psy_dr

I arrive in Madrid on Iberia from the US in June on a Sunday at 10am. I'm traveling with my husband & 5 yr old son. We are renting a car at the airport & driving 7-8 hrs to our final destination (Bordeaux). I've mapped out where to stop along the way for food, gas, etc (stops every 2-3 hrs), but I'm sure we'll want to buy some staples for the first leg of the drive (e.g., water, juice, crackers, sandwiches, etc). Should we get these items at the airport (if so, at what store?) or after we get our rental car? If you suggest after rental car, please let me know where. We speak Spanish but aren't familiar with the area.
Thanks!
PS - please keep in mind it'll be a Sunday around 11am or noon.

Robert2533

If you follow the typical route, you'll find an Autogrill on the road at Briviesca, and one just off the highway at Fontioso.

Are you planning on stopping for the night, or just forging ahead into the night on the road to Bordeaux? It's makes for one very long day. Quite frankly, I would find someplace to stay for the night. Lerma makes a good place to spend the night, or you can push on to Burgos.

psy_dr

Unfortunately we must drive straight to Bordeaux - no overnight. Our son is good on long road trips (just did a 14 hr road trip) and as long as we can stop for espresso & food along the way, we should be fine.
I'll look up Autogrill - I hadn't heard of them. Is it like a McDonalds or a 7/11?
So you wouldn't recommend "to-go" food/snacks from the airport?
Thanks for the heads up.

uhoh_busted

I'd get off the highway after you've entered France and look for signs for the closest Carrefour...nice supermarket with all you'd need.

The Autogrills are located on the highways, where you can get gas, food, stop for the bathroom, etc. They have sandwiches, some have OK cafeteria choices and drinks, etc. OK if you are starving, but more expensive than stopping at a convenience store. You may want to grab some to-go snacks at the airport, but for picnic lunch type supplies, I'd wait to get to a Carrefour. Oh. Whoops. I just re-read and realized you said Madrid, not Barcelona (we flew in to Barcelona last Fall which was a relatively short trip into France). Possibly the Autogrills and airport offerings will be priced about the same. With a 5 yo, you may want to have some different snacks ASAP. (Because they will be Spanish!)

lincasanova

Once you leave Madrid, most gas stations will have snacks and cafeterias along the highway. You should have no problem finding a place to eat and stock up within a half an hour.

If you really want to sit down or shop at a real store, then go to the Parque Ferial Juan Carlos, the fair grounds also called IFEMA which is 5 minutes from the airport, and you will have a huge choice of many places to eat and shop, including a huge Hipercor.

otherwise, if I recall there are big shopping complexes within the first 20 kms out of the airport if not sooner on your route.

Pvoyageuse

"look for signs for the closest Carrefour.."

Carrefour supermarkets are closed on Sunday afternoon.

Graziella5b

Just a thought, why don;t you put in your suitcase some snacks for inmediate use. May be
a couple of boxes with juices, the small ones, crackers, chocolate or whatever your son likes.
This way you will have something to give him between arriving and finding a store on the road to Bordeaux....

psy_dr

Everyone- thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. It truly helps to have an idea of what stores might be open on a Sunday & to know some store names ahead of time. And we will definitely pack some snacks in our bags. Thanks again!!!

Graziella5b

Just a note, airports are notoriously expensive even for the smallest items. I can vouch for our airport, Miami, even a simple chocolate is very expensive in comparison with the super market in town. Better avoid them. Good luck.

Robert2533

You have one more major option. Forget picking up the car at Barajas and catch a connecting flight to San Sebastian. You can arrange to pick you car up there and it's about a 3-1/2 hour drive to Bordeaux. Believe me, after having done this trip a number of times, driving more than 3 hours is a killer after the overnight flight from the States.

Graziella5b

I agree, driving more than TWo in my case after a long trip from US, can really tough

flanneruk

It's all very well telling us how used you are to long drives.

But there's no evidence you've got any experience of driving at all after an overnight flight (<b> in which you'll get no sleep </b. Or driving at all where every sign is in a foreign language.

The technical term for such a person is "homicidal fool". For someone who claims they "must" do something so criminally dangerous: "self-centred homicidal fool"

Your plan is stupid. At the very least you should trial it first somewhere only your compatriots are liable to get killed.

psy_dr

Flanneruk - I find your comment really offensive. Although I appreciate the other posters for voicing a similar concern, I do not appreciate your post...it's very rude. I would rather you not comment on my posts if you are going to put me down. I have NEVER experienced this on this forum.

psy_dr

Robert2533 & Graziella5b - I appreciate your suggestion, but we are not able to change our plans. Fortunately, my husband is driving and he will certainly get sleep on the plane as he is not sitting with me and our son (we did this on purpose so he can rest). If we get too tired we'll stop overnight along the way. Thanks!