We are travelling to madrid around thanksgiving. Any suggestions on how much US currency we should take and how much to convert to euros and what is the best place and method to convert? Also in madrid and seville can we keep passports in hotels's safe or should we carry with us all the time when we go sight seeing? We will be probably staying in Reina victoria in madrid and Tryp macarena in seville. Thanks for sharing all your experience.

Bring a bank (debit) card and use an ATM. Spain is the country with the highest density of ATMs in the world, and you will find ATMs at literally every street corner in Madrid. Bring US$ 100 for emergencies only. Almost certainly, you will bring the US$ 100 back to the USA.
Leave your passports in your hotel safe and carry a copy.

We have stayed at the Reine Victoria and really liked it--would stay there again. Nice neighborhood and nice room.

Hi user,

I get about 100E at the airport before departure, paying the few dollars extra, so that I will have cash on arrivel.

From then on I charge what I can and use the ATM for cash.

I bring some traveler's checks for emergencies.

Carry a copy of your passport and leave the original in the hotel safe. Make sure to get a receipt for what you put in the hotel safe.

Ira,
When you say take a receipt for the things you leave in safe, does it mean that they have a centralized safe in the hotel or each room has safe? Thanks.

You need to ask the hotel that question. Many have one central safe, some have in-room safes, and some don't have either.

Hi User,

I think that hotels are required to have a central safe under the control of the management. This is the only really safe place to keep valuables.

Your room safe will probably be a metal box screwed to a shelf in a closet. It will take a thief less time to get into that than into the trunk of your car.

ira: You are right - full service hotels will normally have a front desk safe. But some small inns, B&Bs and pensions don't. It depends on what type of place you are staying . . . . .