All of the 306 rooms have high-speed Internet access and original 1950s furniture.

The meeting facilities attract politicians, international businesspeople and Spanish weddings.

This hotel has 306 guestrooms, all of which have high-speed Internet access (surcharge), trouser presses, desks, separate seating areas, and a gentle color-scheme of caramel, dove blue, and flashes of maroon. Some may have view of the leafy Plaza de España, the white-domed Royal Palace and Casa de Campo Park. Thanks to the refurbishment completed in 2003, the original 1950s wooden furniture is beautifully restored, including the inlaid oak doors. The en-suite marble bathrooms all feature large mirrors, magnifying mirrors, and a red light which shines out at night. Some of the bathrooms have bathrobes. All rooms up to and including the eighth floor have double-glazing to protect against the noise from the bustling Plaza de España.

What to expect: The hotel occupies one third of a landmark three-tiered high-rise building, towering over the Plaza de España. Inside the hotel, the gleaming marble lobby, with mirror-lined pillars and huge chandeliers, is frequented by businesspeople, politicians, and leisure travelers. While the style is distinctively 1950s and very international, the gentle-toned sofas and chairs, and clientele relaxing in the bar overlooking the lobby with tapas and drinks, keeps the atmosphere Spanish.

Amenity highlights: The naturally lit conference rooms extend over an entire floor, centered by an attractive lounge area with comfortable fabric covered sofas, ideal for an intimate meeting or coffee break. The largest room - Salon Toledo - has capacity for 250 people banqueting style. This space, with views over the Plaza de España, is a favorite for Spanish weddings.

Insider tip: The Plaza de España overlooks the Royal Palace, built from 1738 as a two thousand-room home for 'enlightened despot' Charles III. Some of the rooms are open to the public, others are used for plush state functions. The Reception Room and State Apartments are highlights of the visit but all rooms are full of art treasures and antiques. On Wednesday at noon, there is the changing of the guard ceremony.

The eight conference rooms are naturally lit and range from intimate spaces for meetings of 10 people to large banqueting rooms with a capacity for several hundred people. At the center of the meeting and banqueting floor, known as the Planta Noble, there is a lounge area with comfortable fabric-covered sofas and views over the Plaza de España. The largest rooms