See what the experts are saying about Madrid. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Escorted & package tours
Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices. Before you start yo... Continue reading »
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Entry requirements & customs
Entry Requirements A valid passport is all that an American, British, Canadian, or New Zealand citizen needs to enter Spain. (Australians, however, need a visa -- see below.) The websites listed below provide downloadable passport appli... Continue reading »
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Getting around
By Car Exploring the city center by car is certainly not a good idea unless you want to get stuck in one of the semi-permanent traffic jams. Parking in town is another big problem. Best to forget it. On the other hand, a car can be very... Continue reading »
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Money
If there is one thing old Spaniards wax nostalgically over, it's certainly not the police state they experienced under the dictatorship of Franco, but the prices paid back then. How they miss the days when you could go into a restaurant and o... Continue reading »
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The 21st-century traveler
Internet Travelers have any number of ways to check their e-mail and access the Internet on the road. Of course, using your own laptop -- or even a PDA (personal digital assistant) or electronic organizer with a modem -- gives you the most... Continue reading »
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Health & safety
Spain should pose no major health hazards. Yes, the rich cuisine -- garlic, olive oil, and wine -- may give some travelers mild diarrhea, so take along some anti-diarrhea medicine, moderate your eating habits, and even though the water is gen... Continue reading »
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Insurance
The cost of travel insurance varies widely, depending on the cost and length of your trip, your age and health, and the type of trip you're taking, but expect to pay between 5% and 8% of the vacation itself. You can get estimates from various... Continue reading »
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Tips on accommodations
Landing the Best room -- Somebody has to get the best room in the house. It might as well be you. You can start by joining the hotel's frequent-guest program, which may make you eligible for upgrades. A hotel-branded credit card usually gives... Continue reading »
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Tips for families
Madrid may suffer the stresses and strains of a bustling metropolis, but it is in fact a very good destination for families with children. In the Casa del Campo parkland beside the city there's the zoo and Parque de Atracciones, while nearby... Continue reading »
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Tips for gay and lesbian travelers
In 1978, Spain legalized homosexuality among consenting adults. In April 1995, the parliament of Spain banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. Madrid is one of the country's major gay centers. The action is mainly located in the... Continue reading »
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Tips for senior travelers
Many discounts are available for seniors traveling to Madrid, but often you need to be a member of an association to obtain them. For information before you go, write for the free booklet, 101 Tips for the Mature Traveler, available from G... Continue reading »
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Tips for single travelers
On package vacations, single travelers are often hit with a "single supplement" cost added to the base price. To avoid it, you can agree to room with other single travelers or find a compatible roommate before you go from one of the many room... Continue reading »
Madrid Travel Experiences
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A Day in Madrid, No Wait, Make that Two
Monday, June 5th, 2006I think finding secluded writing spots may become one of my greatest pleasures in traveling. I resisted the urge to... Continue reading »
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Madrid, Carnaval, the works
So among the other things I haven't yet recorded on this thing,--I went to Madrid with the CIEE clan.I saw the famous statue of Quijote a... Continue reading »
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Bad Education
Decrepit, filthy Madrid streets I walk down to find my hostel at 12:30 am. I'm having no luck, none of the shops have numbers on them. Th... Continue reading »
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Day 6 - Madrid, Spain - June 8
We arrived in Madrid at 7:30 AM from our overnight train without any quality sleep. Our chairs converted to beds, however, it was still v... Continue reading »
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From the Pueblo to the Ciudad Grande
So finally I made it out of Toral. I know you all were probably tired of hearing about me in a summer camp for the 50th consecutive... Continue reading »
Popular Madrid Hotels
- Hilton Madrid Airport
- Hotel Moderno
- Husa Mercátor
- Sercotel Lusso Infantas
- Confortel Pio Xii
- Vincci Capitol
- Silken Torre Garden
- Aparthotel Quo Galeon
- Hesperia Emperatriz
- Confortel Alcalá Norte
