Melia Avenida America

The bright, large lobby at Melia Avenida America is filled with wood furniture, striped wallpaper, and white and gray tile floors that are modern and clean. Gray seating areas, wood floors, and neutral tones in the on-site restaurant and bars allow the antique accents and tapestries on the walls to pop, but the hotel could benefit from a bit more color, as it feels a bit cold and soulless as is. Large windows throughout the common areas provide lots of natural light, and there are free newspapers and coffee and tea in the lobby. A large outdoor terrace has lots of seating and the skylights in the spa allow for more natural light, although the wood floors in the spa look worn. This hotel is popular with business travelers, especially since it has 32 meeting rooms and is close to the airport and business offices.

The Melia Avenida America is located outside of central Madrid and has a few restaurants, shops, and public transportation stops within walking distance. However, a rental car may be necessary, since it's a 20-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride to downtown Madrid. The Centro Comercial Campo de las Naciones, Madrid Congress Centre, and Las Ventas are all within 10 minutes of the hotel, and the Madrid-Barajas airport is only five minutes away by car. The hotel offers airport transfers for free and parking for a fee.

The rooms at the Melia Avenida America are decorated in a modern chain-hotel style, with furnishings in shades of brown and red punctuating the neutral-hued backdrop. Red lamps and chairs stand out against the blonde wood and standard minimalist furniture. Headboards have reading lamps attached and the artwork in the rooms is nondescript. Some larger rooms have soft couches in seating areas, while others have walk-in showers with lots of jets, as well as large jetted soaking tubs. Minibars, free newspapers, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs are standard. Bathrooms have reddish brown tile that feels especially modern, and white, square sinks on a black countertop. There are windows in the bathrooms out to the bedroom area, which may cause a privacy issue for some. Bidets and Melia toiletries are also included.

One of the Melia Avenida America's biggest draws is its 32 meeting rooms, which are equipped with audiovisual equipment, free Wi-Fi, and secretarial services. The hotel also has several restaurants -- Escorial Breakfast Room, La Cheminée Restaurant, Zamora Buffet Restaurant, and the Piano Bar -- that serve Mediterranean and international dishes. Room service is available, but has limited hours, and there is a 24-hour front desk and 24-hour concierge services.

The full-service on-site spa offers massages, body scrubs, and facials, as well as access to a Turkish bath, sauna, whirlpool tubs, a small pool, and hydrotherapy area. There’s a large fitness center with a full range of equipment, and a business center with two computers. Free Wi-Fi and a free round-trip airport shuttle are also included. A breakfast buffet is served daily, for a fee.