European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In Madrid a amps Gus Schuettler where to eat and sleep without busting pour budget by Cheryl Blackerby Cox news service i knew i was in trouble when the menu said a Quot Hamburgues Quot a that s a hamburger to you and me a was $13.50. Without cheese. I threw caution to the wind and ordered a salad and a Coke which weren t on the menu and the hamburger. The Bill confirmed my worst suspicion $13.50 each for the salad and hamburger $4 each for two cokes. With the included service that came to $39.55 for lunch for one person. To add insult to injury the Burger was a puny stringy Patty stuck in a Skinny Roll. Welcome to Madrid. I had been warned that Madrid was a lot More expensive than the last time i was there three years ago. And take my word for it a it is. Granted this particular lunch was at the fancy Palace hotel a grand Belle Poque creation of King Alfonso Xiii but i had stayed Here on my last visit and a hamburger in the lobby cafe was t $13 then. My room had been $150, and now the rooms Are $350-plus. Over at the Ritz adjacent to the Palace room prices Start at $600. That s per night. And at the Burger King Clown the Street a whopper with cheese is $4. But before you decide you can t afford to go to Madrid let me assure you that the City can be reasonable and you la probably even like the City better on the cheap. I m staying at the hotel Ingles five blocks from the Palace and about $280 cheaper. Picture this a Large room with two twin Beds tile floor two sets of French doors leading to two balconies overlooking a narrow Street in medieval Madrid a modern Bath a to with Cable stations a Remote control and a Safe in the closet. This is my idea of comfortable european bar patrons share a plate of tapas Spain s cheap but popular bar snacks. Charm. And i m not the Only one who has liked the place. Virginia Woolf found a room of her own in this hotel around the turn of the Century. My room is much More interesting than the Small Hyatt like rooms at the Palace. And the hotel s amicable staff is much friendlier than the Palace s snooty employees. The waiter at the Palace s cafe loudly repeated my Spanish in English instead of playing along. The Palace was filled with american tour groups a a Fleet of tour buses waiting for them out front a while the hotel Ingles has an interesting assortment of european businessmen and travellers. Within walking distance of the Prado museum the Royal Palace and most other places a visitor will want to see the hotel Ingles is also in the Middle of the old town s Lively restaurant and bar District. The bad news is that the acoustics of the Stone walled medieval Street amplify Street noise and since the bars Don t close until 4 . Or later it can get loud. You re Likely to hear conversations and late night arguments you could live without. But you la probably be out on the town yourself so it won t matter. Even less expensive inns and hostels abound in the old City Center a Many at about $30 for private Bath $20 without Bath you generally use a communal Shower on each floor. Travellers should ask friends for hotel suggestions and Check guidebooks for leads. Another excellent source is a free Booklet called hotels camping apart mentos a a list of hotels hostels campgrounds and apartments a put out by the tourist office of Spain. The booklets Are available for All parts of the country through the National tourist office of Spain. The address for the main office is Marfa de Molina 50, e-28006 Madrid. The Booklet lists the amenities of each place the government rating one Star to five Star addresses and phone numbers. Check the addresses with a map of Madrid to see whether the hotel is near the places you want to see. Those interested in the hotel Ingles can make reservations by writing to the hotel at Echegaray 8, Madrid Spain 28014, or by calling 01 -429-6551. If calling from outside Spain be sure to add the country code the area around the Puerta Del sol the heart of old Madrid is similar to times Square and travellers should act accordingly hold onto your Money with both hands or put it in a Pouch and Wear it under your shirt and Don t walk around alone late at night. Restaurants can be expensive but Small family owned establishments Are modestly priced. The Best Way to eat dinner and the most fun is to go from one bar to another eating tapas a the Small Servings of fish Calamari salads or steaks generally priced at about $2. Save Money for at least one dinner at one of Madrid s great restaurants. Just Don t get the hamburger at the Palace. A diner digs into a Large serving of Fried squid