8 lads off to Madrid.. anyone been there?

[shandypants]

So we're off to Madrid in June (no footy unfortunately) for a long weekend to wet the baby's head in honour of two of the lads' new sprogs.
Does anyone know where the most lively area is in terms of where we should pick a hotel - we want to be able to walk around rather than have to drive - as none of us have any prior knowledge of Madrid. We're not teenagers anymore I'll admit, but we'd be up for being at the interesting end of the street in terms of bars and clubs etc.
Assuming we are all capable of some "kulcha", what landmarks etc are worth an afternoon in a post-hangover non taxing way? In other words, what's worth doing as we're not taking the golf clubs

Any input welcome - even recommended lapdancing clubs

shandy

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by shandypants

So we're off to Madrid in June (no footy unfortunately) for a long weekend to wet the baby's head in honour of two of the lads' new sprogs.
Does anyone know where the most lively area is in terms of where we should pick a hotel - we want to be able to walk around rather than have to drive - as none of us have any prior knowledge of Madrid. We're not teenagers anymore I'll admit, but we'd be up for being at the interesting end of the street in terms of bars and clubs etc.
Assuming we are all capable of some "kulcha", what landmarks etc are worth an afternoon in a post-hangover non taxing way? In other words, what's worth doing as we're not taking the golf clubs

Any input welcome - even recommended lapdancing clubs

shandy

et us know what its like as I have never thought about going there.

[ush flynn]

ive stayed in the NH eurobuilding hotel which is just round the corner from the bernabeu. i was working out there so didnt see much of the night life.
If you like football it makes for an interesting morning or afternoon out to go on the tour of the stadium. I only went into the shop but i could see out the windows into the pitch where some people were on the tour. Nice to make a joke when your outside and say "nice of them to let us have a kick about eh"

Wouldnt mind going back again to see more of the sights, certainly looks like a nice place. I love the airport but my boss and collegues hate it as theres a train and lots of up escalators and down escalators just to get your bags back... but it looks good along the way!

[Mep]

I stayed in the Holiday Inn a few times in the town centre. The Plaza Major is where most bars and restaurants are IIRC.
Check out Casa Lucio, a very famous restaurant frequented by Royals, Footballers, Politicians, etc......food is fantastic.

Beware when asking for 'girly' bars, we ended up in a bar that we soon realised was a brothel and they charged about £10 for a small glass of beer...so we only stayed a few hours

[Juiceloose]

Shandy,

I've been twice in the past two years and it's a stunning city to visit.

I stayed at the Hotel Preciados in 2005 and the Quo Puerta Del Sol last year. Both are clean comfortable hotels right in the centre and perfectly located for nightlife, shopping and the tourist attractions. They are also both quiet when you do eventually want to get some sleep. The Preciados is the better of the two.

Be aware that like Barcelona, the night life doesn't really being until after 10pm and that includes eating. There are far too many bars and restaurants to mention but you should eat in The Plaza Mayor one night.

If you work on the basis that most bars and restaurants are off the Gran Via
you'll be fine. You can walk to most places but don't hesitate to use the tube. It's clean and very efficient unlike ours !!

On the tourism front you should go and see the following:

The Royal Palace
The Prado (if you like museums)
The Gardens of the Royal Palace and area in front of it (a couple of really relaxing bars there)
The Bull Ring (stunning building and a 45 min walk from centre or two mins on tube).
Bernabau Stadium (Tour is brilliant but if you don't fancy it just go to look at the stadium and its location right in the heart of the business centre)

It should be pretty warm in June so a cold beer will go down well.

Enjoy, you won't be disappointed !!

[Fusewire]

Beware when asking for 'girly' bars, we ended up in a bar that we soon realised was a brothel

Nice to see that I'm not the only one that has happened to.

[Mep]

Originally Posted by Fusewire

Nice to see that I'm not the only one that has happened to.

Although I didn't partake in anything other than a few drinks......you couldn't complain about the scenery

[la gran siete]

Must admit I have never availed m=yself of the services of one of them. Have i missed out on something?

[shandypants]

All - thanks for the replies!
Last time I went away with this crowd (to Barcelona) we ended up in a titty bar for a few drinks and it turned out to be a full sex show on stage! Not a pretty sight after a whole day of go-karting, combat paintball and solid drinking - most of the girls were either emaciated sticks or were possessed of cavernous that produced their own echoes!

Any further comments welcomed.

Cheers

Shandy

[RMCF]

I have been there a few times following my fav team and always had a great time.

We have always stayed around the Puerto del Sol area/Plaza Mayor. There are plenty of cheap hotels and pubs too !! Look out for a pub called O'Connell Street - great pub although it might be quieter this time of year - it tends to attract the football crowd and a few times I have been there midweek it was buzzing with all different nationalities.

To be honest I have never done the tourist things, as I have always been in the city with mates for football. But I have no doubt that there are loads to do, and some previous posts have given you some pointers.

Perhaps you are lucky there is no football on when you are there - the way they're playing at the minute !! Would ruin your whole trip.

[TopMeTom]

I went for a weekend I remember, a few years ago, went out a 6 at night, got in at 09:45 following morning....it was great!!

Oh I remember a restaraunt v.posh I had bull's testicles in soup..mmmmm, needless to say had a beer to wash it down....

[Fusewire]

Must admit I have never availed m=yself of the services of one of them. Have i missed out on something?

Well there's only one way you're going to find out...

[Abu]

Originally Posted by Fusewire

Nice to see that I'm not the only one that has happened to.

Happened to us 2 weeks ago when we went, thought we were the only ones as well.

I would have to say the hotel we stayed in was quite terrible- was called the Alexandra, just dont bother with it, it was that bad and expensive, but if you can, go for a hotel in or around the gran via area of madrid (basically means main street). From there we found the puerta del Sol area (rmfc mentioned it earlier, o connells pub as you come out of the sol metro is toward the north east of the square, very close to there, it was a very good pub, cheap drink) to be just nightlife heaven, clubs and pubs down every street to appeal to everyone really, bear in mind no clubs in madrid open till 12, so a pub till then is whats on the cards. You'll probably be sleeping in really late, because out there we found nothing really gets going out and about until around 1 or 2am.

Yeh as above, avoid locals trying to hound you into pubs, most of the time they'll end up being brothels. Dont be alarmed by blacked out windows and bars over clubs there, its just the way a lot of them are out there. Every sort of food to be had really. We were getting a pint with a free shot in Sol for 1.50euro, a full three course meal for 15 euros so budget accordingly. Huge cocktails, and i mean huge, literally a pint of tequila can go into one for 4 euros, in and around Sol. Use the metro out there, its incredibly easy to use and nothing can go wrong, gets you around in minutes and trains leave every 5 minutes, bear in mind they stop at 1am so chances are one night you'll be trundling the streets of Spain.

Talking to the locals out there we found there wasn't really anywhere better than Sol for nightlife, if you want a good day out then you're probably better off asking someone out there. As soon as you come out of the metro you are in the centre of a large ring with about 8 streets branching off it, theres places to go down every street. Just going for a quick wander earlier during the day should show up good places to go. Don't expect decent shopping or anything out there.

Anyway hope that helps.