Wow!! There aren't enough positive words to express how wonderful this apartment was! From the time we booked with Emilio to the day we left and beyond, all communication was exceptional. The apartment itself is lovely and looks exactly like the pictures. The space is clean, comfortable, and well-organized. The kitchen is well-equipped and had everything we needed to cook a meal at our home away from home in Madrid! All the linens were clean and fresh and we felt like we were in our own home. The bathrooms were also great with plenty of hot water and great water pressure (a must after walking around hot Madrid all day)! Another must is cold air conditioning, which every room of this apartment has.
Malasana is a neighborhood that I was not particularly familiar with although I have spent a lot of time in Madrid, but I was pleasantly surprised. There are many bars, restaurants, and cafes near the apartment and a small grocery story that had everything we needed. We also enjoyed a flamenco show one night which was within walking distance to the apartment. The street is quiet and provides the perfect place for your afternoon siesta. The location of the apartment is perfect for whatever activity you have planned in Madrid.
Upon arrival, our host had laid out a beautiful spread of fruit, cheese, meats, wine, and other treats to enjoy after our long flight from the states. Little touches like that are what sets this apartment apart from others. We also had an issue and two days before the trip, we had to cancel. By some crazy stroke of good luck, our plans changed again and we rebooked this same apartment. Although Emilio has a strict cancellation policy, he fully refunded our originally lost deposit even though he certainly did not have to. The hosts are extremely friendly, fluent in English, very polite, and very simply, the perfect hosts!! The provided guidebook in the apartment also gives you all the information you need regarding transportation, restaurants, wifi, and addresses any other questions you may have.
We will be coming back to Madrid in 2020 and will be rebooking this wonderful apartment, which is now our home away from home!! If I could give more than 5 stars, I certainly would. Perfect in every way!! Muchisimas gracias a mis amigos nuevos!