Overview:
Madrid is undoubtedly one of the most stylish and vibrant cities in Europe. The Beckhams may have upped sticks and left for the US, but Madrid remains a mecca for the young and fun-loving. The locals are renowned for their warm hospitality and any place which has a public statue dedicated to the Devil (El Angel Caido) is definitely worth a visit!
In a Nutshell:
- Madrid is the capital of Spain.
- It has a population of approximately 6 million.
- The locals speak Spanish, although many of them will have a good grasp of English- probably far better than your Spanish at any rate!
- Residents of Madrid are known as Madrileños.
Getting There:
You can fly to Madrid from most major UK airports...and Inverness. A whole host of airlines fly to Madrid Barajas international airport including British Airways and Easyjet. The airport is 13km outside of Madrid. We highly recommend booking your flights as early as possible. The later you leave it, the more you'll end up paying. Flight time is around 2h:30min.
You can travel by train, but we wouldn't recommend it. The London- Paris- Madrid route is time-consuming and expensive. You would need a Dennis Bergkamp-esque fear of flying to consider it. The same goes for driving. If you are going to drive, jump on the Plymouth-Bilbao ferry, take the first left out of the port and follow the signs from there.
Getting Around:
There's no need to worry about getting to and from the airport and your activities, as we arrange it all for you. Whilst other stag groups wander around aimlessly with no idea of where they're going or how to get there, you'll be greeted at the airport by an event manager who'll accompany you throughout your trip.
Madrid is a compact city and can be explored on foot with relative ease. If you want to give your feet a rest after a night clubbing, the Madrid Metro is one of the world's largest and most extensive underground networks. Taxis are plentiful, but we recommend you agree a price with the driver before travelling.
Accommodation:
We offer a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Whether you want to sleep in the lap of luxury or just want a place to rest your spinning head between drinking session, we know the place for you. We have a range of top hotels, guest houses and hostels on our books so tell us where you want to stay and we'll do the rest.
Daytime Activities:
As well as the usual stag weekend favourites such as quad biking and paintballing, Madrid offers some truly unique activities. Where else in the world can you go running with bulls, or visit the home of the world's most glamorous football team, Real Madrid? If you're a bit of a culture vulture the city has a plethora a magical museums and galleries where you can see original work by Goya and Picasso. If you don't know who they are you should probably read more.
Nightlife:
Madrileños like to party hard. If you struggle to stay awake for last orders at your local boozer, you better up your game as in Madrid it's customary to stay out until daybreak. The city's bars and nightclubs are always packed with partygoers who have an almost fanatical dedication to lashing so go hard or go home! The Madrid girls are absolutely stunning, certainly no Picasso faces on show here, and you may find yourself drooling into your sangria as the sexy senoritas stroll past.
Eating:
Madrid has a myriad of mouthwatering restaurants. As well as the usual Spanish favourites such as paella, popular local dishes include cocido madrileño (chickpea stew) and callos a la madrileña (tripe).
If you want to sample a few local delicacies we recommend you head to the Plaza Mayor and eat at one of the calamar bars which serve bocatas de calamares- fried squid-ring sandwiches or buns. There are also a host of excellent tapas bars which will often give you complementary tapas with your drinks.
Drinking:
Madrid has a vibrant bar scene. Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world so if you like a drop of vino you'll be spoilt for choice. Sangria is staple drink of many a tourist, although it is comparatively expensive. If you're a beer monster you can't go wrong with San Miguel, a pint of which will set you back around €2.
Weather:
Madrid is sunny for around 250 days a year. Summer can be brutally hot, it gets cold in winter, autumn is pleasant and spring is wet and rainy. Temperatures range from a high of 31ºc in July to a low of 3ºc in February.
Currency:
£1=€1.47 (05/07)
We recommend you buy some Euros before you depart, but there are plenty of places to change money in town and ATM machines where you can get cash out, so don't forget your cards.
In comparison to other cities in Spain, Madrid can be on the pricey side. However, compared to London and Paris, the cost of eating, staying and getting around the city is extremely reasonable.
What Do Chillisauce Do For You?
We organise your entire trip, except for flights. You tell us what you want to do and we'll do our best to make it happen. From the moment you land until your flight home we take care of everything. You will have an event manager with you in Madrid to ensure everything goes without a hitch, so you can concentrate on having an unforgettable trip.