ONE NITE IN MADRID
 

Will have only a few hours in MADRID ; fly in on Monday Feb.6th at 3PM and out next morning at 10:30 AM back to USA ! Any suggestions as to where to stay at the airport or in Madrid if practicle to do ! Are taxis dependable and overly expensive for airport runs ? Any suggestions ; I'm a senior and not big on nitelife etc. but would like to be able to see and do a little walking around Playa Mayor for "old time " memories ! Is it possible or too much of a hassle ??? Your ideas would be very much appreciated ! Thanks DLD

My suggestion is do NOT stay at a hotel by the airport. Stay at a hotel in the city center (plenty of them walking distance to beautiful Plaza Mayor)and take a taxi the next morning ( no more than 20 mins). Taxi is about 30 euros, maybe a little less.

DALBECC1JU1:

I agree with cruiseluv. Skip the airport hotel. Grab your bags, take a taxi to Hotel Plaza Mayor, a hundred yards or so from Plaza Mayor. Solid hotel, pleasant staff, decent breakfast. I've stayed there twice. Get your fill of the area. Plenty of good restaurants in the area. Check out the hotel's website.

http://www.h-plazamayor.com/index.html

Agree with PPs.
Getting to and from the airport is easy.

If you want to save money there is an express bus from the airport to Plaza Cibeles and/ or Atocha train station. You could take that and then a taxi to your hotel.

I just used the express bus. It was easy, convenient, and inexpensive; 2 euro. We got off at Plaza Cibeles and walked to Plaza Mayor. On the return we took the metro from Sol to Atocha and got the bus there. I would recommend that for the return as the bus was packed at the first stop, which is Atocha. It might be the only way to get a seat.

I have also had just pleasant experiences with several stays in Hotel Plaza Mayor. Here, with lots of guest reviews: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/plaza-mayor.en.html

And perhaps have some tapas in Revuelta just off Plaza mayor, also very popular with locals. They are famous for the battered cod, bot the meatballs and the squid is also delicious. http://guidepal.com/madrid/restaurants/casa-revuelta

You'll find emblematic Bodegas Ricla just some meters away: http://guidepal.com/madrid/bars--nig.../bodegas-ricla

Thamk you all for the advise ; you were all in agreement so how can I not spend the nite at the hotel Plaza Mayor vs. the airport ! Looking forward to the short visit ! Thanks again ; DLD