Madrid

When you first arrive in Madrid, it may take you a couple of weeks to get your life on track. During that time, you’ll have to look for affordable housing. Hotels in Madrid are expensive, so it’s better to find an alternative option. For your first few weeks, it is more advisable to either stay at a hostel or in short-term rental apartments.

Temporary Furnished Apartments

Madrid has a plethora of serviced apartment providers. These apartments are a good option for the interim period between first arriving in the city and moving into a long-term apartment. Staying in a serviced apartment offers you a less stressful introduction to the city, giving you time to explore the city at your leisure. The following is a list of five companies facilitating serviced apartments:

Madrid Short Term Apartments

Luchana 42 – Madrid

http://www.homesfortravellers.com/

Good quality apartments with prices starting at 80 euros to 195 euros per night. The apartments are all centrally located and come in a variety of sizes, from studios to apartments for 6 people. The Web site has an extensive description of not only the apartments but also their surrounding areas. There are also many photographs of the fully furnished apartments, which all come with Internet and a fully equipped kitchen. Furthermore, the company is upfront about pricing and clearly outlines the addable extras.

However, pets and parties are not allowed in any of the apartments.

Mad4Rent

http://www.mad4rent.es

Mad4rent caters to people searching for apartments that sleep between 2 and 6 people in the price range of 70-100 euros per night, although it also offers discounts on certain apartments. All apartments are modern and well-furnished, which is shown by the photos uploaded to the site. Moreover, all of the apartments are centrally located, but there is no description of the areas that would be of any help to new residents, even though the description of the apartment itself is quite detailed. If you want Internet access, you must request it when you book the apartment. Bear in mind when you are booking the apartment that the prices do not include VAT.

Apartment2Book

http://www.apartments2book.com/madrid.htm

This Web site, although not as well designed as the previous two, has a choice of budget, mid-market, luxury and long-term stay apartments. Its properties are mainly studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments. There are descriptions of both the apartments, their locations and a list of what the apartment block has to offer, although these tend to brief and there aren’t many photos of the apartments. However, the site does offer a free phone service, unlike the majority of these sites.

Desig Madrid

T: +34 934 676 774

http://www.desigmadrid.com/en/?gclid=CLC2ta3VqJ0CFaAA4wodDhXUiQ

This Web site has a large number of properties throughout Madrid. You can search apartments by district, budget, features (pets allowed, terrace, etc.), and the number of people. Some of the apartments are discounted, and the site offers a price range of 187 to 650 euros per week. On the negative side, the apartment descriptions are quite short, although there are photos. Some apartments are also available for sale.

Spain Select

http://www.spain-select.com/

This Web site displays elegant and sophisticated apartments in the center of Madrid.

The price range runs from 500 to 2,400 euros per week, with a 5% discount if you rent the apartment for over three months. All of the utilities are included in the price. There are detailed descriptions of the locations and apartments, which are furnished to the highest standard.

Hostels

Madrid is teeming with hostels, some nicer than others, but all quite safe and relatively inexpensive. For younger ex-pats, the cheapest options are backpacker hostels, which offer dorm room accommodation, pensiones, which are slightly less expensive because of the shared bathrooms, or regular hostels, where everyone has their own room and bathroom.

Expect to pay about 20 euros per night at backpackers hostels or pensions. The following are just of few examples of these types of accommodation:

Bull’s Hostel

Plaza de Santo Domingo, 1 – 1D

Metro: Santo Domingo

T: 91 541 5308

Cat’s Hostel

Cañizares, 6

Metro: Anton Martín

T: 91 369 2807

http://www.catshostel.com/

Mad Hostel

Cabeza, 24

Metro: Anton Martín

T: 91 506 4840

http://www.madhostel.com/

Hostal Centro

La Palma, 11

Metro: Tribunal

T: 91 447 00 47

http://www.hostalcentromadridtribunal.com/

Hostels with private rooms (and bathrooms in each room) are the next step up and tend to cost between 30-50 euros per night for a single and 40-60 euros per night for a double. The following are excellent, centrally located hostels that would appeal to people of any age:

Hostal Aguilar

Carrera de San Jerónimo 32, 2 Floor

Metro: Sol

T: 91 429 59 26

http://www.hostalaguilar.com/

Hostal Triana

Salud, 13, 1 Floor

Metro: Gran Vía

T: 91 532 68 12

http://www.hostaltriana.com/

Hostal La Plata

Gran Vía, 15 – 4B

Metro: Gran Vía

T: 91 521 17 25

http://www.hostal-laplata.com/