Welcome to the center of this vibrant, wonderful, and accommodating city!
You will find we are very easy-going hosts who look forward to learning as much about you and your culture as you may be about life in Madrid. We are proud of our city and are delighted to share our insights and recommendations. Time permitting, we are even happy to join you on part of your expedition.
We share our home with renters in the spirit as roommates, where shared responsibilities, respect of the property, and consideration of each others' time and space is of utmost importance.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE. We are very flexible with regard to your arrival time, and understand that arrivals from the Americas generally happen in the early morning hours. If we have back-to-back renters and are unable to accommodate your early arrival, we are happy to store your bags until the room is ready and work out a time between the outgoing guest and you that is reasonable. Keep in mind it takes about two hours to turn the room around and clean the common areas. Likewise, if you have a late departure from Madrid, you are welcome to stay as late as you wish in the apartment, however if we have an incoming guest, we will ask you to vacate the room at a reasonable hour. In this case you are welcome to leave your bags with us until it's time for you to depart.
HEATING. As our building was constructed in the 1800s, there is no central heating. There are wall heaters in the apartment, including the guest bedroom. The heaters are timed for different temperatures based on time of day, however we ask that if you are leaving the apartment for an extended period (more than a run to the deli), please turn the heater in your room off. Electricity is very expensive here, and in the interest of keeping costs low for our guests, we hope you appreciate and adhere to this policy.
THIRD GUEST: We can rent our third bedroom/office to you if you need space for a third guest. As this is our office space and also the egress to the terrace, we request that the sofa bed be stowed and the room made available for others' use by 12 noon each day.
INTERNET. We have WiFi with a ridiculously long and unchangeable password, which we will provide you upon your arrival.
LAUNDRY. You are free to use the washing machine in the kitchen. Setting 6 is the rapid cycle (cold) most akin to a typical wash cycle in the US; other settings can take up to 2 hours to process. The clothesline is located just out the kitchen window with a box of clothespins next to the window. Please be sure to remove your dried clothing from the line in short order.
MEALS. We do not offer breakfast service, however when we are preparing meals or enjoying a glass of wine for ourselves, we are happy to share with you. Feel free to help yourself to tea (there's an electric hot water pot) or the stove-top espresso maker at any time you wish.
KITCHEN. You are free to use whatever you need in the kitchen, including space in the refrigerator. There is a stovetop, oven, hot water pot, and toaster oven (sorry, no microwave). Please make sure your dishes and pots are cleaned and placed in the drying rack within a reasonable amount of time after your meal. There is plastic wrap and foil for you to use located on the shelf above the refrigerator. If you break a dish or glass, please let us know. We won't be angry!
RECYCLING AND WASTE. We are adamant recyclers! There is a three-part bin next to the clothes washer: left is paper, center is plastic and metal, and right is glass. Organic garbage goes in the white bin under the sink. If you have waste that will rapidly become malodorous, kindly bag it and place in the hallway landing; the building staff comes by every couple of days to remove organic garbage. If it's really nasty, you can place it in a receptacle on the street.
CLEANING. We provide clean sheets and towels and will tidy the common areas for your arrival. We do not provide hotel-style maid service for your room. If you are staying for an extended period, you may use the vacuum cleaner located in the bathroom to tidy your room. We will also provide you with a change of sheets and towels if you are staying for a longer duration. If you have a spill, leave crumbs, or track mud into the apartment, we ask that you clean up after yourself. There is a mop in the kitchen next to the refrigerator.
LONG HAIR. Yes, long hair. We welcome you and whatever hairstyle you choose, from short and sassy to long and silky. However, we've have had to bring the vacuum cleaner and shower drain back from the brink on more than one occasion after being choked by long hair. Please be aware of any hair you may be leaving behind -- e.g. on the floor of your room or in the bathroom -- and take care of its removal and disposal.
SMOKING. You are welcome to smoke on the terrace.
GUESTS. You are welcome to entertain guests in the apartment (advance notice is appreciated as this is also our workspace), however we ask that common sense prevail. If you "get lucky," good for you; however, two rules: 1) Don't wake us up, and 2) The Emmy better be in its place when the guest leaves.
HALLWAY LIGHTING. In some parts of the world, hallway lights remain wastefully on 24 hours a day (Hello, America...). As is typical with Europe, it is necessary to activate the hallway lighting yourself. There is a switch on every floor and two switches on our floor.
EXITING THE BUILDING. It's not necessary to "unlock yourself" from the lobby as some guests have done; there is a buzzer located to the left of the front door.
SHOPPING. The nearest full-service grocery store is in the basement of the El Corte Ingles department store on Plaza Callao; the "hidden" escalator in the back left corner of the store will take you downstairs. There is another El Corte Ingles nearby on Calle del Preciados, near Puerta del Sol that has a much bigger grocery store in its basement with a decent selection of international foods. There are two delis very close by -- one in the building itself and another just across the street.
Many thanks for entrusting us with your time in Madrid!
Michael & Miguel
You and Michael
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