Had it not been for this wonderful apartment and this wonderful host (Alvaro), my first experience in Madrid, and my first Airbnb experience, would not have been nearly as memorable. I came to Madrid for work alone and extended my trip for a long weekend to see the sights and get a feel for the culture. The second I arrived to the apartment in the center of Madrid's artsy, fun and centrally located neighborhood Malasan'a, Alvaro very kindly sat down and told me anything I wanted to know about the city and gave me his recommendations. His hospitality is only matched by his impeccable taste, which is seen through the details in the apartment, the stocked mini-fridge, and the bottle of wine which all come included with the apartment.

The apartment is walking distance to the major attractions in Madrid (Prado, Puerta del Sol, Reina Sofía Museum, etc.). There are boutiques, cafes, restaurants very close to the apartment which are not tourists traps. These are places where locals go for a day/night out. Despite the proximity to vibrant life, the apartment is tucked away on a side street and is quiet, which was important for the light sleeper in me.

It is difficult to overstate the role that Alvaro played in my first experience in Madrid. Throughout the trip I found myself thinking "Thank God I didn't stay at a hotel!" He lives just downstairs in a large apartment and was even available by text throughout my trip if I had any questions or even wanted to talk more over coffee, etc. By the end of the trip I felt like I found a friend.

Excellent trip!