Hostal El Pasaje

“Perfectly adequate for a night”

This hotel seems to be connected to the nearby Victoria Hotel, which has a proper reception desk and area. This hotel has a small reception, a window which a staff member came down and opened for me to check in and out. On arrival I had to ring the bell to get someone's attention, and then wait... more

This hotel seems to be connected to the nearby Victoria Hotel, which has a proper reception desk and area. This hotel has a small reception, a window which a staff member came down and opened for me to check in and out. On arrival I had to ring the bell to get someone's attention, and then wait a few minutes for her to come to the door. It also took a couple of minutes for someone to come when I checked out. I think the bulk of the hotel staff are based in the other hotel, and this one is a bit like an annex. The room was compact but clean and neat, with a double bed, desk and wardrobe. It was fine for one person. For 2 people it could get a bit claustrophobic if you spent much time in the room. The bed was comfortable. The bathroom was fine and the shower very powerful. I paid an extra £4 for a 'continental breakfast', and got given a ticket for this when I asked. Breakfast is over in the Victoria hotel. and not in the restaurant down the stairs but at street level, and you can go in next to the reception desk or from the street. Breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee, a glass of orange juice, and a large croissant-shaped pastry (or one or two alternative pastries). I felt that was pretty minimal. It was OK, but wouldn't satisfy a larger appetite. There was a bakery nearby selling other pastries etc. for those who wanted a bit more. You don't take your own breakfast, a waiter asks you what hot drink and which pastry you want and brings it to you. When I was there the two waiters were also serving a veritable horde of students, so it took about 10 minutes to get my breakfast. I found it easily met my need for a place to stay the night before flying the next day. The hotel is near a Metro / suburban train station, Sol, which gave access to the airport, although trying to negotiate the system, with the various ticket machines etc., was a bit challenging for a non-Spanish-speaker not familiar with Madrid. It took about 30-45 mins to get to the airport. There are also several shops and eating places nearby, and it's not far from the centre, though I didn't have time to explore. It's about 20 mins' walk from Atocha station.

less

“Centrally located.”

Rooms are very small but the location is good. Language is a major problem as the workers don't seem to understand what we want. Sol Plaza is close by and so are sightseeing buses within reach. Lots of restaurants in the vicinity.

“Average Hotel with Good Location”

One of the most crucial points if you are working in the tourism industry is to be able to communicate with the costumers. None of the staff could speak English. The help desk is not available at all times, and not all of the staff are friendly. We asked if we can get two spoons and one of the st... more

One of the most crucial points if you are working in the tourism industry is to be able to communicate with the costumers. None of the staff could speak English. The help desk is not available at all times, and not all of the staff are friendly. We asked if we can get two spoons and one of the staff was so strong in denying our request, which is totally unprofessional in such a hotel. The beds are small and the air conditioning is not well maintained. The management has to train the staff to be more professional and friendly. A positive point is the location of the hotel.

less