...souvenir, and clothes shops to browse.

The Hotel Husa Princesa's semi-circular hessian-floored Malvasia restaurant is decorated in warm, earthy colours. Its Mediterranean and Spanish menu features fried sardines with ratatouille, and Catalonian stew. The relaxed 24- hour Global Café and terrace serves tapas, drinks and lunch at wooden tables. Guests can relax with drinks and snacks on velvet seats in the 1970s-style Royal Piano Bar.

The onsite conference centre comprises 12 meeting rooms for up to 1,800 people, including a ballroom with chandeliers.

The hotel has a health club with indoor heated pool, saunas, spa tub, steam baths, 150-station gym, massage and beauty services, and juice bar. Fitness classes include tai chi, spinning, aerobics and flamenco. Computers, wireless and high-speed Internet access, onsite valet parking and child care are available (surcharge).

Guestrooms. Decorated in beige and mustard tones with cherry wood furnishings and large prints of masterpieces from the Prado Museum, the hotel's 275 air-conditioned, soundproofed guestrooms offer street or inner courtyard views. All rooms include minibars, satellite television, safes and wireless and high-speed Internet access (surcharge may apply).

Expert Tip. Hotel staff provide calorie- consumption information and maps showing jogging routes in Madrid's Western Park, 200 metres from the hotel.

Room Types:

Standard Single Room:   

Double/Twin Room:   One double bed or two twin beds. Desk. Wireless Internet connection (surcharge). Cable/satellite TV with pay movies. Minibar. Hair dryer. In-room safe.

Driving Directions: From Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD): Distance to Hotel Husa Princesa is 15 kilometres, approximately 30 minutes' drive.

Getting there. A regular underground metro service runs from the airport to central Madrid. The station is located in terminal 2 and is on line 8 (pink). The single fare is 1.75 EUR. An airport bus runs to central Madrid's Plaza de Colon terminal. The bus departs every 10 minutes and tickets cost 2.40 EUR. Taxis into the city centre cost about 30 EUR, including an airport surcharge. The hotel also organises a shuttle service (surcharge).

Getting around. The Hotel Husa Princesa is located next to the El Corte Ingles department store in Madrid's business district, 200 metres from Western Park. The squares and narrow streets in central Madrid are best explored by foot. An extensive public bus and metro system offers a cheap and efficient way to get around the city. Single tickets can be bought from bus drivers or machines. A 10-trip Metrobus ticket, costing 6.40 EUR, is ideal for those making multiple journeys. The nearest metro station to the hotel is Arguelles. Taxis can be hailed on the street and are reasonably priced.

Driving directions. From Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD): Take the A10 motorway, then the M40. Leave at Exit 51 signposted Madrid-Centro and join the M30. Leave at Exit 23a signposted Madrid-Moncla and drive along Princesa street until you see the hotel.

Room Amenities:

• Multi-line phone • Housekeeping (daily) • Cable/satellite TV • Pay movies • Climate control • Separate sitting area • Complimentary toiletries • Cribs (infant beds) available • Window opens • Soundproofed rooms • Iron/ironing board (on request • Extra towels/bedding in room • Handheld shower • Makeup mirror • Electronic/magnetic keys • Child care (in room, surcharge • Bidet • Bathroom telephone • Smoking rooms • Massage - available in room • Sewing kit 

El Corte Ingles (department store) - next door Calle Princesa - adjacent Western Park - 200 metres Royal Palace - 1.5 kilometre Puerto del Sol - 2 kilometre Prado Museum - 3 kilometres Queen Sofia Art Centre - 3 kilometres Retiro Park - 3.5 kilometres Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - 3.5 kilometres Salamanca district (upscale shopping district) - 6.5 kilometres Juan Carlos Exhibition Centre - 13.5 kilometres