Hi there!

Going to Madrid for MLK weekend in January with 3 other girls. I have been doing a bit of research but extremely confused with hotels/best area.

We'd like somewhere safe, close to attractions but also close to the nightlife since we are single girls. Our budget is between 100-200 a night. Any hotel suggestions?

Nightlife...... Would like some hip/modern and safe bars/clubs including cool tapas bars. Any suggestions??

Oh, any idea how bad the weather will be in Jan?

Thanks and appreciate any info.

Start here! Maribel is an incredibly generous fodors member who is, I believe, a tour guide in Spain, and has written up some terrific guides to sightseeing, eating and lodging in various cities in Spain.

http://www.maribelsguides.com/

Remember, the great sales begin 7 Jan.

The weather shouldn't be an issue. Just expect it to be on the cool side, but it was sunny and warm this last Jan.

If you stay near the Prado or Plaza Mayor or Puerto Del Sol you will be happy. If you stay on the Gran Via, it's more the business part of town. It's close to sights and the hotels are fine, but don't have as much charm. Speaking of hotels, in Spain there are HOSTALS, not hostels, although they have those too. Hostals are small family owned hotels that are very inexpensive, most with private bathrooms and nice simple rooms. They are near the sights and nightlife and much less then many hotels and really just as nice. Less amenities, but you're probably not going to Spain to hang out in the room. I don't know how old you "girls" are, but my 31 y/o daughter was there last year and put her purse down for 1 second, in an internet cafe. She saw the guys swoop down and grab her bag and run, but could do nothing about it. The cafe even has a video, but the police said that they wouldn't break into regular programming to show the tape and ask citizens to call if they saw these guys (LOL!!!) I told her and told her - watch your stuff, especially in Madrid. I love Madrid but there are wise guys just staring at you on the street daring you to let down your guard. Please watch your stuff! And I am not a nervous nellie. I have just seen it in Madrid happen over and over again.

Hola

Have you thought about an apartment -

http://www.hostalsonsodesa.com/en/aparta.htm
http://apodaca.madridhotels.it/apartments.html
http://www.yourapartmentinmadrid.com/plazae.html
http://www.desigmadrid.com