Madrid, Spain

In the elite neighbourhood of Plaza Independencia, Hotel Hospes Puerta Alcalá offers a peaceful sanctuary away from the energy of Madrid

Having recovered from years of recession, Madrid has since grown into a thriving business hub. It owes this partly to its strategic position in relation to the US, Africa and Latin America: every year, large numbers of business travellers from these regions pass through the city. For those who spend time in Madrid, it’s difficult not to be seduced by the Spanish lifestyle. Expats rank Spain second in the world for quality of life, and it’s easy to see why.

Madrid boasts a warm climate, world-renowned gastronomy and an extensive cultural offering. It’s home to many galleries and museums, including the Museo Nacional del Prado, which contains works by Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where visitors can view Pablo Picasso’s famous painting Guernica.

Madrid boasts a warm climate, world-renowned gastronomy and an extensive cultural offering

After a day in lively Madrid, some rest and relaxation will be much needed. Hotel Hospes Puerta Alcalá serves as a peaceful retreat in the middle of the action. It is centrally located, just opposite El Retiro Park, and overlooks the Puerta de Alcalá, one of the city’s most important monuments.

Situated within a 19th-century townhouse, the grandeur of the hotel’s exterior is complemented by its elegant contemporary interior design. Its light, airy rooms, with their high ceilings and gentle colour schemes of mauve, grey and cream, command an air of calm and relaxation. But the real sanctuary is the Bodyna Spa, located in the building’s former stables and complete with a Jacuzzi, sauna and hamam.

The hotel’s central location is sure to come in useful for hotel guests, who will be perfectly placed to visit the upmarket Salamanca district and enjoy Madrid’s Golden Mile of shopping. The hotel also has easy airport access (30 minutes by taxi) and the Retiro metro station is only a three-minute walk away.