My husband and I are going to be driving in Spain for a week in the fall and the only place that really concerns me is Madrid. Really getting in and out of the city is the extent of our plans to drive there but I've read horror stories about 3 hour traffic jams. True? Please let me know the best times of day to drive in and out of the city and comparisons to U.S. driving. Is LA traffic preparation enough?

Kim--- I was there in May and happen to notice that there was traffic jams at ALL TIMES! Even at 11pm there was incredible traffic lines!!! The only time that it seemed to be less busy was Sunday mornings. My best advice is that if renting a car, park it and take the subway or walk. Also the traffic to the airport is very heavy, leave way ahead of time. How long are you planning to stay in Madrid?

It sort of depends on where you are going/comming from. Last fall we had no trouble at all getting away from the Barajas Airport -- sort of out from the city -- on our way south. Driving back into Madrid from the south, we had no significant trouble getting to our hotel at Plaza de Espana -- where we turned in the car. As I recall, however, the taxi ride from out hotel back to the airport was fairly adventurous. However, in no case was it worse than Atlanta traffic in the rush hours.

I have driven in Spain on three different trips, mostly in the country, but hitting Seville and Barcelona. Driving in the country and small towns is great. <BR>Get rid of the car when you are in the cities. First, you don't need it. Second, in a major example of oversight, when they built cities that are over 100 years old, they neglected to plan for cars. It's like renting a car to tour the U.S. east coast and keeping it in NYC. <BR>Dave

Kim, <BR> <BR>I agree with all advice advocating NOT driving in Madrid. It is a completely congested city at all hours for cars. Reminder: Because of the Spanish schedule and siesta time, Madrid experiences 4 full-fledged rush hours 7 days a week and all the other times are basically packed also. I suggest either starting or ending your trip in Madrid. If you start then drive directly out of the city as suggested and then return the car immediately upon re-entering Madrid and take a cab from airpot into the center city which is imminently accessible on foot. Good luck!

Thanks everyone, for the information. I was afraid of those descriptions! We are starting by flying into Madrid, renting a car and driving immediately to Segovia for the night. Then we are headed back into Madrid for two nights (there to park the car not to use again until we depart) and then we are on the road to Granada. The rest of the week we will be driving the Costa del Sol and the Pueblos Blancos then to Seville where we will drop the car off before flying to Barcelona for the rest of our trip. I'm hoping we'll be okay during those entry and exit points. We know from all our reading to avoid city driving at all costs! We'd have just rented the car on our way out of Madrid but the weekly rate was SOOO much better we just decided what the heck and with the costs of airport transfers and what not, to just go for it. Perhaps we'll regret it but you learn by experience! This may be the first and last time we do it this way.

Hi Kim: <BR> <BR>I have lived & driven in Madrid for 6 years, as well as in the US, and I can tell you that most of these stories are fairly accurate (though I think a little exagerated at times)). Here's a few tips on a few things I think have been overlooked: <BR>-definitely right about not driving in Madrid. It's not that bad, but unless you know excatly where you're going and how to beat traffic, you'll be wasting valuable time. Parking lots are reasonably priced. If not expect to spend up to 30-45 minutes looking for a spot if you're downtown. So park and ride. Madrid has excellent public transport, and very cheap (buy a Metrobus ticket, which is valid for 10 trips on either bus or subway, at 4$ approx) <BR>-When are you going? At 42 degrees Celsius airconditioning is NOT a luxury bonus!!! <BR>-You're driving to Segovia, right. I'd recommend that you do not take A6 (La Coruna) highway, which looks like all the highways in the rest of the world. Instead take "Carretera de Colmenar", which goes parallel to it and is a beautiful drive through the mountain pine forests, the highest peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama, and a beautiful arrival into segovia via the old summer royal villa "La Granja de San Ildefonso". It won't take you any more time than via A6, it's much nicer, and much safer (as is generally the case in Spain with 2-way roads compared ti highways). <BR> <BR>Sorry for taking so long. e-mail me if you want to have more itinerary suggestions and/or food stop-overs! <BR> <BR>Enjoy it!! <BR> <BR>Fred <BR>-traffic is rather aggressive compared to the US, but if you drive slowly and stay on your right people will get off your case. <BR>