Madrid Travel Forum

So I'm going to Madrid and Granada in September for a vacation and from what I've been reading it seems as if being fluent in Spanish is a necessity for a pleasant experience. I took spanish in High School for 3 years but, as with most High School classes, didn't retain much of what I learned. If it is, indeed, a necessity I'd like to start brushing up now. Any advice from people who live there or have been there themselves would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

What is the electricity requirement for US laptop and cell phone in Madrid? Do I need an adopter and transformer to recharge them? Also, where can I buy cell phone sim cards?

Hello,
How can I go from Madrid to tenerife? how much is the price of this jopurney?

I will be in Madrid later this month and am wanting to book as many of the travel arrangements I need for my trip before I go. I have information on taking a train from Madrid to Segovia but I have heard that there are buses that go there which would be quicker and more comfortable. The sites I have visited for buses, do not appear to have a route from Madrid to Segovia. I was wondering if someone could help me out. If there is no website, could someone tell me where we would want to check into in order to get a bus to Segovia? Thank so much in advance.

Hi, I am arriving in madrid tommorow and staying until sat eve, really looking foward to it but all the weather forecasts I look at say rain and heavy showers forecast................., can anybody tell me is this likely to happen as weather seems to have been glorius lately and also do the showers last for long there????, many many thanks, I need to know what to pack!!!!!!

I am traveling from NYC to Rome on Iberia. I, unfortunately, have a hour and a half layover in Madrid. Can anyone tell me about the Layover and plane switching routine in Madrid? I know sometimes you must get your bag and recheck it...is this the case?

will i have to go through customs again?

Please help.

My wife and I are planning to travel by train from Madrid to Alicante and get a connection from Alicante to Barcelona. I know this takes about 9 hours and we are willing to do it to see the country side as well as the coast. Has anyone been on this trip? If so what is your experience and is it worth it. I would appreciate your opinions. Thanks Regards Lafoysped_1

I was recently in Barcelona and enjoyed a FABULOUS wine, at VIPS, called Alborada. I was unsuccessful finding the wine, for purchase, while in Spain and i have been equally unsuccessful here in the States. Is there anyone who can help me locate a vendor?
Thank you so much!

I would like to take a trip/holiday to Barcelona, Madrid and to stay on the coast of the Costa Brava resort. I would appreciate if you could help me as i am trying to gather as much information as i can about these places. I would like to know what hotels are recommended, good restaurants and places that are popular with tourists. Websites would be of great help so I know what these places are.

This would be well appreciated,
Thanks
Sandra

I want to visit Madrid, Barcelona and stay on the coast in a resort on the Costa Brava. Could you help me i am trying to find out as much information as i can about these places. I need to know some good places of accomodation and good restuarants to go to aswell as good touring places, Websites would a great help.

Thankss :) ..

Lovee

Lauraa =] x

I want to visit Madrid, Barcelona and to stay on the coast in a resort on the Costa Brava. Could you help me as am trying to find out as much information as possible about these places. I need to know a good hotel and good places to eat as well as places of good interest, Websites would be of a great help so I know what these places are and what are there interests.

This would be much Appriciated,
Lots of love
Dani..x

I'm traveling with 6 children to Caceres for competition.

Can someone advice how much time will take me by metro to go from Madrid International Airport to Atocha Train Station?

Hi. I am planning a trip to Spain and/or Italy in late December. I have not traveled to Europe in 7 years and am not sure what is considered "cheap" any more.

I am afraid to book too soon. I am currently seeing round trips from Atlanta to Madrid listed for around $750 but am unsure if this will continue go down or up over the next six months.

Has anyone traveled to Spain/Italy at this time in recent years? If so, can you advise what the rates were then?

In addition, any advice on when to book international travel would be great.

thanks!

Hello everyone,

My husband and I are planning a trip to Spain end of July. We have 8 days.

First a little background - This is the first time we are going on a real vacation by ourselves without the kids(6 & 3 and my parents are keeping them..!!!)and we want to make the most of it. Neither of us are real beach types nor are we the hardcore partying type. We both love good food and our drinks. We are very much into history but dont want to cram too much of it just for the sake of doing it. We did Italy a long time ago and totally enjoyed getting lost in the place and watching people and just soaking up the culture. My husband insists on doing the Spanish siesta everyday we are there and I'm fine with that, afterall it is a vacation!!!

Now my questions:
1. What places should I visit and what can I skip..? Our trip is July 28th-Aug 4th and we need to fly into Madrid/Barcelona and out of Madrid/Barcelona, our choice(we have to do open-jaw).

2. I was initially thinking fly into Barcelona, stay there a couple of days, fly to Madrid and do day trips to Toledo, Salamanca etc from there by renting a car.Any other suggestions....? And maybe fly back home from Madrid.

3. Is the above itiniery too boring...? Please share your honest thoughts!!!

4. Is it terrible to come to Spain and not do Granada, Sevilla. We love the history of those places but are scared it might be too much for this trip and hoping we can make it someother time:)

5. Please share any other itiniery suggestions you might have.

Thank you so much.

Hi,

Has anyone heard of this place http://www.accordmadrid.org/ I am looking for this kind of place to stay near the metro station Ventura Rodrigues from october 25 till december 1. 2008, or a hostal with kitchenette will be allright too.
Just a place to feel at home and not really in a hotel for a month
Thanks
Louise

Dear all I am coming to Madrid with a friend and will stay unfortunately only Thursday and Friday night in a hotel in the Salamanca district.
Moreover will will arrive quite late on Thursday night so will be ready to go out after midnight!!!
Just asking if there Any very nice club disco open on Thursday night? which one do you suggest)) ( we will mouve by taxy so also if a bit far is not problem). Moreover please can you let me know hours time of discos there and dress policy (for example are jeans allowed)????
Hope you can give me some suggestion and choices:) many thanks

Hola,

Would appreciate any help regarding what not to miss
in Madrid a in a stay of 2-3 days as well as which are
the best bars and salsa clubs.

Thank you in advance,
Sharon.

I'm travelling to Malaga and Marbella from 28June till 12th July. I'll be landing in Madrid and I'm planning to rent a car from Madrid Barajas Airport terminal 4 to drive myself and the family to Malaga. Can someone please recommend a good car hire company? I need a 9 seater mini-van.
Thanks

We will stopping in Madrid for 4 days at the end of June (24-28).
We are 3 girls who will share a room.

The most important things are:

Centralized Location
Cheap Price

We need a roof over our head and a safe place to keep our stuff!

I know very little about hostels and boarding houses. Can you tell me if or which ones would work? I want to be able to go around the city, and know that my belongings (luggage) left in my room are safe.

Please, I am open to any suggestions for cheap hotels or good hostels!

Thanks!

PS any good food or restaurant suggestions would be fabulous!

Was hoping that someone could recommend the best Tapas in the Chueca neighborhood!

How long a train trip from Madrid to Barcelona? Is the scenery worth the extra time the train may take over flying?

Hi all! I have another question. We are looking at renting and apartment for four days on Calle de Granada in Pacifico (Madrid). Can anyone tell me what sort of area this is? OK for a family with teenage girls? Safe to walk through at night? I gather the apartment is near Metro Pacifico.

Thanks in anticipation!

Kristin

I am in Madrid during the first week of May with a group of lads and would like to take in a lap/table dance club or a strip club. Please understand that I am not looking for anything more than that but so far my search for this sort of club has only taken me to the seedier side of town!! Any help appreciated.

I will be in Madrid in October 2008 with my husband and twin 15 year old daughters.

I'm considering getting us each an Abono Turistico (Tourist travel pass) zone T.

We will be in Madrid from afternoon of 4/10 to midday 8/10. We arrive at Barajas airport and need to get to Metro Anton Martin (and back again on 8/10). We want to visit El Escorial and Toledo as well as Prado, Palacio Real and whatever else we can see of Madrid.

My question is whether the Zone T Abono Turistico will get us to Toledo or not. If not I'll just buy zone A Abonos.

Any opinions on whether the Abono Turistico is a good way to go?

Kristin

Hi, I'll be spending a few days in Madrid by the end of April and am looking for vegan/vegetarian restaurants and stores (like organic stores?). Any suggestions?
Also, any recommendation of nice, not-too-expensive accommodation (by European standards!) is welcome!
I'll be meeting up with a VT friend from Quebec staying there, isn't VT fun? :-)
Hasta luego! (my Spanish is LOUSY!)
Cécile from Paris, France

Would it be better to go to Barcelona and Madrid in September or October? What is the weather like in those months?
Is it a week enough in each city? Or should I spend more than a week in each city, with day trips to the nearby places (such as Toledo/Segovia, etc).

Hello,
I will be in Madrid for a few weeks this summer about 5 or 6. I have an apartment in Pozuelo de Alarcon which is a suburb of Madrid (so I hear) I have been looking at the metro map and cant figure out how I can get to and from the city via the train system. Can anyone help?
Thanks!
Chris

I will be coming in from NY and might try to catch a flight to Seville or Granada 2 hours after I land. Do you think 2 hours will be enough time to get our luggage, go through customs, and make our next flight?

Also, How far is the AVE train from the airport?

Hello Everybody
I'm going to stay in Madrid for a week (25/04 to 02/05).
I love Castles and Royal Palaces.
Any suggestion around Madrid (easy to reach please)
Thanks a lot
Kisses
Deb

Hello Everybody
I'm going to stay in Madrid for a week (25/04 to 02/05).
I love Castles and Royal Palaces.
Any suggestion around Madrid (easy to reach please)
Thanks a lot
Kisses
Deb