Best Hotels to Book Using Points in Madrid

The capital of Spain offers plenty of big-name hotels across all categories, from budget to luxury, where you can redeem points. Whether you are looking to explore Madrid’s famous Golden Triangle of Art (the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums) or are planning day trips to nearby cities like Segovia, Toledo or El Escorial, these hotels are worth considering.

With more than 30 brands in its portfolio, Marriott Bonvoy is well positioned in Madrid, offering hotels from value-focused AC Hotels to luxury hotels.

After a major overhaul (both outside and inside), The Palace has transitioned from the Westin brand to The Luxury Collection brand. (Westin is sticking around in Madrid as the former AC Cuzco is now the Westin Madrid Cuzco.)

The Palace is within walking distance of Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace and the other museums in the Golden Triangle of Art. This is one of the city’s most famous hotels and was also the first in Europe to have all rooms equipped with private bathrooms.

Marriott Bonvoy uses a dynamic pricing model for its awards, which means the cost in points varies by the date. On many nights later this year, rates hover in the low 70,000-point mark.

Just steps from Gran Via and Puerta del Sol, this glamorous hotel from the Ian Schrager-inspired Marriott brand EDITION is a study in design. Not only does it have fantastic dining venues, including Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisine, but its rooftop pool and terrace are a hit during the summer.

During some periods of the year, rates hover around the 70,000-point mark. Instead of redeeming points, you can opt to pay for your stay with a Marriott co-branded credit card to earn bonus points on top of the standard earnings.

A short walk from Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, the JW Marriott Hotel Madrid is centrally located for tourists. Like other JW properties, this hotel has the signature JW Garden, which supplies herbs and ingredients to the restaurant menu.

Some of the best suites have lovely balconies with exquisite views of the city. Redemption rates on the dates in late November we checked were as low as 59,000 points per night.

Some of the world’s finest independent hotels belong to Leaders Club, the loyalty program of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is free to join, and all members are treated to early check-in or late checkout considerations as well as free breakfast each morning of their stay.

If you are short on Leaders Club points or have simply joined before your first stay to benefit from the immediate perks, you can transfer Citi ThankYou points to your balance as another option.

On Plaza de Colon and along the Paseo de la Castellana, Hotel Fenix Gran Melia offers traditional elegance and close proximity to the city’s business district and premium shopping areas, including the famous Calle Serrano.

If you book one of its RedLevel rooms, you can enjoy the club lounge with all-day refreshments, breakfast and evening appetizers with an open bar.

Leaders Club awards are based on dynamic pricing, with the cost in points closely tied to the cash rate. Redemptions start as low as 4,000 points. On the dates we checked, the hotel was offering redemption nights for around 5,400 points.

Another Gran Melia property in Madrid belongs to Leaders Club. This hotel is closer to Gran Vía and is in a 19th-century palace. Its rooms are probably just as regal as they were more than a century ago, but with modern conveniences. The lobby and guest rooms showcase enormous pieces of Spanish art.

Guests who book the RedLevel rooms are treated to a swanky club lounge with morning, afternoon and evening food and beverage presentations. Like its sibling, service here is top-notch.

The hotel’s Jardin de los Duques restaurant focuses on sustainable Spanish cuisine with views of the garden courtyard. A redemption night here costs around 6,300 points on the dates we checked.

IHG has several properties in the Spanish capital representing several of its brands, including InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and Crowne Plaza. If you’re short on IHG One Rewards points, you can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards® to beef up your balance.

On the Paseo de la Castellana, InterContinental Madrid is popular with business travelers and tourists. It is convenient to numerous corporate offices and the city’s best shopping, and a short ride on the metro takes travelers to the city’s tourist center.

Especially interesting is the hotel’s Club InterContinental, available to guests who book Club-level rooms, which offers breakfast, all-day refreshments and evening snacks with an open bar. It looks over the bustling street in front of the hotel.

IHG One Rewards uses a dynamic pricing model for its redemptions, and on the dates we checked, rates were around 50,000 points, although they’re often less.

Just outside this hotel’s front door is one of the city’s busiest streets, Gran Via, packed with shops, restaurants and theaters. From this central position, you can reach all corners of the city.

Up on the rooftop is a bar and patio complete with a small infinity-edge pool. On the dates we checked, award nights were around 46,000 points, but they are often available for less.

Aside from its popular airport hotel with free shuttle near Madrid Barajas and a DoubleTree by Hilton just steps from the Prado Museum, Hilton Honors is growing its soft brand collection of hotels in the Spanish capital.

Besides the exceptional location at the edge of Gran Via, this hotel is full of lovely surprises. It has a small mosaic-tiled rooftop pool from which you feel like you’re on top of the city. Its rooftop bar also offers epic views of the city skyline from this central vantage point.

Local history and clever art form the basis of the hotel’s eclectic design. Hilton Honors prices its awards based on dynamic pricing, and on the dates we checked, the average redemption cost was 85,000 points.

World of Hyatt has several of its popular brands in Madrid, and they are spread around the city. Its acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith has given it even greater strength across the city, including many independent hotels.

These are some great options, especially since World of Hyatt continues to follow a helpful award chart so you know how many points you need to save for each stay. Even better, it is a transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Thompson Madrid is part of Hyatt’s upscale lifestyle brand, with properties inspired by local and popular culture. The hotel is known for its popular Spanish restaurant and basement cocktail lounge. But the best feature is its rooftop bar, lounge and pool.

Many of the hotel’s best rooms and top suites also benefit from furnished balconies overlooking the city’s rooftops. A redemption night at the World of Hyatt Category 6 hotel costs between 21,000 and 29,000 points for a standard room.

This is one of World of Hyatt’s best values in town as a Category 4 property with redemptions between 12,000 and 18,000 points.

The Hyatt Regency is a perfect home base for both business and leisure travelers because of its location along Paseo de la Castellana. Public transportation is easy to find near the hotel to reach all of the city’s top attractions.

The beautiful Spanish capital has so many hotels of multiple price points and brands. Many of them participate in popular loyalty programs, allowing you to redeem points for your stay, potentially saving cash for other exciting activities during your trip.