¡Guau!

Éste es un hotel del que se alardea. Está situado un poco lejos del centro de la ciudad, pero hay una parada de metro justo a la salida. ¡El metro es tan fácil de utilizar! Estuvimos en la octava planta, que era la planta de Kathryn Findlay, una planta muy futurista, era como estar en una nave espacial. Eché un vistazo por las otras plantas, que eran todas muy diferentes, pero tú puedes decidir qué planta deseas antes de reservar en la página Web ya que muestran fotos de las habitaciones. Este no es un hotel tradicional, y si quieres hoteles históricos y antiguos no te molestes con éste, pero si estimas tus experiencias con hoteles, entonces decídete por éste. El desayuno fue fantástico, tiene un bar guay pero, sobre todo, tiene algo especial.

Stunning, Fascinating - an amazing experience

If you are into modern, contemporary design - you have to stay at Puerta America... not just once, but several times.

A stay at the hotel is amazing because the design is unlike anything you have ever seen in any other hotel - and you have so many floors to choose from... whether you like flowing organic lines like the ones created by Zaha Hadid for Floor One, the fragrance of the leather panelling in the Norman Foster designed floor (2) or the science-fiction feel of stainless style in the Plasma Studios level.

This time, I chose to stay at Floor 7, designed by Ron Arad. Look at the images - a round bed, facing the window... and your TV pictures are projected on a screen that descends in front of the window at the push of a button.

The Puerta America is not necessarily a hotel for people who need to 'function' on a business trip. It is a design adventure - totally cutting edge and absolutely fascinating.

The bar on the roof is a fashionable hang-out, breakfast is very nice and totally overpriced as in many other places.

But I definitely want to stay there again - maybe at Floor 12, the zen-inspired Arata Isozaki rooms ...

Weird....

Each floor is COMPLETELY AND ABSOLUTELY different from the rest....

In my first room they gave me a bathroom that had glass walls. Sharing a room with a business partner this was a complete lack of privacy, so we changed.

The next room (in another floor) was completely black, all slate. I like modern hotels, I am not a fan of posh, stuffy places. But this hotel is TOO MUCH. it is like taking a sleeping bag to Reina Sofia museum of modern art and sleeping there.

I found myself going to each and every floor, just to check out the elevator lobbies, it is very cool!! elevator door opens, and you are in another dimension! I

Rooms are all computerized, with "mood settings"... one click, and windows open, lights dim, some go off/on

I will admit that I liked the experience and I am glad I went but I do not think that I will return

The restaurant is TOP NOTCH, and the service is just as excellent.

I do recommend to go once in a lifetime at least, you will not regret it!

Over-priced and over-decorated

After a month living in a basic little apartment in Cadiz I figured I needed some Madrileno luxury before heading off to Bangkok. Modern design in Spain is sually a pleasure, so I booked into a deluxe room at the Hotel Silken Puerta America in Amadid, where every floor has been designed and decorated by a different Spanish designer. I thought the rate was a little high (USD$350 --- for another $100 I could have stayed at the Ritz), but what the heck. Well, it turns out the place is out in the suburbs, so once you're there, you're there; there's no wandering out the front door for tapas or coffee. And speaking of the front door, the first challenge on arrival was to FIND the hotel's front door, cleverly concealed in an opaque facade. A bell-girl finally rescued me, muttered the Spanish equivalent of "Open, Sesame!" and a little grey door slid open. No complaints about the check-in service: polite, efficient, a choice of room designs offered. But the room was a rabbit-hutch, tiny and narrow, a riot of colors, odd-shaped furniture all crammed into a tiny space, none too clean, and a high-tech console for controlling the climate, the lighting, the windows, the drapes, the awning. I'm no slouch when it comes to buttons, but in the end I had to call the concierge to get the room cool enough and the windows shielded enough so that I could undress. And then the much-vaunted broadband internet access didn't work. Fortunately, though the room was pokey, ugly, and grimy, my $350 did by good service and my issues with environment control and internet access were well-resolved, up to and including supply of a wifi antenna to plug into my laptop to boost the signal. The mini-bar was great, though expensive as mini-bars go, but the room-service food was tired and took forever. The Hotel Puerta America obviously doesn't have many women guests for there was no hair dryer in the bathroom, little hot water, lighting impossible for makeup, no iron, and only aftershave cologne. Overall, a waste of money.

A destiantion hotel for design interested travelers

Puerta America is an amazing project. Silken Hoteles has accomplished something huge. It is a true experience to stay in the hotel. I stayed on the fifth floor which is designed by two Spanish designers who now live in Italy. I first checked in on the 3rd floor but hated the room and had to change. The staff was used to people changing their minds and easily gave me a room I was happy with. I saw all floors (and rooms) except for the suites desgined by Jean Nouvel on the 12th floor. My favorite was actually the one I was in. It was cosy and colorful with a huge soaking tub that would easily fit two. It had carpeting, textile wallpaper and rich colors and materials. The restaurant on the main level is amazing. Go for the tasting menu and you will not be dissappointed. You can choose between 6 or 9 courses and the 6 course menue is about €60 per person which is very good value for money.

Pros

+ a must see property full of wonderful design

+ amazing restaurant

Cons

- filthy swimming pool are with bad odor, do not book treatments (it's just a small room and not a spa)

- location is in between airport and city. Taxi ride to the city is about 10 euros.

Needs careful selection

OK. This hotel is pretty amazing. It looks so impressive and the bars/pool/gym are mind blowingly cool.

However CHECK your room before you check in. I got a room on the 9th Floor (I can't remember the name of the designer). Within ten minutes I was furious. It was a triump of style over substance.

For example I looked for 10 minutes for a glass and a bottle opener in the living room (I was in a junior suite) only to call and be told they are in a drop down panel in the bedroom. That makes sense.

Most of the walls were illuminated from behind - that's 'the look'. Looked great, but you couldn't turn them off. So watching the huge flatscreen countersunk into a green illuminated wall gave me a migraine in about ten minutes.

So I changed room. And write this from the 11th floor. Again, don't know the designer but this room is perfect. Wonderful, and well planned.

So, tip - think and check before you move in. It could be a bit of hassle if you don't like what you're given.

Something different...

This hotel is certainly different. When have you ever been given a choice is choosing your room? So many options, it was almost too hard to decide however decide we did and we were not disappointed. We stayed on the 5th floor, I wasnt brave enough for an all white padded cell on floor 2, or the blood red plastic on floor 7 - each to there own! Staff were lovely couldn't do enough to please. Location wasn't great, cab to old madrid was roughly 8euros so not bank breaking. Not much around the hotel either. I cant honestly say in my opinion, that this is a top class 5* hotel, however it was very nice. Small pool and spa area. Would I stay again, probably not but then I wasn't too keen on Madrid.

Impressed In madrid

WOW was the first word that came to mind when i saw the pictures of this hotel, when i got there it definately didn't fail to impress me on looks.

I stayed in a room on the Zaha Hadid designed floor and found the all white decor very calming, the room was comfortable, the bed was comfy and the plasma tv big enough to see it from most parts of the room, even the curtains are electronically controlled from the bed! the bathroom was small but the bath was completely divine, a deep enough bowl for you to drown in if you wish!

The staff were friendly and helpful, all spoke a very good level of english and had a lot of good advice on sightseeing and those all inportant shopping trips!

The only complaint i would make about this hotel is the standard of room sevice food, whilst the buffet breakfast was fantastic the quality of food served for room service left a lot to be desired, The portions of food were to miniscule and mostly cold, for 40 euros i don't expect to have a plate of cold, bland instant mashed potato with over cooked lamb on top.

Other than that i would most definately recommend this hotel if anything the design inside is spectacular enough to warrant one nights stay!

Wow!

This is a hotel that shows off. It's location is a bit out of town but there is a metro stop just outside. The Metro is so easy to use. We stayed on the eighth floor which was the kathryn findlay floor, very futurist like staying in a space ship. I had a look around the other floors which were all different but you can decide which floor before you book on the website as they show pictures of the rooms. This is not a traditional hotel and if you want historic old hotels then don't bother with this, but if you want to raide your experiences of hotels then go for it. Breakfast was great, has a cool bar but most of all it's got something special.

Completely mad, patronising and impractical.

It would be great to say that this concept was inspirational well executed and the way forward for future hotels.

The staff were excellent but already suffer the after effects of guests requiring multiple moves so they can find a room that is remotely practical.

Go and see it as it is unique. It is a monument to unfettered and self indulgent designers, revelling in their opportunity patronise their fellow human.