This was our first stay at the Principe Pio Hotel, we booked a room with a Palace view. On arrival we were upgraded to a top floor suite by very friendly staff on reception. The room was delightful and looked like it had recently been decorated. We had terrific views of the Palace. The room was kept in tip top shape on a daily basis and nothing too much trouble for the staff. One minor gripe was the mattress was a little firm for our tastes. Our first night was inadvertently spent with the windows ajar and it could be noisy as it’s on a main road combined with the peacocks calling from the palace garden. From then on with the windows closed it was absolutely fine, the aircon worked very well and was whisper quiet. Although this is classed as a 3* hotel we had a safe, fridge and tea making facilities to make our stay really comfortable. There is a roof terrace with plenty of seating to enjoy the sunshine too.
Please Avoid this place. It is cheap but nothing else! I stayed here checked into the receiption which is 24 hours after my working day. The place is near the metro cuatro caminos (a mainly poorer area of Madrid with lots of south american population). The area does have a 24 hour supermarket which was good as the hostal has no food/drink facilities. The room was a very small single bed as I was alone on an education course for my job. The room had a fan and tv and a small table. Once you switch off the light the fan goes off so you cannot sleep with the fan on at night with 39c heat. you cannot leave the window open as its not a safe place. The first moment I checked in, i quickly went outside to get air and get the metro outside. They checked in a drunk african man at 6pm in the evening who was walking up the stairs with a can of beer unable to walk or see anything (their is no lift to the rooms) you need to walk up around 50 stairs to the rooms. They take anyone from the streets if they pay the small charge to stay here. Second day, the two receiptionists or owners were fighting over money from the hotel they were shouting and getting agressive. Its was an uncomfortable situation to see. I left and came back after work for a shower and the room had not been cleaned. They said you didnt put a badge on the door saying clean my room. Couldnt they knock and say something? Very strange way of working? The next day I put the badge clean my room but NO nothing changed. It was an excuse.. Then I went and complained he didnt speak any English and didnt want to know he said the cleaners left and nothing he can do. I pulled off the bedsheets, but the bed protector was badly stained with blood and I also got a skin rash. I left the property 1 day early, it was disgusting. The toilets were not cleaned either and insects were crawling everywhere. This place should be closed down immediately. They dont take security or cleaning seriously, they dont want to know problems only take your money. I explained to Expedia about this place but the hotel denied everything. SHAME!!!