Clement Barajas - Madrid, Spain     

We were conducting a week long training course near the Barajas airport recently and so selected this hotel (for ourselves and the course participants) from its competitors. Our selection was partly based on reviews here on TA. By and large we were happy with our choice. Most of the positive aspects discussed in previous reviews were accurate. However the one thing that bugged me was that it was impossible to iron (press) a shirt without sending it to the hotel laundry, which cost in the region of EUR 5 per shirt. This is probably not an issue at all for many customers of the hotel who may be passing through on a one or two night stay / during a holiday. However, staying at the hotel for a week and wanting to look professional for work each day it becomes an issue. I stay at many hotels all around the world and this is the first time in quite some years when I have not been able to iron shirts myself. Most often the room comes equipped with an iron and ironing board, or at least room service can provide one, usually for the duration of the stay. Worst case scenario is that you are provided with access to an ironing room or facility elsewhere in the hotel. However, with the Clement Hotel this was not possible and the only solution was to have the shirt pressed by housekeeping. I regard this as poor business practice, especially for a hotel that is clearly pitching itself at the local convention market. We are scheduling to conduct another course near Barajas soon and will be reviewing our choice of hotel. If you don't need or care about ironing, the Clement is a very good airport hotel, and the town of Barajas, while not overly attractive, has some good options for eating and drinking within easy walk of the hotel. I would particularly recommend restaurant Al Traste, a fun and inexpensive eating house with friendly staff about 100 meters to the left after exiting the hotel. Just a note about internet access ~ I didn't have a problem using the complimentary wifi in my room, but a couple of colleagues could not connect and so used the terminal provided down in the foyer.

Tripadvisor does not lead you astray here, this is one great hotel near the airport. The staff spoke enough English so we could communicate, the rooms are nice, the lobby is great and you get free wireless! I'd stay here again in a heartbeat.