Originally Posted by
andymillichamp
Hi Chaps,
Thank you for your replies. I spent a good portion of the day checking for flights out of Bilboa to London and even Barcelona, but they seem pretty full or very expensive, thus the best option for our dates was to buy a round trip from Madrid.
We will have about a week between our flights to and from Madrid back to the UK, however we need to be in Madrid for the first 3 days, thus have another 3 days at the back end to travel elsewhere and come back to Madrid.
We will look into the San Sebastian option for sure, maybe take the bus or train.
On a different note, any suggestions for a good, safe, 4 or 5 star hotel in Madrid? I have some status with Starwood, not the highest, but the Westin seems expensive.
Thanks!
Andre
If you want a 5 star, I recommend the Hotel Ritz. Its location can't be beat. It's on the Paseo del Prado which is a very high-end area. It's actually quite close to the Westin. Since relaxing is on your list, nearby is the Parque del Retiro which is an expansive park with many gardens, a large lake where you can rent rowboats, and there are also horse-drawn carriages for hire. I've stayed at the Ritz a couple of times and I've always been able to get a rate of around 230-250 euros per night.
When I was on a smaller budget, I stayed at the Vincci Via 66 which is a 4 star hotel that's very clean and modern. Rates generally range from 100-130 euros per night. It's on Gran Via which is a main boulevard full of shops, restaurants, nightlife, etc. It's kind of like Oxford Street so lots to do (and also lots of tourist traps). My only concern with the Gran Via area is at night it's full of prostitutes and they are fairly aggressive too i.e. they grab the arms/hands of men walking by themselves (or groups of men hanging out). However, since you're with your girl friend they should not bother you.
Enjoy Madrid!
