Madrid

[chokkie]

We're off to Madrid for a few days (5 to be precise) the week after next, and thought that we could get one of those city passes. I imagine that there are a few different types to choose from, just wondered if anyone has any knowledge about these cards. I don't think we will get a pass for the full 5 days, as we want to visit Toledo for the day as well.

Also - we will need to get to the airport quite early on the morning of our last day - we've got to be there for about 6.30 am, and don't particularly want to get ourselves entangled in public transport that early in the morning. Are taxis expensive in Madrid? Does anyone have any suggestions about getting to the airport early in the morning? Thanks, Chox.

[Peter Pedant]

well you have tourist police
and yes the taxis try to rip you off

( and the poly -theea dont do an awful lot)

I had a great time - hotel near the opera - just down from the calle de las recogidas which is where you report robberies ( which the polly - also dont care much about )

I was 'searched' by plain clothes police
only the english allow this
police no more - well never actually

it was when he leeked my 50 Euro note and said
"you have drogz" - and I went like we had better finish this at a police station

I was of course short changed in the money I had handed over to him to "leek"
and they had "read out" my credit card numbers very slowly someone in the back ( they were of course noted down) - which made me theenk .....

Any search should of course be done at a police station and in uniform......

so I cancelled my cards and lived off 3/6 until sunday the day of the flight
and got there by .... public transport ( underground )
full of polly - theea doing damn all

really had fun
besides the last bit
even that wouldnt stop me going back
{Prado - Reina Sofia....)

[MargoTester]

We're off to Madrid in May, really looking forward to it. OH has booked taxi to pick up and return to airport (6 people) works out at about 7 euros each way per person. He has also booked hop on/off bus for 2days working out at apps £20 each with a company called Isango. I you don't want to do that I am sure that your hotel would arrange a taxi for you if you asked them. Let me know how you get on - have a great trip

[Peter Pedant]

oh and there is a brithel on the calle de las recogida just upposite the polly thea OK girlie bar
and quite honestly you get better service there
you lose money but get something in return

there were about ten of us all discussing how we had been mugged ( handbag snatchers etc ) - apparently the americans dont let americans back in without a passport - so some people are Much Worse off than you - this was in the polly theea and not the girlie bar

after three or four hours there were still the same ten waiting to report - and we ALL felt much better.....

[Sqad]

Take a taxi......30 Euros should well cover it....and well worth it.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah the hotel will do it
seven euro sounz right - per person
( there was only me - and I remember thinking christ that was a lot )

[Peter Pedant]

you can go into the prado
and then go out and have coffee in the very places that Goya painted ....
( wizzout the firing squads etc )

clearly you cant go an have coffee in the Maja's dressing room ( I suppose she would have put her clothes back on by then)

http://www.upv.es/psst_2000/social.htm

[Peter Pedant]

O god and the Thyssen

and Garcia Lazon outside of which I got .....

[chokkie]

Thanks for your responses folks, really helpful. We learned our lesson about pickpockets in Barcelona (don't ask, won't be going back there in a hurry!), so won't be taking any valuables and keeping our bags under our coats. Will ask at the hotel about taxis to the airport on our last day. Cheers, Chox.

[Buenchico]

Don't bother with the passes that give you free (or discounted)admission to attractions. Unless you rush around everywhere (so that you can visit a large number of attractions) you won't save anything. Instead just use the public transport passes:
https://www.metromadrid.es/en/viaja_en_metro/Tarifasybilletes/abonos/contenido02.html

A few recommendations from me for slightly lesser-known attractions in Madrid:

The Museo Sorolla is dedicated to the works of my favourite artist and is totally enchanting:
http://www.mecd.gob.es/msorolla/inicio.html

The railway museum (Museo del Ferrocarril) isn't massive but there's enough to see to fill at least a couple of hours and, even if you're not a rail enthusiast, it's well worth a visit:
http://www.museodelferrocarril.org/en/principal.asp

The Royal Botanic Garden is a delight:
http://www.rjb.csic.es/jardinbotanico/jardin/