AC Santo Mauro - Madrid, Spain 

We were traveling through Spain for 3 weeks in June/July 2008. We stayed at several 5 star hotels along the way. This was not only the worst of our visit but on of the worst that I've ever stayed in. The rooms are clean and large and decently furnished with a large bath -- although the primary color is grey. I like modern but I like more eclectic with some color. After 5 nights the grey/black monotone colors really got to me. The lobby is small -- well there really isn't anything to the hotel except the rooms and a very small check-in area and in the back a smallish lounge and the breakfast/dining room which is tiny (its like a library in a large home). But it isn't so much the rooms as it is 3 other things. The first and largest is the SERVICE. The people are never around. Just try to get served in the bar/lounge area -- and if you do -- just try to get your bill. Each time had to walk around trying to search for service personel. At least with 50 rooms they somehow remember your room number so if you give up and don't sign the bill, it will make it to your room. And don't even try to dial the front desk for help they never answered. I had a pair of pants ironed and they never showed up at the promised time. I had to followup (which took forever) to get them delivered - we almost missed our dinner reservation. The front desk is also the concierge -- these people are nice and speak excellent english, but I was very disappointed when they made a reservation for me and never communicated the results back. I had to physcially go back downstairs to the desk to find out the outcome -- since they rarely answer the phone quickly. They also said walking to the Parado museum would take about 15min.....maybe if one were to run!!! It took closer to 40min.....with an 8 year old this was brutal! The pool is large -- but TOXIC. It is in the basement and there is a very very very strong chlorine smell. When you swim in it it's even worse, taking a breath of air jut above the water makes you gasp. I refused to let my daughter swim in it after the first time - - I have a bit of asthma and I was coughing for days after. I typically understand that 5 star hotel breakfasts can be expensive and I go with the flow. But at 30 euros each (for adults and kids) I don't care how good it is. There were no other options - no a la carte menu not even with room service. In fact when I was served a coffee in the lounge in the morning I was charged for two 30 euro breakfasts (my daughter happened to be sitting next to me). We had this fixed, but I found it very strange that we couldn't get a simple breakfast. We did have dinner outside one night -- good food/creative but spendy. I think there are a ton better places to stay than this one -- we didn't have too much of a choice as we had to book last minute and our first choices were full.

i loved the hotel. it is in the center of madrid in one of the finest neighbourhoods. i recomend you to sleep in the santo mauro if you go to madrid. is it also very close from serrano st and jose ortega y gasset st.. where all the fashion stores are