AlbertAsia

We will arrive in Spain, via Paris by flight sometime in the afternoon this coming Saturday (6th Mac) and we intend to spend 3 days in Madrid and then fly off to Barcelona for another 4 days stay.

Need advise about airport transfer. Is it easy to get a taxi from the airport to our hotel in Madrid? Is there a standard ticketing system and standard fare that will help non-Spanish speaking tourist avoid any unfortunate scams?

We were offerred a private land transfer arrangement from the Airport to the Hotel in the city cositng about Euro50 per trip one way. Is this a fair refelction of the current charges?

cruiseluv

Hi. I have been to Madrid many times. It is easy to get a taxi at the airport, unfortunately the scammers abound. I am not suggesting all of them are but it has happened to me one time too many. There is not a flat fee, they are supposed to use the meter, and it should be around 25 euros. For my next trip to Madrid I will use the Aerocity shuttle which offers a flat fee of 23 euros for up to 3 persons. You can book online.

I think 50 euros is a bit high but not surprising if your hotel is arranging it.

AlbertAsia

cruiseluv,

Thank you so much for the quick response. I will check on the aerocity shuttle as recommended.

Regards

scrb

Metro is 2 Euro to the city. Airport is nearby.

Or you can get a Tourist Travel Pass, like 11 Euro for unlimited use for 3 days.

You may have to change trains and sometimes it's tricky taking the luggage through the turnstiles. But for the most parts, there are escalators and elevators at most of the bigger stations. In some smaller ones, you may have to carry luggage up the stairs.

Flame123

We used Aerocity shuttle from the airport to our hotel. And unfortunately used a taxi called by our hotel from the hotel back to the airport at the end of our stay. Scammed!!!! Highly recommend the Aerocity shuttle.

cherrybomb

A taxi is 20-25€ depending on traffic. From the airport it is no big thing wait on line in the rank. Just watch the meter. The additional charges are posted in Spanish and english. 50€ is too much and the shuttle will take forever. The metro is wonky to/from the airport and will require three xfers. If you are worried about scams and language that is a sure bet avoid. Really it is just a PIA to take the metro more than anything else.

cova

I don´t know about the metro, cherrybomb. It depends where you are going. I live in the Plaza de Castilla area, in the north, and I tend to get only taxis if I arrive to Madrid after 11 at night or if I carry a heavy suitcase. It is only a change of metro in Colombia and 25 minutes. So, it will depend on how much luggage the OP has and where are they going.

The thing with the taxi drivers is not so much scammers but the fact that usually I have to spend the first five minutes of the trip explaining to the driver that no, I don´t want to go through the T1 and the T2, yes, I know that I have to pay the toll road, sorry, my way is shorter and I do want to arrive to my place ... The price to the north part is around 25 euros and to the area near Serrano and Ortega y Gasset can be a bit more than 30 euros, so I guess the historical center can run up to 35 euros, depending on the time of the day. At least, if you don´t speak spanish, you don´t have to explain yourself and you don´t have to tell them that you don´t want to talk about politics. But I have met some really nice taxi drivers, too, I must say. There are few, but they exist.

The one thing you must always remember is that there is no extra charge for luggage, and the airport supplement is per trip, not per person.

Bye now, Cova

cherrybomb

for central Madrid, show driver the address and get there. The way the train runs it is three trains which to me is a pain. But that is just me. If I am on vacay I don't want to bother. Then again I have found if you are not alone drivers don't bother with chit chat. And I don't live there. But I do embarrasingly take car service to work in the morining living in NYC cuz I don't want to deal with the train and overcrowding at this point so what do I know. I do my so doku and find I don't have to talk to driver. I am a taxi whore

AlbertAsia

Thank you all for the advise, we have decided on the AeroCity sinc ethe reivew has been good and the price for two is only Euro26 and we could book online.

regards and god bless!

Paul1950

What should the meter start at from the Madrid Airport?

cova

It depends on the time of the day and the day.

During weekdays, around 2 euros. The most expensive is after 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, 3,10 euros. Then you get the airport supplement, 5,50 euros, that they should add to the total cost upon arrival to your destiny. And if you get the toll road from the airport ( recommended if you are going some place north of the Santiago Bernabeu ), you must also pay it, 1,75 euros.

Albert, that was a really good price. Good idea.

Bye, Cova

Paul1950

Gracias, Cova!