Lodging in Spain

We rented an apartment in Madrid. It was on the 4th floor, no lift but the apt. was fabulous. Everything you might need to start was there. All we had to buy was food. There was oil, condiments, cooking utensils, crockery, etc. Email: [email protected]. Tell her John and Sue Britt sent you.

You will get more helpful responses if you state your budget, in actual currency ("moderate price" means different things to different people).

John, thank you. We willb e in Madrid for 3 days so not sure that will work. Harold, I purposely did not state $ as I am open to peoples suggestions. We hope to stay under $100/per night.
Shelly

We loved the Hotel Granvia in Barcelona. It will be a little over $100/night, but it's really well located and sparkling clean - totally renovated from top to bottom last spring. http://www.hotelgranvia.com

My you've waited quite late to book rooms. Check out www.travelodge.co.uk. They have no frills motels in Spain and the UK. We have used them extensively and they often have rock bottom sales in Spain. Register on the site and you will get all the great sales by email. We once got rooms in London for 9 GBP/night or around $15/night.

Look into Hostal Acapulco in Madrid and Hotel Maestranza in Sevilla. I like both of these and have recommended them to friends and family. Hostales in Spain are smaller family run hotels, they are not youth hostels. Both of these choices have convenient, centric locations.

I think we stayed at Hostal Santa Cruz in Madrid, well located but definitely nothing special - and expensive by Spanish standards. It's one floor of a building that includes another Hostal (on another floor) recommended in Rick's books. Apart from the location, it was only adequate. In Barcelona, we stayed at Hostal Campi. Also very well located. We liked this one and would stay here again. One note, I don't recall our room having A/C. In summer, it could be an issue - but should be fine in October. Also our room didn't have ensuite - which isn't a big deal to us; only about half their rooms are ensuite. If that's important to you, pay attention when you book. We paid a little over 60 euro per night for a large room with an alley view (for us quieter is better). In Sevilla, we stayed at a big hotel outside the center, Al-Andalus Palace. We hopped on a bus at the end of the block to get downtown and there is free, and safe, parking on the street in the area (or the hotel has a pay garage). Normally we avoid the big hotels, but we got a price on four nights that was roughly their normal rate for one night (265 euros) during the April Fair, and it was really nice.

I'll second Hostal Acapulco in Madrid. It's been a few years, so I might recommend checking tripadvisor for the latest reviews and photos. If everything is as it was in 2009, I would stay there again in a heartbeat – cheap, super clean, big rooms, balconies overlooking Plaza del Carmen, cafes & restaurants nearby, close to Gran Via, and just a couple of blocks over and up from Puerta del Sol (so very central). Others here like Hotel Europa a lot...same general area but nearly next to PdS. Good café there. As for apartments, try airbnb.com (cheap and can rent by day, week, month). I've been using airbnb this year for nearly all trips domestic and abroad...love it.

Hostal Acapulco Left there hours ago after 4 nights...One of the best..three star...elevator...marble and granite floors and baths. good, firm bed. I had a single, much larger than other singles...Friends had a twin bed..both rooms interior and will definitely return in April. Those on the street open to the Plaza del Carmen, easily found on the map, one block off Gran Via and a couple of blocks off Puerta del Sol. Garbos restaurant on the plaaa is excellent!!! Rate for single was less than 60 e per night...for the double was about 65 euro I think.