YUMMMM! (-:

Leche frita!! yummm! Let's see a pic:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/...d622cb.jpg?v=0

I'm going to Madrid and Barcelona this week and Flame, your report has been very helpful!

I had two questions off of this --
1. I'm meeting my sister at the Madrid airport because we are flying in from different places. I was thinking of just going through customs and meeting her after I exit everything before I leave the actual airport (where you would meet an arriving passenger). Flame says the airport is really confusing. Is meeting her there a bad idea?

2. We were thinking of taking a cab the first time back from the airport to make life simpler (versus the Aerocity bus). Is that a bad idea with the taxi scams that seem so prevalent? Is it worth taking a cab over the Aerocity bus? Do we need to pre-reserve the bus?

Thanks!

goingtoitaly - glad my report was helpful to you. Re the airport I cannot give you advice, more seasoned Madrid/Spain Fodorites may be able to help you there. As for the Aerocity bus I would MOST DEFINITELY recommend since I have experience with both them and the rip-off taxi which took us back to the airport at the back end of our trip. Kept kicking myself for not using Aerocity both ways. And yes you need to reserve but they have a very easy and user-friendly web site and I suggest you look at it.
Have a great time.

Flame- just out of curiosity, which Lateral restaurant did you guys dine at? It looks like there are four of them in Madrid per their website. I like the looks of it, and the Santa Ana location is really close to where we decided to stay, so we'll probably give it a try. Thanks for the rec!

Really enjoyed this! A friend of mine said "her" flamenco dancer was sooooo sexy, she almost fainted on the spot!

It really is too bad about the taxi. It does leave a sour taste.

Will certainly call this one up when we go next year!

Kyliebaby3,
The Lateral restaurant is the new one directly on Plaza Santa Ana.


goingtoitaly,

About question 1,
Will you and your sister be flying into the same terminal? That detail is extremely important.
One World Alliance flights (Iberia, American, British Air) arrive at T 4 while Continental, US Air, Delta, Ryan Air, Air Europa, Spanair....fly into the old terminal, T 1-2-3, which are 4 km. apart and connected by free shuttle bus.

See all the info regarding Barajas airport at www.aena.es

Oh great! According to Google Maps, it's like 0.5 KM away from us, so that's perfect :)

Oh I'll keep Lateral in mind, we're staying right near Santa Ana!

Maribel -- I'm flying in from the US -- Iberia/American, while my sister is on Ryan Air. I assumed because we were both flying internationally that we would arrive in the same terminal but I guess that is wrong! Oh dear....I arrive 2 hrs before her so I can trek to her terminal. Is there some place there that I can tell her I will meet her?

Flame, thanks for posting a great report. You really took me back to my trip almost exactly a year before yours. We also used Maribel's recommendations for restaurants in Madrid and Barcelona. We enjoyed Le Sede for dinner one evening too.

You could meet her in T1 in the downstairs international arrivals area at the Medas cafeteria. That way you can have something to eat or drink while waiting and watch the monitors in case her flight arrives late.

misty_in_stl - you are welcome!! Yes, Maribel is quite the wonderful source of information, great tips and ideas. Hip hip hooray Maribel (yet again!!).

Which reminds me Maribel - have you ever gotten the chance to check out that restaurant (Cornucopia I think was the name?) where I wrote about how dirty the waiters clothes were?

Hi Flame,
Good memory!
I'm headed there tomorrow! If I don't like what I see, bad, bad bad!! Off my list, forever!

thanks so much Maribel! I'm leaving this afternoon so hopefully all goes well!

Will be looking out for your opinions after tomorrow Maribel!!!!

Just read your report as I am hoping to spend a week in 2010 possibly split between Madrid and Barcelona. Sounds like you had a fabulous time. I will follow many of your suggestions.

Madrid is one of my top five places in this planet!!! I am going back to Spain in December on my way to a Med Cruise!! can't wait!!

Flame123/ Mirabela-

Where can I find Mirabela's guide/ advice, please? Your trip report is fantastic. I am printing off for reference for our trip. Would love to see Mirabela's info.

Thank you!

http://www.maribelsguides.com/

This is the best guide ever!

jerseysusan / parisinspring

glad you enjoyed and can use some of the information. Agree with amsdon that Maribel's guides and her wonderful information and advice given on this forum was invaluable. Have a great vacation !!