Travel Guides/Night in Madrid

[jdriddle]

Dear Ben & Marina,

I've been working through the Inspired Beginner's podcasts and have greatly appreciated them! Further, Ben, I recently finished Errant in Iberia; it was a pleasure, and I learned much about Spain. Why all this studying of Spain? Well, I am an American college student and will be studying in Sevilla this fall, and am doing my best to prepare.

I have two questions, however: First, can you recommend a good guide book for Spain (e.g. Frommer's, Lonely Planet, Berkley's Guide, etc)? I will have many weekends to get out and explore Spain. Second, I am arriving in Madrid one day prior to the start of my study abroad program, and am without housing for the night. Staying the in hotel my program uses will cost me over $100-- hardly within the budget of a vagrant college student. Can you recommend a good hostel?

Thanks so much for your help,

Jonathan

[switch007]

Depends what you want, but I have researched this place before and it got good reviews: hostaltijcal.com . It's next to Plaza Mayor. Still 80 dollars a night individual though.

There are many hostels if you look on hostelworld.com probably about 18-25 euros. Cheaper option if you are on your own. If its only one night, just pick one on hostelworld and book it and don't worry too much about it :) Just don't expect an actual working air con in anything under 100 euros a night!!

Also, I can't say any guidebook helped me for the 10 months I was there. If you have any questions about things to do, places to go just make a post on here or search the internet and save your money!

[Beckett]

Jonathan,
If you like the idea of having a guidebook, Lonely Planet or Rough Guide will be fine. But I agree with Switch007, that most travel guides are woefully outdated by the time they are published, at least when it comes to suggesting cool places like restaurants and night spots. Your better bet is doing what Switch recommends, asking people in forums for their suggestions and then deciding once you arrive which places to check out and which ones to avoid.

In terms of hostals, here's one: Hostal Ole International (http://www.softdoc.es/guia_madrid/alojamiento/Hostal-Ole-International-Madrid.html)

It's super cheap (starting at 15 euros per night), centrally located and breakfast is included, but beyond that, don't expect anything grand.

Suerte. :)

[Perro Callejero]

Hostal Paz at metro stop Ópera. It is literally a 2-3 minute walk from The Puerta del Sol area (city center) but tucked away enough so that you can get away from the hub-bub if you want. They're very nice and it's only 30 euros for an INDIVIDUAL room! Clean too! I stayed there for about a week at the end of my study abroad after my other housing was over and it was great!

EVERY room has INDIVIDUALLY controlled air conditioning (a luxury, I assure you!), a sink, TV, and free wi-fi!

Hostal Paz: Calle de la Flora 4, 1ª Planta, Dcha. (Same building as Hostal Portugal, but on the American "second" floor).

Guidebooks...I always trust National Geographic. Or Rick Steves. In fact, I'd go with Rick Steves. You also might want to check out his website before going. Loads of good general travel info plus some Spain-specific stuff too. www.ricksteves.com (http://www.ricksteves.com)

[switch007]

You're very lucky Perro to find somewhere with air conditioning *and* it actually works. I've stayed in a lot of places in Italy, France and Spain of varying price and very very few places had air con that worked! Lot's of places say they have it, but when you arrive, it's a different story! Most of the time it didn't bother me, but it's nice to have sometimes.

I'll have to remember that Hostal, sounds really good! There are some good places to eat round there too.

I do have a guide book for Spain in general (Eyewitness Spain) which is ok to guide you to certain cities, towns, parks etc and it was kind of useful: http://www.amazon.com/Spain-EYEWITNESS-TRAVEL-GUIDE-Publishing/dp/0756615518/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_1_txt?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0789493888&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1E4EGQH14QJ0QET73ZPT

If you're feeling brave (and depending what night you are in Madrid), go to Cafe Madrid, just opposite Ópera metro, for an intercambio evening (usually goes on into early hours in a club!!). Helps if you're single too haha

Best of luck with your studies in España!

[gary]

Ibis comes in at about €85 a night per room, a room in a hostal will cost €60 or so per room, I know of a few that either I or a friend have tried that are fairly central, Hostal Santa Cruz ans Hostal Cruz Sol are in the same building at Plaza Santa Cruz which couldnt be more central, its 50 yards from Plaza Mayor. Hostal Perla Asturiana is in the same square, Hostal Tijcal 1 is even closer to P Mayor. Hostal Persal is at the top of Huertas near Plaza Santa Anna. all of the above are okay i believe. Hostal Tijcal 2 is in this area too. A single room in H Santa Cruz cos me €45 this year.

Advice is that as you pay by the room book a double/twin - the extra €10 or so is worth it for the space... (Book for two and tell them you fell out with her and she threw the ring at you.

Hostal Lopez is the one that Madriman always promotes, Its lower down Huertas nearer the prado. Its 5 or 6 years since I stayed there and it was old school at that time, though it had aircon.

One night in madrid? Plaza Santa Anna/Huertas... as good as anywhere and a stones throw from all the hostales mentioned above...

[Ben]

Hi Jonathan,

Looks like your question has been more than answered! Welcome to the forum!

[jdriddle]

All,

Thank you for the information. Because I've not ever been to Spain, all the hostel information (especially the relative directions) was a bit overwhelming. How about this: is there a relatively cheap hostel (I'll sweat, no need for A/C) near the Hotel Husa Moncloa?

Also, regarding the guidebooks, I'm not very worried about them being out of date, because the destinations I'm looking for are things like parks, vistas, museums, old buildings, mountains, trails, etc etc. You know, things that have a bit of longevity; I want to see what the country of Spain is like. So, with that addendum, can you suggest a guidebook?

Again, thanks.

_j

[Acosta]

Hostal Paz at metro stop Ópera. It is literally a 2-3 minute walk from The Puerta del Sol area (city center) but tucked away enough so that you can get away from the hub-bub if you want. They're very nice and it's only 30 euros for an INDIVIDUAL room! Clean too! I stayed there for about a week at the end of my study abroad after my other housing was over and it was great!

EVERY room has INDIVIDUALLY controlled air conditioning (a luxury, I assure you!), a sink, TV, and free wi-fi!

Hostal Paz: Calle de la Flora 4, 1ª Planta, Dcha. (Same building as Hostal Portugal, but on the American "second" floor).

Guidebooks...I always trust National Geographic. Or Rick Steves. In fact, I'd go with Rick Steves. You also might want to check out his website before going. Loads of good general travel info plus some Spain-specific stuff too. www.ricksteves.com (http://www.ricksteves.com)

I would agree about Rick Steves. Usually has very good and update date info.

Good Luck

[Embug2000]

I agree also with Rick Steves. But I would also suggest Let's Go. I used the Europe version 2 years ago when I backpacked through Spain, France and Italy and it was my best friend for the entire month!

Don't be overwhelmed with the hostal info, as long as you can fake some confidence and you don't mind striking out on your own you will be fine!

[ValenciaSon]

Rudy Maxa has a show on either HDNET or PBS and a radio show on NPR called The Savvy Traveler. He seems pretty good. His show is somewhat similar to Rick Steves' show.

[Andy Woolley]

I like the "Time Out" guides to cities. The one for Madrid is updated at least annually and is written by locals.

There are is also one for "Sevilla & Andalucia" and one for Barcelona.

As well as the Eyewitness guide to Spain already recommended there is a "Seville & Andalusia" version. The Eyewitness guides are quite good because they have diagrams showing the interior of buildings, etc.

... and, even though you are from the USA where soccer is less popular then virtually anywhere else in the World so you may not be a fan, don't miss out on a match (or more if you get hooked). The season starts this coming weekend. There are the famous teams in Madrid (Real and Atlético) plus Rayo Vallecano newly promoted to the Segunda División. In Sevilla there are recent UEFA Cup winners Sevilla and their big rivals Real Betis.

[José Miguel]

A great hostel is Cat's Hostel:
http://www.catshostel.com/en/index.php
Updated info on Madrid:
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do?IDM=750&NM=2