Madrid airport
 

Hello traveling to Madrid mid November and would like advice on the best way to get from the airport to the Westin Palace. Also, what can we expect for weather that time of year? Thank you.

The site rome2rio is handy for transportation questions. Here are the options it suggests to take you to that hotel:

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid-Ai...-Palace-Madrid

I've used the extensive subway system into the city several times. The airport is spread out so if you are lugging baggage you might find more customized transport easier, at a higher price.

I would consider just taking a taxi. Your hotel's website estimates taxi fare from the airport to the hotel would be about 30 Euros.

https://www.google.com/search?q=madr...loom-srp.1.0l5

Google Madrid airport shuttle bus if the above link doesn't work!

I was there in April and the weather was in the perfect 70-80s. No help with November, sorry.

Taxi to/from Madrid airport has a 30 euro flat rate all-inclusive (with no supplements for luggage in the trunk, tip etc.). Used it on a few occasions and works perfectly well.

If you read Spanish:
https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas...is-barajas.htm

Weather in November will be cool, but should stay above freezing even overnight. There is potential for rain.

I typically take a taxi from the airport for the flat 30 euro fee - it's just easier with luggage. However, if you don't mind walking 10 minutes or so, the Cercanias train to Recoletos station is pretty convenient - it goes from the airport to Recoletos without any transfers.

Taxi. Flat rate of 30 Euros , at least last time I was there in late 2019

We have been to Madrid twice in early November and the weather was fine for exploring the city, still warm. Weather in Andalusia was really perfect then.

We will be there next week and plan to take a taxi. I am too old to be schlepping my bags onto metros, buses or trains. I am packing for mid 50s to low 60s, hoping I am right.

COVID test at hotels
 

Hello would like to know if hotels in Madrid provide COVID test for their guests. Will be staying at the Westin Palace and need to have one to return to the United States. Thank your for your information.

The Palace, as well as the US Embassy, will be able to give you a list of laboratories in the city that provide antigen tests.

We had ours done at the end of September at a Democratest lab at the cost of 25 euros/person and we booked and paid in advance on line. The lab at Gran Vía 67 is the one that several US travelers recently have used because it is open on weekends. Because we were staying in the Salamanca district, we used the lab on Diego de León, but it isn't open on weekends. The people at the desk do speak some limited English. We completed our consent forms, printed them and took them to our appointment, saving time. The test was more unpleasant than the one experienced at UW of Washington before our departure for Spain through LHR, but it was only 15 seconds in one nostril. The tendency in Spain is to go higher up in the nostril so it did burn quite a bit at the very end, but again it was only 15 seconds. We survived:)

Here is the first person account from a TA poster of his experience at the Democratest on the Gran Vía, responding to my TA post.

"Democratest is the same lab but with two different entrances. The Medical Center Grand via 67 entrance is right there on Grand Via 67. Antigen test is 40 Euros. The other entrance or Democratest is on the backside of the same building. You enter on Calle de la Flor Baja. Antigen test there is 25 euro with an online appointment. Same lab. ...the employees are not the friendliest, and you really need to pull information out of them."

When we returned next month, we'll take the Abbot Binax COVID test kit with us to do this in the privacy of our hotel room (with internet monitoring) so as not to take time out from our sightseeing.

My brother was in Madrid several weeks ago and he also went to Democratest. He paid € 95 for an urgent PCR test and received the result in less than 24 hours ;)

Our quick antigen test results came by email in just a few hours.

We purchased eMed kits Maribel mentioned. We ordered them online before we left and they were delivered within 2 days. We completed the tests in our hotel under the guidance of an on-line proctor. Once you have swabbed, there is a 15 minute wait; another proctor comes on and within a few minutes you have your results, which are then emailed to you.

if this is something you might consider, I would suggest downloading the NAVICA app in advance.

The weather has been wonderful.

allisonm,
Glad you're enjoying my favorite place in the world. Good to know the kits worked out easily for you.