Stay near the airport or in Madrid city centre night before my flight home
 

You all have been such a big help on my Spain trip and I need help with a final problem. I'm planning on taking a late morning train back to Madrid the day before my flight back to Heathrow. I'll probably be in Madrid by around 1 pm and need a place to stay overnight. My flight leaves from Barajas at around 10.30 am the next morning and I think I should be there about 2 hours early.

Originally, I was thinking of a hotel near the airport but I have the whole afternoon and evening free and I'd like to spend seeing Madrid for the last time. I was hoping to pay no more than 80-100 euros for the room. Any thoughts?

I'd definately stay in town. The hotel Plaza Mayor is in your price range and is well located. (Note

I'd stay in town the final night.

My 2 go-to hotels for my final Madrid nights:

The hotel Plaza Mayor is in your price range and is very well located. Note: the single rooms are small. Double rooms are much larger.

The Hotel Lope de Vega is also in your price range. I think the rooms are nicer and very large.

They are only about 10 minutes from each other but I prefer the location of the Hotel Plaza Mayor. It's a trade off between the nicer room and the location.

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

http://www.hotellopedevega.com/

stay in town...getting to the airport is easy.

Another vote for staying in town. I had an early flight and had no trouble getting to the airport.

Definitely stay in town. I've stayed in Hotel Plaza Mayor several times, and can also recommend it.

You are then next door to majestic Plaza Mayor and a three minutes walk from vibrant Plaza Santa Ana with lots of outdoor cafés, bars, restaurants etc: http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html

Three minutes walk in the other direction, you are in one of the absolutely best tapas/restaurant districts in town, in and around Calle Cava Baja. http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/s...ew-140625.html

You are very close to Café Central (just off Plaza Santa Ana), the best jazz venue in town. Top artists every night at 10pm, changing every week, entrance 15€. Great atmosphere and good food also. Have had some fabulous nights here.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...al-Madrid.html

You are also just four minutes away from two real deal flamenco tablaos, Casa Patas and newly revived flamenco "cathedral" Villa Rosa from 1911, right on Plaza Santa Ana.

Performances at Casa Patas at 9pm and 12. http://www.casapatas.com/#
Performances at Villa Rosa at 8.30 and 10.45pm.
http://www.villa-rosa.es/English/inicio.php

I was happy to see Concha Jareño, one of my favourite bailaoras (flamenco dancers), in Casa Patas last July:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ORMp_E2AY

Taxi stand close to the hotel. Some 20 minutes and 25€ to the airport. Also a 2€ airport bus from the Atocha station, 10-15 mins walk from the hotel. Leaves every 15 minutes and takes some 40 mins.

... and if you want to spend less money on hotel, my brother was perfectly happy staying in Hostal Perla Asturiana, next door to Hotel Plaza Mayor last year. Basic and good value, 45€ for a single with bathroom, 58€ for a double with bathroom:
http://www.perlaasturiana.com/

You guys convinced me with the Plaza Mayor, was looking at the Lupe de Vega but it seemed a bit more out of the way. I've bought my AVE tickets back to Madrid at a cool 25 EUR, so I'm good to go. Spent a little more on this trip because of Semana Santa(not being religious has it's drawbacks-like not knowing when Easter is) but it'll be probably the only chance to be in Spain.

So now I can sit back and relax and watch the Euro rise against the dollar.:)

Congratulations on the ticket purchase - site is down now so I'm waiting to buy mine ;)

I think the Plaza Mayor hotels are better located. It's a short taxi ride from Atocha station. Lope de Vega is a 10-15 minute walk but I usually am hanging out with my Madrid friend on my final night - but being solo you'll be in the middle of everything. Definately head to Barrio de La Latina centered around Calle Cava Baja - lots of people strolling around, great tapas restaurants and a more local feel than the Plaza Mayor and Plaza Santa Ana areas.

I strongly recommend going for a flamenco performance on your last night in Madrid, you would leave with a big bang! Casa Patas is a sure bet. Two more clips to suggest the standard:

Israel Galván is cutting edge and the greatest of them all. Winner of the National Dance Prize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9Wav9v7Jc

His sister Pastora Galván was voted best female flamenco dancer last year by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY6Vy9tKW3U