First, the accommodations: As advertised, the room provided privacy and the basics necessary for a comfortable stay. The bed was comfortable and I slept well on it. The room was "roomy" enough for my backpack, with horizontal space to spread out things like phone chargers, toiletries, and etc.

Second, location: I consider the accommodations ideally placed. I walked everywhere, and every destination was within about 25 minutes of the two train/bus depots I used and the major and minor tourist attractions; if it's on a tourist map or in a tourist book, you will be close. I did not use the Metro, but there were two or three stations within just 5-7 walking distance. Equally important, the apartment is adjacent to a thoroughfare which made finding the front door very simple (a fact I found very helpful as Madrid's streets and addresses had me guessing for five days straight).

Third (and most importantly), Miguel and Ester (Miguel's mother): I doubt I can express how delightful Miguel and Ester are, or how much they enhanced my trip to Madrid. Before my trip, Miguel answered my questions about arrival and navigating Madrid (and he did so promptly). Upon my arrival at the apartment, Miguel and Ester greeted me warmly and asked about my flight. After nearly 16 hours of traveling, it was nice that they cared to ask.

Also as advertised, Miguel's English is "intermediate." He was able to answer my questions with confidence. My most pressing question concerned mobile phone service and Miguel described a couple of carriers and suggested the least expensive option (which on day 8 of my travels through Spain has worked without issue). Ester, on the other hand, does not speak English, and there arose the charm of their duo.

Each morning, Ester greeted me with "buen dia" and immediately asked if I was going to eat breakfast. Ester prepared coffee, toast, and muffin for me. All the while, she and I attempted (successfully or unsuccessfully) to communicate about my interary for the day. Through her broken English and my broken Spanish, I felt welcome in her home and started each day "on the right foot."

With each passing day, I recalled a bit more of the Spanish I learned in high-school. On my last night, Miguel, Ester, and I sat in the kitchen/dining room and had a pretty good conversation--mostly in Spanish, and some in English--about my stay. Both were patient with me and helped me through the intermediate topics. We ate dinner. And we laughed.

AirBnB asks us travelers to rate our experiences so that others may make informed choices about their travels. The room was comfortable. The location was great. Miguel and Ester were phenomenal.