresh, simple contemporary styling with
wood flooring, modern furnishings, and crisp white fabrics -- though some are
very small. In-room tech includes free Wi-Fi, electronic safes, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels (though there's little in English).
All rooms are climate controlled, though lacking minibars or tea and coffee
facilities. While some rooms extend to balconies, not all are furnished, though
some do feature lovely views of the Casa de Campo park. Bathrooms are nicely
finished in gray slate with walk-in showers and wall-mounted hair dryers.
Despite some soundproofing, road-facing rooms can suffer from traffic noise
while there have also been reports of very poor sound insulation between rooms.
Features
Spacious lounge and top-floor terrace with lovely views
The hotel has a
breakfast service each morning serving a cold buffet, though it is not included
in the rate -- a vending machine area, mini-fridge, microwave, and coffee
machine are also available for guests' use throughout the day. The hotel's
Mad4U lounge is a spacious sitting area with plenty of seating and a pleasant
place to unwind, while a top-floor furnished terrace has splendid views over
the surroundings. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel as is an Internet corner
with two terminals. Those arriving by car have access to secure parking on-site
(for a fee) while unusual for Madrid hotels, bike are available to hire.