Gran Meliá Fénix

“More than a hotel . . . A refuge and glorious throwback”

The Hotel Fenix Gran Melia is located superbly in the Salamanca area of Madrid. For those whom walking is no issue, it is within short or longer walks of tremendous shopping, amazing architecture, beautiful parks, excellent restaurants, and a host of other Madrid offerings across cultural and scen… more

The Hotel Fenix Gran Melia is located superbly in the Salamanca area of Madrid. For those whom walking is no issue, it is within short or longer walks of tremendous shopping, amazing architecture, beautiful parks, excellent restaurants, and a host of other Madrid offerings across cultural and scenic dimensions. The hotel resists the temptation to go with ever more minimalist steely and “simple” and sleek approaches to decor or design. Those have their virtues, but the Fenix Gran Melia foregoes those and sticks with a commitment to traditional, plush, colorful ambience. The overall vibe is gracious politeness and a kind of assertive commitment to a sense of duty to care for the client and do what is possible to make guests feel cared for in a professional, almost loving fashion. The sense of being in an older time and place with a different, close-to-regal approach is palpable. Our room was nicely furnished with all the amenities of a top-tier facility, and the only thing I missed was a pool. But that’s a minor thing. The meals at the hotel are beautify and tastefully prepared and for those with interests in all forms of alcohol will find this hotel a nirvana for those who like a taste or a bit more of that sort of thing. I enjoyed the breakfast, which was included in our package. Here is the most important thing. I cannot go into details about it, but we had a personal issue that involved an allergic reaction to the materials used in the bedding. It occurred at 2am and yet the available staff literally stripped the entire bed, while reassuring us of how they empathized and that they are there to deal with whatever they can safely do. They remained positive and did all they could to reassure us. The literally removed every part of the bedding and replaced it with stuff that my spouse could tolerate. And in the morning they apologized. The entire staff seemed to be aware of the incident and their reaction was to just double and triple down on empathy and care. I relate this to tell you all out there that unlike the empty slogan “you’re in good hands with (fill in the blank),”. In the case of the Fenix Gran Melia, we really were in good, caring, and competent hands. As for other issues, the hotel seemed tranquil and serene, despite being a stone’s throw from some of Madrid’s busiest and swankiest places. Excellent location, a glimpse into a pace and demeanor of a different time and place, with professional, empathetic, and competent staff throughout, wonderful meals . . . The Hotel Fenix Gran Melia has it all, in my view. Now to end it, I want to single out Andrea Ruiz at reception. She was, along with her night-call partner and colleague, beyond kind and solicitous. She really is a jewel and treasure, along with the people who worked with her. Any organization would be blessed beyond measure to have her working for them.

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