Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD): Approximate driving time is 30 minutes and distance is 15 kilometers (9.3 miles).

Minibuses and taxi cabs are available for transfer from the airport to the center of Madrid. Metro line 8 also serves the airport and takes passengers into central Madrid.

The extensive Metro system connects the hotel with the rest of central London within 15 minutes. The Underground station closest to the hotel is Arguelles. There is also a wide choice of buses. The hotel can order taxi cabs on request.

This hotel has 275 guestrooms. Rooms span the second to the 14th floors. The most striking room feature is the large reproduction painting chosen from the Prado Museum’s extensive collection, and displayed behind each bed. All rooms are decorated in mustard and beige tones with a caramel and black carpet and sturdy cherry-wood furniture. There are two desks, one with a brass work light and two Internet connections (one digital, one analogue). Rooms overlook the main street Serrano Jover or inner courtyard. All rooms have double-glazing. In addition to spare bedding, towels for gym and pool use are also provided. The marble bathrooms have telephones, magnifying mirrors, shampoo and soap in large dispensers and red carnations.

Breakfast Room - Located on the first floor, this naturally lit room, decorated with blue carpet and white-topped tables, has 100 covers and overlooks the main street.

Malvasia - This formal restaurant with street access is set out in a semi-circular shape and hugs the circular Global Café. Spanish Mediterranean cuisine is served to hotel guests and locals. The a la carte lunch and dinner menu may include Catalonian Stew, Fried Sardine with Ratatouille or Iberian Ham. The décor is neutral and natural materials are used, where possible. The color shifts from white to nut brown and rust colors; the floor is covered with hessian, the tables set with white linen and the chairs are cherry-wood.

Global Cafe - Open 24-hours daily to serve drinks and tapas snacks, this circular cafe with street access and well stocked bar, fills up with hotel guests and locals. The good value lunch menu is popular. The décor, intimate wooden tables and maroon and yellow décor, creates a relaxed ambience.

Royal Piano Bar - Live piano music is played every evening as guests enjoy drinks and light snacks seated on velvet covered seats around little wooden tables by the original 1970s bar.

What to expect: The Otamendi brothers were the Basque architects who designed this high-rise hotel, which opened its wide, automated doors in 1976 to an international business clientele. The number of leisure travelers swells at weekends. In spite of the extensive renovation, the confident 1970s décor and design dominates the hotel.

Amenity highlights: Hotel guests and local people work out at the Holiday Gym. Facilities include 150 cardiovascular machines, an indoor pool and choice of exercise classes (from Tai Chi to Flamenco), massage, manicure and Juice Bar.

Insider tip: The hotel staff provide maps detailing how to get to the jogging trails of the Western Park, just five blocks away, along with information on how many calories are consumed with a brisk run along the route.

The convention center has 12 modular meeting rooms with a total capacity of 1800 people. The Ballroom features large chandeliers and a blue, pink and cream color scheme, with a maximum capacity for 900 (cocktail style) but may be divided up into three smaller rooms. High-speed Internet access (fee) from three computers, a printer, credit-card telephone booths and ATM are available for guest use in the hotel lobby.

The spacious lobby, characterized by the geometric shapes of the 1970s hotel, has fabric-covered sofas set around glass tables and a choice of shops – jewelry, souvenir and smart Spanish clothes.

The hotel has its own parking lot – a bonus in such a central location.