tdk320n

I am a 81 year young female planning my annual trip to Paris and Nice and am thinking of adding a few days in Madrid. My trip is planned for April and May 2012. I have not been to Madrid for about 40 years so this will basically be like a first trip. Also thinking about adding 2 more days and going to Balbao.
I love to walk about cities, sit in cafes people watching,eat in nice restaurants go to a conceert, go to some museums and parks and try to absorb as much local atmosphere as possible.
I need suggestions as to moderate price hotels about 80 -120 euros a night, and also most important which area should I stay in. I have been traveling alone for many years , first on business and then after my husband died .My main requirement is being in a safe area.
I am a city person, I live part of the year in New York City so I like being in the heart of a big city.
In Paris I always rent an apartment in the Marais. Hopefully this information about myself will be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions .

danon

As you know Madrid is a big city.
The most central area would probably be Plaza Mayor.
Sorry, cannot suggest a hotel We alway rented

Aduchamp1

Look at Hotel Persal near the Plaza Santa Ana. I stayed there as did one of my SIL's who was 61 at the time. Centrally located.

iris1745

You can view this site for good recommendations. www.maribelsguides.com

zootsi

When we were in Madrid we stayed at the Hotel Plaza Mayor. The location is excellent (about a block from the Plaza), the rooms are small and simple but clean, and the staff is friendly. The rates are quite reasonable for this location.

Pegontheroad

tdk: You're my hero--81 and still traveling solo. I'm 75 and also usually travel along. It's encouraging to think that 80 may not be the cut-off age for me.

I've stayed in the Intur Palacio San Martín several times. It's very nice--quite elegant really. The only caveat is that the room prices have varied widely. The last time I stayed there, the room prices were 112, 112, 150, and 94 euros. That was for a double, however. The breakfast was 13 euros.

I like this hotel a lot. It's centrally located, clean and comfortable.

On my next trip to Spain, I'm going to pinch pennies, so I plan on staying (if I can) at the Hotel Europa, which is listed in Rick Steves as costing 74 euros for a single with a bath.

Nlingenfel

Yea for you!! I will be 69 in Aug and have been reserching Spain, I plan to go alone in late Sept. Thanks for posting. I will let you know what I learn after I return.

Nikki

The Hotel Room Mate Alicia on the Plaza Santa Ana in a beautifully renovated historic building.

Aleta

Plaza Santa Ana is wonderful for tapas and people watching. My advise is to have a bigger lunch then tapas for dinner. Plenty of people in the streets near it, so you'll feel safe. I applaud you, and hope to be just like you at your wonderful age, as I am a travel nut. I never regret setting out on my own wherever I travel, even when my husband wants to do something different.
I hope to read the report of your trip next year.
We fell in love with Nice again this spring and now want to return to rent a place and stay a week or 2. Any recommendations would be appreciated. You can post as separate thread if you wish

Mara

tdk - I agree - you are a role model - I am a bit younger female senior and went to Spain on my own the end of January 2009. I stayed in the Hostal Acapulco after learning of it in a trip report here and reading excellent reviews on TA. It has no real website - just a map and email - http://www.hostalacapulco.com/ -actually the first time I stayed somewhere without seeing a website.
It is a bit less than your budget (mid 50's €) but I found it to be a convenient location for sightseeing. The room had the usual amenities, bathroom, free wi-fi and a small fridge.

cruiseluv

Congratulations on your traveling spirit!

As others have suggested the Plaza Santa Ana area is a great area to stay . Last year I was by myself in Madrid for 5 days and stayed at Hotel Prado, a comfortable 3 star a block from Plaza Santa Ana. I highly recommend it.

kimhe

I also recommend the area around bustling Plaza Santa Ana. In the heart of town and 200 meters from both majestic Plaza Mayor and the city nucleus Puerta del Sol.
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html

The past years I've been perfectly happy living in this area at either Persal or Plaza Mayor, both well within your price range.
Persal: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/madr...madrid.en.html

Plaza Mayor: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/plaza-mayor.en.html

Some suggestions that I've previously posted about lovely Madrid:

Have breakfast or lunch at Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes in down town Calle Alcalá, 42. One of the city's most emblematic cafés. Grab a window table and watch Madrid life on bustling Calle Alcalá. Take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for the most spectacular views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179

Watch the sunset over the Guadarrama mountains from the terrace at El Ventorrillo in the Vistillas park. Great pollo al ajillo, some say the best in town. Map, video and some pictures: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-ventorrillo

Have lunch or some tapas at Casa Granada, on the 6th floor of an apartment building just off Plaza Tirso de Molina. Hard to find and a great terrace. http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

Plaza Tirso de Molina itself should also be mentioned, some 300 metres from both Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza Mayor. Great cafés, terraces and much more local atmosphere than the more famous Plazas, Mayor and Santa Ana.

Café Central, just off Plaza Santa Ana, is a fabulous jazz venue with live performances from the best artists every night at 10. Entrance 15€. Good food also.

Experience world class flamenco at one of the best tablaos. Madrid is arguably the flamenco capital of the world. Although the art form comes from the South (Andalucía), everybody has to conquer Madrid to get to the top. On their way there, or as an opportunity to try out new things and get an up close audience, many of them work the top tablaos. I recommend Casa Patas close to Plaza Santa Ana or Corral de la Morería close to the Royal Palace and the Almudena cathedral.
http://www.casapatas.com/
http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/ingles/flamenco.html

Updates on flamenco concerts in Madrid on this site. World class artists perform all the time in theaters around town. Here you will meet mostly true flamenco aficionados in the public. http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=1

Other concerts, events and the best and most updated info about Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

Medina Mayrit, an Arab bath-house just off Plaza Mayor in Calle Atotcha, 14. (Mayrit is the old Arab name (from the 9th century) of Madrid, meaning running water and referring to the water sources beneath the city). http://www.medinamayrit.com/

A stroll in the beautiful Retiro Park. http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/parquedelretiro.htm

Txirimiri in Calle del Humilladero, 6 gives you an idea of why the Basque kitchen is considered among the best in the world (Also for this reason, you should look forward to your visit to Bilbao). In the midst of one of the best tapas/restaurant districts in town, in and around Calle Cava Baja in the La Latina area, just off Plaza Mayor.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ri-Madrid.html

I never leave Madrid without having had the squid in its own ink and the famous cod at Casa Revuelta, also in the same district.
http://11870.com/pro/casa-revuelta

You should also try the excellent salmorejo, a somewhat thicker variant of the tomato/vegetable soup gazpacho, in Según Emma just behind the newly reopened gourmet-oriented San Miguel food market. Next door to Plaza Mayor. http://11870.com/pro/segun-emma
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ma-Madrid.html

The Reina Sofia contemporary art museum. The second floor with Picasso, Dalí, lots of other painitings, posters, films, photos etc., dealing with a couple of the greatest civilizational breakdowns of the 20th century, the Spanish Civil War and WWII, completely blew my mind off a couple of years ago.
(And of course Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums)

When in Bilbao, be sure to visit Café Boulevard at the outskirts of the Casco Viejo/Old town, an institution in the city for much more than a century. It has always been my first stop when arriving in Bilbao since the late 80's.
http://www.eitb.com/news/entertainme...ens-its-doors/

CathyM

Wow - you are my role model, 81 and still traveling solo!

I would also recommend staying around the Plaza Santa Ana area. I've been able to get good rates (double room single use, under 90 euros) at the Hotel Lope de Vega and the Hotel El Prado.


http://www.pradohotel.com/

http://www.hotellopedevega.com/

Aleta

I consider museums a highlight of our travels. Visit the Casa Sorolla to view this artist's wonderful works and where he lived. A very reasonable, rather plain restaurant across the street will provide a 3 course meal at a reasonable price. You'll have to take a cab. And of course the Prado is among the world's best, but plan your visit to pace yourself. So much great art in that city, including a wonderful church with recently restored Goya murals and ceiling.

kimhe

... and of course, sitting in one of the outdoor cafés in Plaza de Oriente right in front of the Royal Palace, especially as night falls, can be great. At times there are classical music concerts around sunset. Fifteen-twenty mins walk from Plaza Santa Ana, and there is a taxi stand just outside the next door Teatro Real/Opera.
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-de-oriente.html

november_moon

I am only 36, but I had my first solo traveling experience overseas last year - in Madrid. I travel alone for work regularly, and this started as a trip for work, but I tacked on some days at the end specifically for sightseeing. It was fun.

I stayed near Plaza Santa Ana as well - at Hotel Vinci Soho, which I liked a lot. I think I paid about 110 euro. Comfortable hotel, modern in an old area which was kind of fun, great staff.

tdk320n

Thanks to all for your responses. I have definitely decided to add Madrid and possibly Bilbao to my trip.
I am now trying to book my trip this morning using mileage.

As it now stands, about 1 week in Madrid including Bilbao, 2-3 weeks in Paris and 10 days in Nice.
I usually rent apartments in Paris and Nice. Probably will use a hotel in Spain.

The planning part of the trip is always fun so I will now start the land arrangements.

Again many thanks for all the encouraging comments and suggestions. Keep the suggestions coming.

tdk320n

Aleta
Thanks for your suggestions. In response to your inquiry about Nice.
I always rent an apartment in the OLD TOWN of Nice.
I have used the agency RIVIERAPEPPLES.COM
Their apartments are great maybe a bit over priced. H
They are very professional and reliable. The apartments may be a bit overpriced but I like that there is an agency in town to help if there are problems.

tdk320n

Aleta
Sorry, my PC IS Acting up today.
Again I would not hesitate using and recommending RIVIERAPEPPLES for an apartment.
I am in the process of contacting them now for my next trip

danon

Plaza de Oriente is my favorite spot in Madrid for an evening outing.
Not hopping like Santa Ana or Cava Baja....... but, relaxing, elegant and adult.