Ifema convention hotel advice

There have been a couple of queries this week about finding hotels at the Ifema convention and exhibition center located in the Parque Juan Carlos. To be honest the advice that we’ve given many has been at first startling and then very well recieved!

Startling

Well how would you feel if you asked for a recomendation for hotels next to the Ifema center only to be told: “Don’t stay there”  ?

We’re not saying that theres anything wrong with the hotels next to the exhibition center itself simply that if you going to be there for more than one night there is very very little in the way of restaurant variety and the area is simply one hotel after another. Perhaps “sterile” is the word? It is however recomended to stay next to the Ifema conference center if you are only there for one night!

Well received

Suprising as it may sound we recomend that if you are attending a conference or trade fair at the Ifema facility then you are far better off staying in the Nuevos Ministerios area as it offers a large number of restaurants, shopping and business facilities as well as being “in Madrid!”

As a popular area for businesess, especially of the financial sort, the Metro serving the area (also called Nuevos Ministerios) is direct to both the Ifema center and the airport with an average journey time of 20 and 25 minutes respectively. Another benefit of being close to the financial district is the availability of a wider range of Hotels in Nuevos Ministerios as well as the iconic Real Madrid football stadium; Santiago Bernabeu.

Important Note:
Whilst easily done, as it is the airport Metro line, you may wish to consider just how much material you’ll be carrying to and from the exhibition center each day. If its a lot… perhaps Ifema itself is better suited to your needs!

Madrid airport Hotels – Read before you choose

Each week we receive a very full virtual mailbag relating to choosing a Hotel in Madrid. This week we want to concentrate on Madrid airport hotels and explain honestly the pitfalls with blindly reserving online. Who wants to stay on the Madrid airport industrial estate?

Location

Its easy to say that the Madrid airport hotels are all in the same area but its not true. Yes they all share the same postcode but thats about it. In fact some Barajas airport hotels are actually in the Cargo area or next to a Motorway!

Services

The only service that a Hotel can offer thats important for a 24hr stay is the complimentary airport shuttle bus apart from that accomodation wise things are pretty much the same. Yes, theres the difference between the Hilton and the Holiday Inn but I think we’re all accostomed to the differing levels of service and number of “stars”.

What do we recomend?

Of the 60 plus  hotels proporting to be Madrid airport hotels there are only THREE that are worth considering. The only hotels for Madrid airport we believe to be worthwhile for your stay are those that:

• Are located in Barajas village – This village has a large number of restaurants, bars, shops and cafes as well as a beautiful square or plaza so you are not restricted to the hotel. The metro can take you into the center of the city in less than 20 minutes so you have the option of eating out in Madrid then returning to the hotel before an early flight the next day.
• Offer a shuttle bus – Whilst Barajas village offers a one stop metro connection to the airport in the event that your shuttle bus has gone astray the benefit of a Madrid airport hotel with a shuttle bus of its own is obvious. No heaving around your luggage and no trying to find the hotel!!! 

What hotels then?

Meeting the previous conditions the list of recomended Madrid airport hotels can be whittled down to just three:

• Tach by ClementHotels – One of the most modern and comfortable hotels in Barajas village
• Clement Barajas – This is the forerunner of the above and offers the same benefits
• Tryp Alameda Aeropuerto – A large hotel and ideal for groups from an established Hotel chain

There is a cheaper option in Barajas although it comes with one drawback, namely, You must telephone the Hostal directly to arrange the Shuttle service before you travel. Hostal Viky

We strongly don’t recomend
Theres nothing worse than geeting stuck in a bad Madrid airport hotel so heres a list of those hotels to avoid!

• The Madrid airport Hilton – Its in the middle of an industrial estate
• Tryp Alameda aeropuerto – In a somewhat rough neighbourhood
• Melia Barajas – As per Tryp Alameda
• Tryp Diana – As per Tryp Alameda
• Auditorium Madrid – Its around 30 minutes from the airport and next to one of Spains busiest motorways!!

We hope that this article in some way helps with your accomodation decisions and please fell free to coment on its usefullness!