Ayre Gran Hotel Colon

The Ayre Gran Hotel Colon, part of Spain's urban Ayre Hotel chain, is a pair of modern glass towers from the 1970s and features two large lobbies (outfitted with gorgeous lobby stained glass windows by artist Manuel Ortega) with ample seating, two restaurants, and a private interior garden. Its location away from the bustle of Madrid's city center makes the hotel a more relaxing hotel option for business travelers, but evening programing (cocktails, snacks and DJs) plus sport coverage on large flat-screen TVs throughout the property's public spaces offer some entertainment value.

The Ayre Gran Hotel Colon is a fifteen-minute walk from Retiro Park, where tourists can rent rowboats, watch street performers, take carriage rides and hear free Sunday afternoon concerts, but the rest of Madrid's major tourist attractions are a thirty-minute trek across the park or a metro ride away. Surrounded by residential high rises, the views are nothing special, but there are plenty of supermarkets and other conveniences nearby. Sports enthusiasts will find easy access to soccer, swimming, tennis, running paths and more. Madrid's commercial centers are close, which makes this a good location for business travelers.

The Ayre Gran Hotel Colon's rooms are big, modern, and exactly what is expected from a chain hotel. Warm reds and browns are balanced out with more colorful accents like orange curtains and purple accessories.The large brown-tiled bathrooms come with plenty of mirrors and some with spacious double showers. Other comfort amenities include a pillow menu, room service and in-room massages. Rooms have flat screen TVs and laptop safes, and, for those who bring their work home with them, Junior Suites include conference tables for in-room meetings. Bottled water is free and replenished daily.

Ayre Gran Hotel Colon has plenty of business amenities, from the large, well-equipped meeting and events facilities to the money exchange services at the main lobby. But this is balanced out with more playful features such as ample seating public spaces with plenty of flat screen TVs, evening programing including DJ-led party events and a scenic garden terrace. The fitness center has cardio machines and free weights. There are also two restaurants, a sit-down Mediterranean dining room called Ibiza and Cafeteria Europa for more casual coffee and snacks and casual fare; the breakfast (for a fee) includes meats, pastries, eggs, cheeses, and fruit. Private parking and laundry facilities are also available at a cost.