I've been renting apartments in Europe for over two decades, and I can honestly say I've never met a host like José. He met as at the flat at a very early hour, spent a solid hour walking us through everything, from WiFi to entering/ exiting parking garage to avoiding restricted zones in the city center. He sent us great local recommendations for restaurants and warned us about upcoming disruptive events (such as the Marathon). When I mentioned we were out on a daytrip, he even sent us dining recommendations for the place we were visiting. Before, during and after, he always responded to all requests in a very timely manner and in perfect English.
The apartment itself is large enough for a big family, and is in a perfect location, facing the Royal Palace and the lovely plaza in front of it. Despite the central location, it is very quiet at night, as all the restaurants/bars are around the corner. Lots of dog walkers in the park during the day, so the kids had a blast trying to pet every dog in Madrid. Most essentials were provided by the host, including: washing machine, dishwasher, hair dryer, paper goods, hand and dish soap, linens, etc. Multiple supermarkets in < 10 min radius, if you need anything else. The parking space proved invaluable, and with José’s detailed directions, we never had difficulty accessing it. All in all, we are most grateful for the hospitality we received.