PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

Basking behind an ornate government-protected stone façade that dates back to 1923, this famed hotel has changed character dramatically over the passing decades. In the beginning, it was the rather staid Palacio de los Condes de Teba, occasionally enlivened by legendary regulars like bullfighter Manolete who would give lavish parties and attract mobs in the square below. Next, after being refurbished and upgraded by the prestigious Tryp Hotel Group, it became the Reina Victoria, more elegant but generally patronized by less colorful figures. In October 2006, under the guiding hand of Sol Meliá who owns Tryp, it metamorphosed into today's gleaming state-of-the-art, high-tech hotel, which aims at satisfying the sophisticated demands of today's global travelers. All the latest communications facilities, from high-speed Internet to video conferences, are available. The furnishing and decor are luxuriously modern and the impressive range of accommodations covers deluxe and supreme standard double rooms, self-contained studios, and top-quality suites. Some units are soundproofed and some have adjoining facilities. All bathrooms have hydromassage showers. The famous neighboring Plaza Santa Ana has also seen sweeping renovations in recent years, resulting in more space for an increasingly lively array of terrace cafes. The action here begins about 8:30am and goes on until well past midnight, so be warned: Though atmospheric, it's not the place for the "noise-sensitive."

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Madrid, 3rd Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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