Christmas.

Calle De Montera, Madrid

A city with flair and sophistication

The hotel porter began to wheel his baggage cart into the lift he had been waiting for, saw my partner and I approaching… and promptly backed out to let us take the ride instead.

It was a small, yet significant, gesture which typified the level of service (and friendliness) afforded to guests at the Melia Princessa in Madrid.

We were on a three-night stay taking in the...