Long stopover in Madrid - what to do??
Mar 19, 2010, 4:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,217
Long stopover in Madrid - what to do??
My two 20+ y.o. sons may fly RT: JFK-JNB in July/August via Madrid with Iberia. The stop overs with Iberia are 15 and 10 hours. What do you suggest?
I am willing to pay for a single room near the airport so they can rest, have a shower, eat and maybe use the exercise room before checking out later in the day to catch the onward flight.
Suggestions? Options? Sitting in a lounge (with Priority Pass) purchased would be boring.
I am willing to pay for a single room near the airport so they can rest, have a shower, eat and maybe use the exercise room before checking out later in the day to catch the onward flight.
Suggestions? Options? Sitting in a lounge (with Priority Pass) purchased would be boring.
Mar 19, 2010, 4:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,539
That is plenty of time to hop the metro into the city.
Depending on how active you feel (after a shower at the lounge) you can head to Retiro Park, have a coffee, people watch, read a book in the sun, even nap on the grass.
Visit the Prado - one of the world's best museums
Have a great meal of tapas and wine
Depending on how active you feel (after a shower at the lounge) you can head to Retiro Park, have a coffee, people watch, read a book in the sun, even nap on the grass.
Visit the Prado - one of the world's best museums
Have a great meal of tapas and wine
Mar 20, 2010, 9:26 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: CPH
Programs: SAS
Posts: 1,217
Get some ideas from:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?IDM=972&NM=2
You can download a brochure, with lots of practical info and tips for passengers in transit at madrid:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...ntificador=648
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?IDM=972&NM=2
You can download a brochure, with lots of practical info and tips for passengers in transit at madrid:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...ntificador=648
Mar 21, 2010, 5:27 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
20+ guys do not need to rest; leave that up to us the 40+ crowd.
I would skip the hotel; head to downtown and there are tons of things to do; Retiro is a great park (think central park); there are several museums; tell them to head to Plaza Mayor and have lunch/dinner at El Museo del Jamon (not a museum at all but rather a great ham/pork place); They can also have a really nice meal at El Asador Real;
The airport is close by using the Metro and if they are really tired on the way back they can take a cab for probably 30 euros or so.
I would skip the hotel; head to downtown and there are tons of things to do; Retiro is a great park (think central park); there are several museums; tell them to head to Plaza Mayor and have lunch/dinner at El Museo del Jamon (not a museum at all but rather a great ham/pork place); They can also have a really nice meal at El Asador Real;
The airport is close by using the Metro and if they are really tired on the way back they can take a cab for probably 30 euros or so.
Mar 21, 2010, 5:47 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Go to this restaurant, "the Oldest Restaurant in the World," and have the suckling pig about which Hemingway wrote in "The Sun Also Rises." Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere.
Restaurante Botín
www.botin.es
Calle de los Cuchilleros, 17
28005 Madrid, Spain
91 366 42 17
"We lunched upstairs at Botin´s. It is one of the best restaurants in the world. We had roast young suckling pig and drank rioja alta. Brett did not eat much. She never ate much. I ate a very big meal and drank three bottles of rioja alta.” - E. Hemingway
Restaurante Botín
www.botin.es
Calle de los Cuchilleros, 17
28005 Madrid, Spain
91 366 42 17
"We lunched upstairs at Botin´s. It is one of the best restaurants in the world. We had roast young suckling pig and drank rioja alta. Brett did not eat much. She never ate much. I ate a very big meal and drank three bottles of rioja alta.” - E. Hemingway
Last edited by Doc Savage; Mar 21, 2010 at 8:46 pm Reason: Memories of mouthwateringly good food....
Mar 21, 2010, 11:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
I personally think that the cochinillo is better in El Asador Real; El Botin has become too touristy in the last few years and the service has suffered.
Mar 29, 2010, 3:59 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,580
I also think 20+ young guys don't need a hotel by the airport. Grab a backpack, take the Metro to city center (Station Sol, for example) and hang out there for a few hours.
If they absolutely need a hotel, I recommend the airport Hilton. Book AP to save money and hotel shuttle will pick up and drop off (free).
If they absolutely need a hotel, I recommend the airport Hilton. Book AP to save money and hotel shuttle will pick up and drop off (free).
Apr 14, 2010, 6:44 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Usually Paris and Rome, but could be just about anywhere
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 294
I'd agree that they should hop on the metro and see some of the town. They can ditch anything they don't want to carry at the left luggage lockers at the airport.
I had fun grazing through the Mercado de San Miguel last week on a stopover: http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/
As I have friends in Madrid, I have often schedule enough times between flights for a lunch or a museum. The metro to and from the airport is convenient, inexpensive and quick. There is really no reason not to go into town.
I had fun grazing through the Mercado de San Miguel last week on a stopover: http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/
As I have friends in Madrid, I have often schedule enough times between flights for a lunch or a museum. The metro to and from the airport is convenient, inexpensive and quick. There is really no reason not to go into town.
Apr 16, 2010, 7:48 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Credit Cards
Posts: 3,009
yea forget shower/exercise have them hop on the Metro and head to Plaza del Sol.
great exercise walking around the center... small little restaurants to eat something, enjoy the scenery.
I was pleasantly surprised with Madrid, seemed like a cleaner city compared to Paris
great exercise walking around the center... small little restaurants to eat something, enjoy the scenery.
I was pleasantly surprised with Madrid, seemed like a cleaner city compared to Paris
Apr 18, 2010, 5:34 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA, bmi, USAir, Aeroplan, AirBerlin, Marriott, SolMeliaMas, BAAWorldpoints
Posts: 793
yea forget shower/exercise have them hop on the Metro and head to Plaza del Sol.
great exercise walking around the center... small little restaurants to eat something, enjoy the scenery.
I was pleasantly surprised with Madrid, seemed like a cleaner city compared to Paris
great exercise walking around the center... small little restaurants to eat something, enjoy the scenery.
I was pleasantly surprised with Madrid, seemed like a cleaner city compared to Paris
Apr 30, 2010, 9:47 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,217
Merci - Shokran and Thanks!!
Thanks EVERYONE for the advice. :-) The sons will have to make the final decision.. It seems that Iberia has a "Madrid Amigo" program if the stop-over is over 8 hours - and it is. Perhaps that program will help them make some decisions..
kp
kp
May 3, 2010, 9:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: NWA, UA Silver. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,395
my friend and i 20+ were there a couple years ago. the best time we had after getting in was ditching our bags at the hostel and "bar hopping" tapas, beer, people watching. cant beat it, just dont over indulge on the beers before getting back on the plane. the martian cafe was the first place we stopped, big windows to watch traffic and people and air conditioned.