Uncover the Royal Secrets: Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza Spain - A Hidden Gem!
Uncover the Royal Secrets: Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza Spain - A Hidden Gem! (Or, My Weekend in Madrid That Almost Killed Me with Bliss)
Okay, listen. Forget those perfectly curated Instagram feeds. This is the real deal, a hot mess of a review, just like my life. I just got back from a weekend at the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza in Madrid, Spain, and frankly? My brain is still swimming in sangria and sunshine. This place…it’s something. And not just something good. It’s that-makes-you-question-your-life-choices-and-contemplate-a-permanent-move-to-Madrid good.
Let's break this down, shall we? This is gonna be long…you've been warned.
First, the Basics – Because, You Know, Adults.
- Accessibility: This is important, right? Well, thankfully, Facilities for disabled guests is on the list of services, and the Elevator is a must. I didn't personally need these, but for anyone who does, it’s good to see. Score one for inclusivity!
- Internet: Okay, this is a win. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And it actually works. I was able to Instagram my breakfast without the usual pixelated disaster. They also have Internet [LAN] if you're old-school…or a super-techy person.
- Cleanliness and Safety: (This is where things get extra real) Look, I freaked out about COVID. Like, full-on, hand-sanitizer-in-every-pocket, three-masks-and-a-face-shield kinda freaked out. So, I was thrilled to see all the precautions. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, Rooms sanitized between stays. Plus, the staff are clearly trained in safety protocols – I saw them disinfecting everything. Seriously, they practically sterilized my credit card after I used it. Hot water linen and laundry washing is essential. I relaxed a little because of the Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Safe dining setup. It gives me a bit of peace of mind and makes me enjoy the hotel a bit more. They even have Room sanitization opt-out available. This is a win, right? Not perfect, but they are definitely doing their best.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Where My Diet Went To Die (Gloriously)
- Breakfast (Oh. My. God. Breakfast!): Seriously, prepare to loosen your belt. Breakfast [buffet] is a thing of beauty, and with Asian breakfast, Western breakfast and an A la carte in restaurant you are super covered. I went for the full buffet experience, every single day. Croissants! Fresh fruit! Amazing coffee! Did I eat an entire plate of churros with chocolate? Maybe. Regrets? Zero. They actually provide Breakfast takeaway service too in case you just want to grab and go.
- Restaurants and Bars: The hotel has Restaurants, a Bar, and even a Poolside bar. I may or may not have developed a slight addiction to their poolside cocktails. They also have Coffee/tea in restaurant. This is perfect for a relaxing day out. The Snack bar is super convenient.
- The Food: I tried the Asian cuisine in restaurant and got a bit lost, but I decided that the International cuisine in restaurant served was great! The Western cuisine in restaurant was the best and I enjoyed the Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant but didn't get the chance to try the Vegetarian restaurant.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax – Because Madrid Will Exhaust You (In the Best Way Possible)
- Spa Time! (My Secret Weapon) I'm not even a "spa person," usually. But after a day of sightseeing, the Spa, Spa/sauna and Sauna was my saving grace. They had all the classics: Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage. They didn't have a bath for a quick dip but that's okay, but I would have liked to go for a Foot bath which sounds amazing!. I could have gone to a Steamroom too! That's the best part of the hotel. I didn't spend a lot of time in the Swimming pool but I did use the Pool with view.
- Fitness Center? (Yeah, Right) They do have a Fitness center, Gym/fitness which I am sure is lovely. But I was far too busy eating churros and drinking wine to actually use it. Maybe next time.
- Things to do inside?: There's Indoor venue for special events which if you're doing a Meeting/banquet facilities will be amazing.
My Favorite Thing about the Hotel – The Little Things Were Everything!
It wasn’t just the big stuff! The little things really made the difference. The staff were amazing. So incredibly friendly and helpful. They had Concierge, Cash withdrawal, and a Doorman which really makes a difference. The 24-hour Front desk never failed, and after a night out, you always get a friendly face. Daily housekeeping was on point, the room was spotless every day. I loved that there was a Bottle of water there when I got in, and every detail! And the Complimentary tea was a nice touch.
The Room Itself – My Tiny, Cozy Fortress
- Available in all rooms - The basics: The additional toilet and Air conditioning were godsent in that summer heat. I was blessed with a Desk, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Refrigerator, and Shower. The Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. Seriously, I could have stayed in that room forever! The Room decorations were great also.
What Could Have Been Better (Because I’m Honest)
- Location, Location, Location: Yeah, the Lealtad Plaza is RIGHT in the heart of things. Perfect for sightseeing (which I did a lot of). It was a little noisy at night, but I was so exhausted from exploring that it didn't bother me. Maybe some Soundproof rooms?
- Pets Allowed**: It would be nice if *Pets allowed* were allowed.
- Ironing Service: It's a small thing, but sometimes, a girl needs a freshly ironed top!
- Airport transfer would be a good option.
The Offer: Because You Deserve Madrid Magic!
Okay, get ready. I'm basically giving you the keys to my amazing weekend.
Book your stay at the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza NOW and get:
- 10% off your stay! (Because I know you deserve a discount, darling.)
- A complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival! (To kickstart your Madrid adventure, naturally.)
- Free breakfast for one day! (Because those churros and coffee are calling your name.)
- Guaranteed access to the spa, if you book during the next 7 days!
- Plus: My personal recommendation of my go-to Tapas place! (Because, trust me, you need this.)
Why This Hotel? Why Now?
This place isn't just a hotel. It's an experience. It's the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and pure, unadulterated joy. Especially if you're like me and need a little pampering mixed with cultural exploration. Madrid is calling, and the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza is waiting to welcome you with open arms (and maybe a churro or two). This is not a sponsored post (if only!). This is me, your slightly sleep-deprived, totally obsessed travel companion, urging you to book this trip. You will not regret it. Go. Now. Vamanos!
Grand Kamala Lagoon Dream Stay: Your Homey Travelio Oasis Awaits!
Okay, buckle up. This isn't your sanitized, perfectly-planned itinerary. This is… well, this is me experiencing Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza and Madrid, and trust me, it's gonna be a ride.
Subject: Madrid Mayhem & (Hopefully) Majestic Moments - A Stream-of-Consciousness Itinerary (and a little bit of a breakdown)
Day 1: Arrival & Almost-Disaster Churros
- Time: 6:00 AM (ugh, the flight from… somewhere… was brutal. Didn't sleep a wink. I'm already regretting this.)
- Event: LANDING! Madrid! Seriously, is it warm, or is it just me drenched in jet-lag sweat? Immigration, always a nail-biter. Hoping my Spanish "Hola, gracias" holds up.
- Location: Madrid Airport (Barajas, if you care, which I currently don't).
- Transportation: Took a taxi. The driver, a man who looked like he'd been driving taxis since the dawn of time, spent the entire ride gossiping on his phone, occasionally gesturing wildly. I'm pretty sure he missed half the road. Still, we got to the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza! (Survival is a win in my book).
- Arrival at Petit Palace: Wow. Okay, the hotel… actually very pretty. Like, elegant-y pretty. Small but perfectly formed. The lobby smelled amazing. And they had coffee. Thank the gods.
- Moment of Triumph (and Shame): Figured out the shower! Success! Then, faceplant into the bed. The fluffy pillows were the best.
- Afternoon: Churro hunt! Armed with a map (which I instantly got lost with) and a desperate craving for fried dough, I ventured forth. Found a place. Super crowded. Ordered in broken Spanish. The churros arrived… They were… okay. A little too… oily? And I may have accidentally spilled hot chocolate down my shirt. Mortification level: through the roof.
- Evening: Walked around the Plaza Mayor. It's… big. Like, everything's big in Madrid. So many people, so much… energy! Got overwhelmed and retreated to a little tapas bar with a ridiculously charming waiter who I'm pretty sure was flirting with everyone. Ate some patatas bravas. Delicious. Felt less like a complete idiot. Slept.
Day 2: The Prado & My Existential Crisis over Art
- Morning: Trying to conquer the Prado Museum. Okay, big mistake. It's huge. And full of… well, art. I'm not exactly an art historian. I spent approximately three hours staring at paintings, feeling a combination of awe, confusion, and a vague sense of panic that I wasn't getting it. The lighting was perfect, the art was very nice, however, I'm sorry to say, I was kind of bored. I'll be honest, I'm a simple person.
- Quirky Observation: So many people were taking pictures! I felt really out of place not doing this - and also secretly jealous of their seemingly effortless artistic appreciation.
- Afternoon: Needed air! Walked around Retiro Park. Lovely. Seriously, just beautiful. The lake. The fountains. The sheer greenness of it all. Almost made up for the Prado-induced existential crisis. Saw a street performer playing the guitar. Actually listened. Got a little teary-eyed. (Don't tell anyone.)
- Rambling Thought: Maybe Madrid is a city that requires a lot of thinking? More than I usually do. Is it too much? Am I overthinking the fact that I have no idea what's going on? Am I losing it?
- Evening: Found a little restaurant near the hotel. Food was amazing: Jamón Ibérico, gazpacho that was actually cold (a revelation!), and some kind of stew that was so good, I almost licked the plate. My Spanish improved marginally (mostly because I was saying "¡Más vino, por favor!" with increasing frequency). Felt… less lost.
Day 3: Salsa, Shopping, and the Search for the Perfect Tapas
- Morning: Saddest thing of the trip so far, the hotel breakfast comes to an End! A continental breakfast, a little bit of everything. The coffee was great, and I'm going to miss the little pastries!
- Afternoon: Shopping! Gran VÃa, here I come! (Okay, maybe I had too much wine the night before, because oh my god, Gran VÃa is a blur of people and shops and… things I probably don't need. But… the shoes! And the scarves! And… okay, I bought a scarf.).
- Quirky Observation & Emotional Reaction: I think I might die trying to find a good tapas restaurant. Every place so far is either tourist hell or insanely expensive, and I'm just a simple girl at heart.
- Evening: Attempting. Failed. Again. But, I'm learning the way of the city.
Day 4: Departure, Reflection, and the Churro Redemption
- Morning: Farewell Madrid! :( Check out. Sad face emoji. The staff at the Petit Palace were ridiculously nice. Seriously, they deserve a raise (or at least a medal).
- Transportation: Taxi to the airport (same driver, different day, same terrifying driving style, same gossiping). Managed to hold it together this time.
- Moment of Triumph (and Victory): Before leaving the city, I went in search of a single, last delicious churro. Found it! A tiny little shop, tucked away on a side street. Crispy. Cinnamon-y. Perfect. My Madrid experience finally completed.
- Final Rambling Thought, and a Tear: Madrid. It's… a lot. Beautiful. Overwhelming. Absolutely impossible to truly experience in four days. I feel like I've only scratched the surface… but hey, I'm leaving with a scarf, a belly full of tapas memories, and a profound appreciation for the art of avoiding existential crises (at least for a little while).
- Final Score: Madrid: 8/10. Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza: 10/10
- One more thing… I should probably learn some actual Spanish before the next trip. And maybe pack some earplugs for the taxi rides.
So, what *is* this "Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza" anyway? Sounds fancy. Is it REALLY a hidden gem?
Alright, picture this: Madrid. Big city, right? Loads of tourists. And then, tucked away, practically whispering secrets, is the Petit Palace Lealtad Plaza. It's a hotel, obviously. But "hidden gem"? Look, I'm a cynical woman, generally speaking. I've been burned by "hidden gems" before. Turns out, it's just a guy with a rusty shovel pretending to be a treasure hunter.
But… this place? Maybe, just *maybe*, it lives up to the hype. It's smack-dab in the middle of everything – Retiro Park is practically your backyard! – but somehow, it's *quiet*. Peaceful. The opposite of screaming tourists and overpriced tapas (mostly). I felt actually…* relaxed*… in this place. And, yes, I *do* think it's a gem. Now, a perfect diamond? Nah. A slightly chipped, but still incredibly sparkly, emerald. Yeah, that's more like it.
What's the vibe? Is it all stuffy and formal? Or is it, like, "chill"?
Oh, thank GOD it's not stuffy. Look, I can't do formal. The last time I tried to wear a full suit, I tripped and spilled red wine on the entire ensemble. Nope. Not me. The vibe is… *chic-casual*. Think modern design but with a sense of humor. There are some funky art pieces, the lobby is bright and airy, and the staff actually *smiled*. Like, *genuinely* smiled. It wasn’t the forced, “have a nice day!” that you get at some hotels. They were… welcoming. Which, frankly, is a miracle in itself.
It's the kind of place where you can wander down in your pajamas for breakfast without feeling like you’re committing a fashion crime. (Though, maybe brush your hair, yeah? Just a suggestion.)
Let's talk rooms. Are they tiny? Do they have those annoying "European twin beds" shoved together?
Okay, room size is *always* a gamble, right? I was bracing myself for a shoebox. Honestly, it was Madrid, after all! But, no. The rooms were… decent sized. Not palatial, but enough space to swing a cat (though, please don't actually swing a cat. I'm a cat person). They had the *good* bed – a proper queen-sized mattress and, thank the heavens, not those dreaded European twin beds that slide apart in the middle of the night like vengeful tectonic plates. I slept like a baby. A very well-rested, slightly snoring baby.
My only complaint? (And it's a small one) The coffee machine was a little… temperamental. It did not want to cooperate with my need for a strong, early-morning caffeine fix. But, hey, that’s life, right? You can’t have *everything* perfect.
Breakfast! Is it worth it, or should I just grab a croissant somewhere?
Ooooh, breakfast… This is where I get passionate. Breakfast is my *thing*. I get up ridiculously early just to eat. So, YES. Breakfast *is* worth it. They had this amazing spread. The usual suspects – pastries, fruit, yogurt – all fresh and delicious. But then… their selection of local cheeses and cured meats… *chef’s kiss*. I'm not even a huge cheese person, but I went back for seconds (okay, thirds) *every single day*. They also had fresh-squeezed orange juice. I'm telling you, folks, that orange juice was worth the price of admission alone. And the coffee, despite the temperamental machine in the room? Perfectly brewed.
Okay, maybe I’m being biased because I’m a breakfast fiend. But even if you’re not, you'd be missing out. Grab the croissant, fine. But don't skip the egg station! OMG the eggs were so good. Just… go get the breakfast. Trust me.
The location – is it actually as good as they say? Because, you know, Madrid is HUGE.
Madrid *is* huge. And you want to be *in* the thick of it, right? And the location… seriously, it's fantastic! You walk out the door, and BAM! Retiro Park is RIGHT THERE. You can wander through the gardens, rent a boat on the lake, and pretend you're a Spanish aristocrat (or, you know, just a regular tourist, like me). And the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol are all within easy walking distance. You could practically roll out of bed and be at the Prado Museum ten minutes later.
I managed to get lost a few times (my sense of direction is… questionable). But even then, I was never *too* far from the hotel. It’s the perfect base camp for exploring the city. Plus, there are tons of amazing restaurants and bars nearby. Did I mention tapas? Because, *tapas*.
Let's talk service. Were the staff friendly? Helpful? Did they try to sell you a timeshare? (Please, NO timeshares.)
The staff… bless them. No timeshares. Thank GOD for that. They were genuinely friendly and helpful. I lost my phone (don't ask) and they were AMAZING. They helped me call the police, tried to track it down, and even gave me a sympathetic cup of coffee while I was having a near-meltdown. (Turns out, I just left it in a taxi. D'oh!). They spoke English, which always helps my very, *very* limited Spanish. They offered recommendations for restaurants, booked taxis, and generally made my life easier. I felt like they actually *cared* about making my stay enjoyable. Which, frankly, is a rare thing in the hotel world. Good service can make or break a trip and this place nailed it.
Okay, the absolute worst thing about this hotel? Be honest. Every place has a flaw.
Right. Okay, here's the truth bomb… I already mentioned the coffee machine thing. And… oh, God… the Wi-Fi. It was… a bit spotty. It worked, mostly. But there were times when it would go on strike, especially during peak hours. This is a serious first-world problem, of course, but when you rely on Wi-Fi to communicate with the outside world and find things like the best tapas bars (priorities!)? It gets a little… frustrating. I eventually learned to strategize my Wi-Fi consumption. Like, download everything I needed for the day in the morning when it was stronger.
There's also… and this is just a *very* minor quibbleHotel Haven Now
