Originally Posted by Kate_Canuck
I've easily caught cabs from central Madrid to the airport for flights leaving at 7 am. I've stayed in Madrid about half a dozen times but probably don't know it as well as MADFlyer. MADFlyer - would another option for SeAAtle to stay in what I think is the Salamanca district, for example at the Hesperia Madrid, or the Miguel Angel Occidental. I seem to recall that these hotels were en route to the airport from the centre of town, but were closer to city sights than airport hotels.
Yes, anything north of the Gran Via and towards the east work very well. Most people are not used to 24 hour cities like Madrid.
That raises another point, if traveling on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday morning be sure to reserve a cab as you might spend 10 minutes finding one at 5 am as you will be competing with those leaving the "early" night clubs before moving on to the "after" night clubs. They don't really put that in the guide books but Madrid is the true city that never sleeps.
There are literally hundreds of 3 to 5 stars hotels in that zone.