Help with Madrid Airport Transportation
 

What is the easiest and most economical way to get a group of 8 & lots of luggage from the Airport and to a Hotel near the Prado ?<BR><BR>We all don't have to travel in the same vehicle,so taxi, bus, or other airport transfer could work.<BR><BR>Will appreciate any recommendation ?<BR><BR>Thank You<BR>Dave

Taxi(es)<BR>Period<BR><BR>Bjorn, Oslo

Try aerocity, it´s an excelent and inexpensive shuttle service. We used it last year when we visit Madrid. <BR>Loved Madrid.<BR>The aerocity site is<BR>http://www.aerocity.com/<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Be sure to use the "legal" taxis, they can be identified by the red stripe on the side of a usually white car...sort of look like a police car. They are reliable and I have always found the drivers to be friendly.

I second the suggestion that you use aerocity. From my personal experience : their van service is excellent, reasonably priced & can be reserved via their website.<BR>

Dave,<BR>Either a couple of taxis-extra luggage will be put on the roof rack (not the black ones marked "turismo", but as Jose says, the official white ones with diagonal red stripe on front door) or reserve an Aerocity transfer on their web site. Because you're a group of eight, you'll have the van to yourselves and won't have to endure any intermediate stops to drop off other passengers at their hotels along the route-the driver will take your group directly to the Westin Palace (if you've decided to buy those Bancotel coupons).<BR>Have a great trip!

this isn't actually a reply -- i have a similar problem that i need advice about. we have to get 5 people and (minimal) luggage from a hotel near plaza de espana to madrid airport around 4am, and from what i gather in guidebooks, even taxis may not be running. can this be true in such a large cosmopolitan city? i also have heard of aerocity -- do you know if they pick up this early? all info will be much appreciated, especially as my travel agent is not being much help at all.

Lori<BR> either the hotel can help you but I would go w/Aerocity.Look up their website and make your reservation now.You must have a reservation to use them .They are not waiting for general use at the airport like the taxis which notoriously add on charges for the number of people, luggage, time of day.Aerocity is a flat fee!

Aerocity is available with prior reservation 24 hours a day & their rates are very reasonable. Plus you avoid any taxi hassle over rates & extra charges (airport fees, extra baggage, etc.)

We agree with the above posts to use Aerocity. We just returned from Madrid and used that company. They were very punctual. We reserved a ride for 8:35am and at 8:35as they were at our hotel !<BR>We will use them again.<BR>www.aerocity.com

Dave,<BR>I've heard nothing but praise about the AeroCity service, but <BR>I just checked their web page and it seems the max. passengers for van service is 7, not 8. For all 8 of you to travel together, it appears you'd need to use their AERSMobile limo Chauffeur Service, which is more exp.. But I assume you could simply reserve 4 seats each in 2 shuttle vans, which would be the most economical option. You wouldn't be guaranteed a non-stop transfer from Barajas to your hotel, but with only 3 other passengers in each van going to other hotels, it shouldn't be much over a half hr. ride.<BR><BR>Lori,<BR>As for the taxis, there are over 15,000 taxis in Madrid, and there is 24 hr. service. I've easily found taxis on the street at 5 a.m. for the airport run. You'll almost always find one in front of a major hotel such as the Crowne Plaza on the Plaza de Espana, or your hotel/hostal can simply call one for you from Radio Taxi (91 547 82 00), which we've done.<BR>The official 2002 taxi rates: <BR>The meter starts at 1.35 euros, for each addit. km in zona A, .73 euros, zone B, .81 euros.<BR>There's a mandatory surcharge of 4 euros to and fro the airport, but the '01 mandatory extra charge of .30 euros for each piece of luggage carried in the trunk or roof rack (that "suplemento de bultos" that madrugada refers to) has been officially eliminated. <BR>A typical straight run from Barajas to downtown (Westin Palace) with an honest driver at the wheel should be around 15 euros, and other than at peak hrs, should take 20-25 min..<BR>Hope this helps.

Ah but who wants to take the chance or wants to worry about the luck of finding that honest Madrid cabbie at that time of day-tell Aerocity your situation and I'm sure they'll take care of you1<BR>I preferred walking to the hassle with illegal/dishonest taxis in Madrid but obviously Aerocity is the answer to get to Barajas at any time of the day.Hopefully this new company will do so well that they will make the taxis take note and shape up.

thank you, everyone! I feel reassured that we can get to the airport at this (godawful) hour. My travel agent is supposed to be checking out aerocity for us.