THE DANDYLION DIARY: MADRID TOWER

Whoosh! Here I go. Midday, September 4th 2011 and the high-speed AVE train, with me on board, zooms towards Madrid. We hit 300 kph, watch a soppy movie, have a coffee and as the final movie credits are rolling, less than three hours later, we slide into Atocha station. No airports, no check-in, no delays, no nonsense. I love it!
Jump into a cab and after a short trip, I arrive at the Eurostars Madrid Tower. Located at the top of the Castellana, opposite the somewhat drab Chamartin station, this four-star hotel is housed in one of the four sparkly skyscrapers that have recently changed Madrid's urban landscape. Behind is a building site. The plans for a spanking new conference centre scuppered by the credit crunch, leaving three silent, lonely cranes and a small workforce to fill the hole with a car park; another reminder of the sad current state of the economy.
That being said, inside the hotel it's a different story; one that gleams and glistens. A small but efficient reception area leads to the bank of lifts that service the 30 floors. You can't really get lost here. The hotel is a tall tube so nothing is far from the elevators. The main meeting space is in the basement while the smaller rooms are on the 6th and 28th; all with wonderful views over the city and the mountains. The higher you go, the better the views so the real jewels in the crown are the panoramic dining area and the Volvoreta gastro restaurant at the top of the hotel. Both areas are contemporary and roomy with double-height ceilings. The real star however, is the view. Personally, I'm not one for early mornings, but a cooked breakfast while watching the sun rise over the hills is a great way to get life in perspective and start the day on the good foot.
The hotel bedrooms are large and pleasantly decorated; the beds are sublime. Do however mind the showers. A twist too far and you will be left winded and groping breathless for a nearby towel.
All in all though, the hotel is a real gem for corporate events and somewhat of a lone star in Madrid's empty sky of large, contemporary business hotels.
However, despite its size (the Tower has nearly 500 rooms), this hotel is far from being a soulless hotel in a soulless area (let's face it, Chamartin is hardly the fodder of glossy brochures). Once through the revolving doors, the atmosphere here is warm, friendly and may I say, even boutiquey (does that word exist?). The staff are a true asset to the Tower, filling the hotel with character, warmth and a can-do attitude, and that's what hotels are all about, don't you think?