Madrid
- RetiredCormac
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Madrid
Our first stop en route to South America was Madrid — primarily to take advantage of a direct flight to Quito, Ecuador. Avios prices were very reasonable too, which made the decision even easier.
It was our first time travelling within Europe on our Irish passports, and the exit from the airport couldn’t have been smoother. The non-EU queue, on the other hand, was enormous — so we felt quietly smug.
Uber works brilliantly at Madrid Airport, with a specific car park level repurposed solely for pickups. It made everything feel simple and familiar. No dramas.
Hotel
We stayed at the Hilton Spark Alcalá — clean, comfortable, and very cheap on Hilton points (£66 per night). The downside? It’s quite far out from the centre, with very little to see or do nearby.
That said, it was perfect hotel for breaking up the journey and insulating us from any potential UK delays that might have jeopardised our long-haul flight to Quito.
A Long Walk
Our day in Madrid turned into a mega walk — into the city and then all around it. My watch ran out of battery, but I’d estimate we covered around 15km. A great way to reacquaint ourselves with the city.
Naturally, we stopped frequently for sustenance: sandwiches, cake, coffee, some excellent ham, and a burger — all washed down with water, beer, wine, and a cocktail. Lots of photos of the food and drinks. The beers and wine were genuinely excellent and very reasonably priced.
Once in the centre, it’s almost impossible to escape the tourists — but we gave it our best shot.
We revisited a few favourite spots from previous trips and explored some new areas too. The neighbourhood near the park was particularly vibrant, even in the rain.
By the end of the day, it was a very welcome Uber back to the hotel.
After a night’s sleep, we were heading back to the airport for leg two of the journey.
We booked an Uber Priority to avoid waiting around. The driver drove like a maniac — despite me reassuring him we were in absolutely no rush. We survived, so I suppose that’s a win.
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