Madrid Travel Forum

HELP! I am working on a trip to Spain, first stop being Madrid. We are starting at the airport there and will be leaving from the Atocha train station. I am trying to pick an appropriate hotel that will be in a good area, central to main spots to visit and/or bus stops, and closer to the train station, as we will be trying to make the most of our time there, then rushing for the train to leave town in the evening.
I get VERY confused when the hotel descriptions start talking about "north Madrid", "central", etc. Please help direct me to the section (we don't name our cities in sections so much) I want to stay in. In Sevilla, I found maps that showed the things I wanted to hit, plus the train station, so it made it nice trying to land. Can't seem to find such for Madrid!

Reasonably cheap and overlooking Atocha railways station - Hotel Mercator.

On the more expensive side, a short walk from Atocha, down hill southwards - Hotel Carlton.

Check out their websites.

Outside Madrid - up in the Sierra de Guadarrama at Cercedilla, investigate Hotel Longinos, a stone's throw from the RENFE station. In Cercedilla village there are still restaurants which do cheap lunchtime menus for under ten euros or thereabouts!

Cheap travel - buy an Abono Turístico Regional de Transportes - valid for train, bus, metro, tram. One day for metropolitan area 5.20 Euros, for whole of Comunidad de Madrid 10.40 euros. Versions for 2, 3, 5 and 7 days also available. From stations, newspaper kiosks, tourist offices. May come with a useful information pack, including map.

I'm sure impressed with the quick reply! With the thought of city transportation, I have seen internet offers for passes for: buses and subway, no RENFE, Zone A & T, 2 days $28, 3 days $37; then for "tourist ticket", Zone A (which covers Metro, EMT, & Cerceinias-RENFE, 2 days 8.80, 3 days 11.60 (not clear whether that is USD or Euros, but with the period, I am guessing it is USD)
Would that be as good/better than the transportation you talked about?

You can buy a metro ticket for ten trips. That is all you will need for 3 days. As to finding a hotel in Madrid, take your Madrid map out, draw a line from the Prado to the Palace and then up to Gran Via, follow Gran Via to Banco Espana and then down to the Prado. Any place in this semi triangle is center to most things. The metro system is great so you can get anyplace. I like the area around Gran Via and usually take a hotel on Gran Via. The Emperador has a roof top pool which is nice after hitting the sites all day. The problem with Gran Via is that if you venture a block North you will run into druggies and prostitutes. Upper end shopping, restaurants and hotels will be in the Salamanca district, just North of Parc Retiro (see metro Goya). I like the area a lot, but for some reason have not stayed there. Let us know if you have any more Q's. Karl

We enjoyed staying at the Hostal Aguilar on San Jeronimo--huge room w/bathroom and (at least in 2006) was a great deal--close to everything (plaza santa ana, puerta del sol--which is a main metro interchange station)

many hotels near Atocha train station and the metro will take you close to everywhere in Madrid. I prefer those outside attractions areas, but I used to lived in the city too. The only one in city center can recommend(because stayed there myself) is Hostal La Plata at gran via 15, handle and welcome by the Garrido family for many years,right around the attractions of Madrid.

Madrid has grown, and now instead of one beltway road there are 5, and instead of madrid centro and the rest now it is divided into many north ,central ,south ,east for local information, but for visitor the main points of attractions are still the centro (spanish) city center.

this is an easy english guide to the city
http://www.madrid-tourist-guide.com/
hope it helps

The best deal for travel including the airport is the abono turistico, you can buy for one day or different periods, 3 days is 11 euros ,you will be able tot ravel in bus or trains/metro all over the city as many times as needed.
this metro de madrid site will explain in english

http://www.metromadrid.es/en/viaja_en_metro/tarifas/abonos/contenido02.html

hope it helps

Y'all are great (that's okie for everyone... ;)