I will be in Madrid for 4 days in less than 3 weeks. Does anyone have an itinerary/suggestions for day trip, shopping, tickets to purchase ahead of time, restaurants to book? Also- arriving in at 11:30 am- how to handle the jet lag first day. Also- what do you tip cab drivers, hotel bellmen, restaraunts? Thanks very much!

Jill, <BR>Later today I'll send an email off to you with the intinerary/dining/shopping/day trip suggestions (my Madrid file) that I promised. Too long to post here, I think. We tip the bellhops 100 pts per bag, the doorman 100 pts for securing a taxi, taxi drivers 10 percent of the fare (but never more), the chambermaid 100 pts per day and occasionally leave an extra 5 percent at restaurants, although my Spanish in-laws chide us for overtipping-Spaniards rarely leave tips or very small ones, and only in very high end restaurants and after exceptional service because the service is included. At bars, we leave small change on the plate. I don't know what tickets you would need ahead of time, unless you'd like to attend an opera, ballet, orchestra performance; these are highly coveted, can't be purchased on-line, and you should use the good services of your hotel concierge for these items, giving him/her plenty of lead time. To combat jet lag on our first day, we take a long walk down the Castellana, from our hotel in the Salamanca district near the Plaza Colon to the Reina Sofia Art Museum (but not for a visit inside) on the continuation of the Castellana, called the Paseo del Prado, then from behind the Reina Sofia we take a stroll through Old Madrid, ending at the Plaza Mayor then down through the Arco de Cuchilleros past the always-packed, legendary "Sobrinos de Botin" (save that for your 2nd day) to another one of the atmospheric taverns of the Plaza Mayor (Posada de la Villa, Casa Lucio, Julian de Tolosa) for a late lunch or just delicious and creative tapas at one of the terrific new wine bars in and around the Cava Baja. If you decide to stay in the Hotel Palace/Parliament area, this will be an easy and very pleasant stroll.

Hi Maribel, <BR> <BR>I will be in Madrid for a few days and I would love to see your file on Madrid. Can you also send it to me? <BR>Thanks!

I'm going to Madrid for business in June and would love Maribel's info too. Could you please forward it to me as well? Thank you.

Laura and Peggy: I'll forward you copies as well, and have a great time! <BR>Also, please scroll down and look for Maira's recent Madrid report, the thread "Hello from Madrid", for valuable info and tips she shared with us from her trip just last week.

Do you think there is any way I could get a copy of your file too? Thanks in advance

Maribel, can I please get a copy of your file, too. (Looks like there are a lot of us out there who look up to your expertise.) Thanks in advance.

My wife and I are traveling in mid-May, and we would love a copy of your file, Maribel!! Thanks so much...

Hello, will be in Madrid in 2 weeks, could I get a copy of your file? Thanks!!

Jill, <BR> <BR>A report of our 6+ day trip to Madrid last year may be found at <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>Answers to a few of your questions may be found there. Unless you're flying from the west coast, your's is similar to what we experienced (even though we arrived somewhat later in the day). Jet lag was of no major consequence. In a way, we just did what Maribel is suggesting: to stroll around and stop for tapas (3 stops). We got back to the hotel around 1:30am (which for our internal clock was 8:30pm). <BR> <BR>Huge sales were on when we got there (end July/August). This and two female "friends" that my wife met at the hotel had an effect to increase the shopping time considerably (at the expense of sightseeing). Besides "normal" stops in shops on our strolling routes, considerable time was spent in the neighborhood of Plaza Callao, specially the El Corte Ingles complex and Fnac. Everything was on sale, not only seasonal goods like clothing: books, cds, cameras, etc. at Fnac, Majorica pearls, scarfs, etc at El Corte Ingles. <BR> <BR>The ladies also insisted on visiting a shopping center, Friday late afternoon. They chose the La Vanguada. This is north of the city, just off Bario del Pilar metro station, which is served by line #9. One may take metro lines #1 or 8 to Plaza de Castilla and #9 thereafter. Though the La Vanguada is not "huge", one may find just about everything there: from department stores like El Corte Ingles, to fashion shops and boutiques, a Supermarket and a section with market stalls, besides reasonable and cheap options for having lunch, dinner or a snack. While the ladies were having their stuff in stores like Mng and Zara (incredible offers up tp 80% off) we had much fun strolling through the market stalls (jambom, fruits, beef, fish & poultry, etc) and supermarket. The place was a zoo, packed with Spaniards (very few tourists around). Once the ladies didn't have enough till closing time, they sure had to return Saturday afternoon for a second round. <BR> <BR>Paulo

Maribel! <BR>Do you still have some spare copy of your Madrid file? If so, my wife and I would love to have one. <BR>We married there and stayed for a fortnight at Reina Victoria. Also had a rental car to tour Pedraza, Segovia, Toledo (with an overnight stay at the Parador) and such. In '99 I arranged a long "business weekend" for my company, including sightseeing, flamenco, etc. <BR> <BR>This autumn my wife and I shall return to Plaza Santa Ana and Gran Victoria Hotel. Although we are fairly informed, we really would appreciate some detailed "insights", in order to squeeze the very best drops out of the thrilling town Madrid. <BR> <BR>Your offer is one of the most generous and fruitful ever in this forum. <BR> <BR>What can I do in return? <BR>Some Scandinavian (Norway) advice...? <BR> <BR>Looking forward to receiving your Marid file... <BR> <BR>Bjorn, Oslo, Norway <BR> <BR>

Dear Maribel, <BR> Well, it looks like you opened a can of worms! I too, would like a copy of your itinerary. The whole thing!! My husband and I will be in Madrid in June and staying at the Westin Palace <BR>Hotel. <BR> I would like to know of any "roman- <BR>tic" spots in Madrid to renew our vows <BR>for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. That <BR>would be so great. Looking forward to hearing from you or anyone else that can <BR>answer my question. Thanks for your time and consideration. Sibyl

To everyone, <BR>Yipes! I'll send all a copy of my Madrid file in hopes that this just might give a giant boost to the Spanish economy! I have it on a Word document on my PC, and I'll send it out that way, but if you're a Mac user, just sent me a quick email (only need to write "help!") and I'll put it in email form or on Word for Mac. <BR> <BR>Hi Paulo: <BR>Glad to see you made up to La Vaguada! You're right on-it's the closest Madrid comes to a suburban American mall-and from July 1 through end of August during the annual summer "rebajas" (sales) you'll see the natives in a packed-to- the-gills shopping frenzy. Sales also the entire month of Jan, and it's a madhouse. <BR>

Dear Maribel, <BR>My husband and I are going to Spain and Portugal in June also and would die to have your file. Please forward a copy of your file to us. We would be most grateful. <BR>Thank you, <BR>Thanh

Dear maribel, We are going on our honeymoon inAug 2001. Would also love a copy of your Madrid Itienary. Thanks in advance.

If you can arrange it locally, as I'm sure you'd be able to, I'd suggest a side trip to Toledo, a town we found quite fascinating! Allow some time for lunch at the Hotel Cardinale. <BR> <BR>Contact me using my e-mail address if you'd like additional information.

Hi Maribel -- <BR> <BR>If you could stand to send out one more copy of your itinerary, I would so appreciate it! Thanks! <BR> <BR>Laura

Well, Maribel, I really never dreamt that I'd ever visit a shopping center in Europe. The closest I'd come before Madrid was the Grand Bazar in Istanbul ;-) <BR> <BR>Actually I twisted the story a bit. When we met our friends after visiting the Thyssen on Friday (our friends were visiting the Reina Sofia) the ladies "communicated" us poor husbands that they were taking off for shopping. When I asked where, they said they had all figured out. An executive bus was going to take them back and forth to a shopping, outlet or whatever somewhere out of town ... they had no idea in which direction this would be! While I was telling myself "oh no, here we go again in one of those programs completely out of control" I was thinking hard on a way of talking them out of it. I escaped for a moment and asked a local which shopping center she liked best. That's how the La Vaguada came up ... give up the ring but keep the fingers <BR> <BR>Paulo

Maribel, <BR> <BR>If I could add my name to the list of those requesting your Madrid file, that would be great. Many thanks. <BR> <BR>john

Dear Maribel <BR> <BR>I think it is time you considered writing publishing your own tour book! <BR> <BR>Maribel was kind enough to send me her "Mardid File" last month, which I found far more informative and enjoyable than the other tour books I purchased. Enjoy! <BR> <BR>I look forward to exploring Barcelona in May with her "Barcelona File". <BR> <BR>Thanks Maribel ... Ger