Madrid Hotel Recommendations

HOTEL SARDINERO might fit your budget and it is located in a great area, not jammed with foreign tourists.
The exterior is gorgeous; I've not been inside any rooms but they are modern. This is my preferred area to stay in Madrid. Walkable to great restaurants, and to the Prado, etc.

https://www.hotelsardineromadrid.com/en/

I would NOT stay on the Gran Via, near Sol, or near the Plaza Mayor--those are the areas that you would not like, based on what you wrote. Anything near the Alonso Martinez metro stop should be good...you've got that Metro, and the bus that runs down Castellana, so you can get to the station for your day trip. But do you know which station? There are different train stations linking different cities.

Look also at the AVANI ALONSO MARTINEZ, nearby. The location is great and it seems to get very good reviews.
That is less expensive than the SARDINERO; prices this week fit your budget. With breakfast, it's $191. in USD, and around $170USD without breakfast. Another gorgeous exterior with rooms remodeled a few years ago.

Read the detailed reviews and take a room not facing the street for quiet. But no matter where you are, expect to hear noise of trash collection in the morning, like most other major European cities.

I consider the Petit Palace chain to be a Botique chain. There are a number of them around the city.

Madrid has multiple train stations. Where you intend to day trip to will determine which station you need to go to. For example, for Toledo you need to go to Atocha, but for Segovia, I believe it’s Chamartín.

If you like Francisco de Goya and have the time, a seldom visited location is Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida. His tomb is there as are a number of his frescos.

We enjoy staying by the Puerta Del Sol simply for the people watching. Also, we only stop in Madrid for a night or two at the end of longer trips to wind down for the flight home.

If you look at the map of central Madrid:

Draw a line east/west from Tirso de Molina metro stop to Anton Martin metro stop...

---> NW from Anton Martin to Gran via

---> NW from Gran via to Plaza de España

---> SW to the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena

---> SE back to Tirso de Molina

That's the tourist core where I wouldn't want to stay because it's the touristy core of a massive European metro area. It's like staying right on Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus in London. There are cool attractions, nice architecture, and it is an amazing places to stay, don't get me wrong. BUT, you don't get great value of money and you do see more international chains, people dressed up as Spiderman looking to take a picture for a few euros, ripoff places catering to tourists, etc.

I prefer to stay still in the center but outside that bubble. So, Malasaña, Chueca, Chamberí NORTH, La latina, Lavapies, Barrio de las letras, Ibiza, SOUTH & EAST. There's also Barrio de Salamanca which is the rich neighborhood, think a blend of the Upper East/Wide side of Manhattan. Prices will be higher so maybe not if you're being budget conscious.

Those neighborhoods are all great, but still very central. If you want quick access to hop on the train to Toledo, the area northwest of Atocha would be great, Lavapies/ barrio de las letras. There are some big chains along the Calle de Atocha going NW from Atocha, Hilton, Radisson, pretty nice. There's a pretty budget friendly place I'm staying at in a few months, SleepNAtocha. Lavapies is a bit more lively, multi-culutral, hipster-y, Letras is quieter and more upscale. Both are good for access to the Reina Sofia and Prado.

A little further out is the Chamberí neighborhood. It's a truly residential neighborhood of Madrid's upper middle class. It's quiet, still with some amazing bars and restaurants, great local services, generally nicer, bigger apartments more like 1910s buildings than 1670 buildings. So, the Chamberí neighborhood would be my pick for you. More likely to find a pretty modern hotel with nice beds for that price too.

I have also stayed at that Petit Palace chain in Madrid and liked it a lot.

SLEEP'N Atocha hotel is in a good location for Atocha train station and the Rena Sofía museum is just across the plaza. It is a more budget friendly hotel than many others.

I did stay at the Hotel Sardinero Madrid and liked it. Mind you, there are parts of the hotel entrance/lobby that aren't really for folks with mobility issues (steps). I don't think there were bell boys who could assist with luggage. Restaurante Fismuler was great and it's only a stone's throw away. It was full of locals when I was there about five years ago.

I'm so interested to read that. I stay not far from the SARDINERO and have always admired the facade of that hotel, and I love staying in that area, near Alonso Martinez Metro. I walked into the lobby last time because I wanted to see if the historic details had been retained when they renovated the buildling--I do remember some steps.
But I imagine that if you asked for help with luggage, they would provide it, even if they do not have a dedicated bellman. I've done that in other hotels) and have never been turned down.

I've had Fismuler on my list for a long time but have never been...will make a note for next time. That area is great for restaurants and cafes, and not at all jammed with tourists. But it's convenient to the center.

Totally agree about staying in Chamberi--and staying out of the central core. I think the SARDINERO might technically be in Chamberi..not sure of the exact boundaries.

Thank you all! We booked the Sardinero. I usually post detailed trip reports so I’ll share my experience with this hotel including any considerations for those with mobility issues and heavy luggage.