Madrid or not Madrid
 

I am planning a vacation to Spain in late May My destination is just outside Malaga (I rented an apartment) The frustrating part is that I am faced with costs of $690 for flights from Miami to Madrid or same costs for Miami to Malaga.... But the flight to Malaga is 29 hours... 5 hours layover in Madrid and 9 hours in another town. I can get a flight on another airline for $900... but for 4 people that is about $800 in extra costs. So... I am considering driving from Madrid to Malaga. In my mind it makes sense to spend the night in Madrid (plane aririves at 1pm), see a little bit of Madrid, drive to Malaga next day (5 hour drive).
I am not crazy about musems or art.... but the old town sounds interesting.

Why not take the AVE -- the high-speed train from Madrid to Malaga instead of driving? Schedules are here: www.renfe.es

I would not drive, ave is the way.

I liked Madrid and it would certainly be easy to spend a night there and see things that were not museums or art. I also think you should just take the train, though, it's only 3 hrs by AVE.

For 4 people driving can be much cheaper than either flying or training - and the drive is any easy one. You might also be interested in seeing the Royal Palace before heading south.

A night in Madrid can be a lot of fun. Two nights with a day in between would be better. I did that both times I visited Madrid, and really enjoyed staying up late, tapas outdoors in the lively Plaza Santa Ana, and flamenco at Casa Patas. The nighttime atmosphere in Madrid is vibrant and fun.

Is it too late to move from Miami?

There is much to see in Madrid and it is a wonderful central location to visit some interesting and varied towns that surround Madrid.

I'd definitely spend some time in Madrid, even if you don't care for museums, Toledo is a great day trip, and main sights in Madrid can be seen in a day or two. Take the AVE between the two cities.

Another option is to consider connecting via a different airport (ie, not MAD) and flying to Malaga; try a connection in LHR, albeit not the best airport to connect through, but at least you may get better flight schedules.

Madrid is fun and a great place that one would repent not going to.
Spend atleast 2-3 days there, with a day trip to Toledo and segovia.

Seville is the best place in Spain. Don't know how much time you have and your interests.
4 days in Seville was the highlight of our tour, full of culture, nightlife, architecture, flamenco. It has everything.

Take the cheapest flight. Rest can be easily managed by Train or Bus.
If going by train, try to book in advance for better fares and more imp. to beat the long queues.
Best luck.

I suggest you drive directly to Toledo on your arrival, and spend the night along edge of town. By the time you would get downtown Madrid you could be almost in Toledo itself.

Then continue to Málaga next day.

Spend your Madrid time on way home if need be.. and get rid of the car as soon as you hit town, or in Málaga, Sevilla or Córdoba if you are interested in doing the "AVE" high speed train. You may be able to get webfares if you are attentive to the schedules and when they first post them.

For a night in Madrid I can recommend the basic, but central and good value Hostal Persal. It's located in Plaza del Ángel, next to the very popular Plaza Santa Ana and close to both Plaza Mayor and the charming Latina area with its famous tapas bars in and around Calle Cava Baja. You might want to get an interior room to be sure you'll not be disturbed from the street noise.
http://www.booking.com/hotels/hotel/...madrid.en.html

Next door is the great Café Central, Madrid's best jazz venue. Concerts every night at 10pm with top artists (10€). If you would like to see flamenco, the nearby Casa Patas (Calle de los Cañizares, 10) occasionally stages some of the very best and is generally a well reputed breeding ground for new talents. Many of the most prominent flamenco artists have got a past at Casa Patas. The fantastic Concha Jareño danced there last June.

When in the Málaga province, be sure also go to Málaga city. Charming old town, great tapas bars, cafés and shopping in the area around Calle Marqués de Larios in the heart of town.

Casa Aranda - just off Marqués de Larios in Calle Alhóndiga - is one of the best Spanish cafés I've ever visited. For some great, both traditional and innovative, tapas, I would recommend El Tapeo de Cervantes in Calle del Cárcer 8, close to the Teatro Cervantes.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalusia.html

I am leaning toward spending the first night in Madrid and picking a car up at Airport to make the drive to Malaga. If it were just 1 person or maybe 2 then I would not drive... but with 4 people.... that is another story.
Toledo sounds interesting.
Thanks for the advice.

You do not want a car in Madrid, and I certainly would not want to back track all the way to the airport to get one, with the four passengers and luggage. Consider Plaza de España pick-up or Atocha or another local site near your hotel.

Just my two cents' worth. However, you could actually take the train to Toledo to spend the night, (if you had slept in Madrid), and THEN get a car for the rest of the trip.

Reember gasoline is about $5+ a gallon here. Fortunately you have no outrageous tolls on your trip down, unless there is a new road I am unaware of.

Parking in large cities about $3-$4/hour. Smaller ones probably half that.

You should see Las Meninas when you are there, even though you are not a fan of art.

Some sights in Madrid for people who don't like art museums.
Museo del Traje (Costume Museum)
http://museodeltraje.mcu.es/index.jsp?lang=eng

The Armory of the Royal Palace
http://www.travelinginspain.com/palace2.html

Changing of the Royal Guard at the Royal Palace
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do...3&TR=C&IDR=889

Templo de Debod
http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/templodedebod.htm

El Retiro Park
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...tal-Retiro.jpg

Las Ventas Bullring
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...a1FB5hqWImJV0A

Museo del Ferrocarril (Railway Museum)
http://www.museodelferrocarril.org/c...olecciones.htm

Aviation Museums
http://www.aire.org/museo/fotos/fotos.html
http://www.fio.es/