aussiedreamer

Hi all, we leave on Saturday for our European Xmas adventure. Can someone suggest the easiet way into the city from the airport? We are staying at mario.room-matehotels.com which I believe is near the Royal Palace. We're hoping that the train or bus would work, it is just the two of us c/w luggage.

I've just realized that this is the only thing I haven't sorted out.

Thanks as always.

joannyc

The easiest way to to take a taxi.

By train or metro, you'll need to make a number of connections.

Click on the 'Location' link on your hotel's website. They provide the directions there.

amer_can

You don't say how much luggage and since the metro can be a hassle at certain hours of the day and you are unfamiliar with the city I would spring for a cab..It will be well worth your while and stressless after a long trip..Maybe 25Euros if I remember correctly.(Airport to Best Western @ Puerto del sol). You might email mario and ask their recc. also!! You will love MAD..Don.t forget scarf, gloves and layers..Keep your bags in close contact at all times!! Word to the wise!!!

amer_can

If you are concerned about a language barrier..print off the location of the hotel and simply hand it to the cab driver and ask how much..Que mucho, por favor and give him a pen/pencil to write the amount. Small tip if he handles your luggage but not too much..

aussiedreamer

Thanks joannyc, you may be right. What about the Airport Express Bus for €2 to Atocha station and a taxi from there to the hotel?

We will also be doing this journey in reverse a few weeks later.

aussiedreamer

Okay thanks so much,I think we will opt for a cab. We will have been in Europe for a couple of weeks, so the flight is only from Munich to Madrid. Having said that, yes, we will have a large suitcase each.

Thanks again.

Christina

I stayed right by that hotel in September. I took Aerocity airport transfer from the airport to the hotel, it was great. It's a shared van service, costs around 23 euro for a couple. The good thing about it is you don't have to reserve in advance, you can just go to their desk in the airport, although you might have a bit of a wait for them to fill the van that way. I only waited about 10 minutes. You get some slight discount if you book in advance, but no refunds (at least not at the last minute). http://www.aerocity.com/en/

Cabs to the airport can cost a lot more than from, I think, due to some airport fees. My cab to the airport cost at least 35 euro, as I recall, and the traffic wasn't that bad.

amer_can

Christina's suggestion sounds pretty good..Check it out. I didn't know about this when I took the cab but I do remember the cost as I looked it up in my notes...26E.. but not the metro..No, No, No!!!

aussiedreamer

That sounds perfect Christina I think thats going to work really well.

amer_can I promise NO METRO!!! ;-)

amer_can

Considering my DD had her IPAD stolen from her carefully (not so I guess) zipped backpack in MAD on the metro while I stood right beside her, your promise will make my concern that your holiday will not be marred easier to think about.....Have a great time.

Christina

It worked for me, and upon arrival, I'm in no big hurry anyway so don't mind a small wait. You can check rates online but when I just tried that, it wouldn't quote a rate for some weird reason, but it usually does so I think something is wrong with that function. I didn't pre-book as I thought if my flight were late or they told me it would be a real long wait or whatever, I could take a cab. So I preferred to forego the advance purchase discount to make it easier for me, I think you are supposed to call them and various stuff if you prebook, also.

I wondered if my cab to the airport was ripping me off as it cost a lot more than I had heard quoted on Fodors, etc (where everyone says it will be around 25 euro). I know it was at least 35 euro and maybe a bit more. But there was almost no traffic and I knew the route was the one to the airport, so that only way he could have been ripping me off was if his meter were permanently fixed to go faster than normal, which seemed unlikely. I did read there is some airport fee, also, although the meter was over 30 euro even before that. It was a Monday morning, also, so shouldn't have been a fare surcharge time period. So don't know, it wasn't enough for me to get upset about it, but I think taxi fares can be possibly a lot higher than some people advise on Fodors (at least 10-15 euro more) if that affects your decision on mode.

anyway, I think the Aerocity website has information on where they are located.

danon

T4 is further than other terminals so it may be a bit more.
The rate we paid ( including the airport surcharge) has always been less than 30 euros, but
even if it was more it would not bother me.
With luggage, and already spending thousands of dollar on a holiday, why worry about several extra euros!

lincasanova

The airport bus is now 5E/person.

BigRuss

"que mucho"? That's how you get a bad reputation as a traveler. "Mucho" means "a lot" not a direct translation for "much."

"Cuanta cuesta" is "what's the cost?"

amer_can

Big Russ...How right you are!!! Que mucho...very tijuana..!!! many apologies!!! I know better than that..

aussiedreamer

amer_can & Christina, after reading your replies and looking on the website, I wont book ahead. We'll see how long the wait is on arrival, how we feel etc. and decide then between the van and a taxi.

Thank you all so much.

chapla

The express bus comes very often,right outside the terminal.The wait for aerocity can be quite long-I stopped using them when the airport bus was established.Yes it was 2 euros but now 5,quitea bargain-I enjoy the ride above ground into Madrid.
Taxis are a gamble-it always cost me about 30+ euros.The metro is a hassle-too long a walk plus connections.
I suggest you get off the bus at Cibeles then take a short ride up the Gran Via to the hotel.Don't take it to the hotel because around Opera the streets are one way and the meter will click away as the driver tries to get you to the hotel door!
Love that area around the Palace.My favorite Madrid restaurant for lunch is minutes away on C/Santa Clara, Casa Marta.

CathyM

I also stopped using Aerocity after the airport express bus started service. As a solo traveler the Aerocity bus wasn't much different than the cost of a taxi. A taxi to T1 or T2 from Madrid (the area around Atocha, Plaza Santa Ana or Plaza Mayor) and vice versa has consistently cost me around 25 euros including my 2 bags. I've had to go to Charmatin station a couple of times from the airport and it was about 10 euros more.