Hi All, we are trying to figure out if we can spend our last 2 nights in Cordoba and take the train in the AM directly to Madrid and then taxi to the airport. The earliest train is at 7:22 and takes us to Madrid around 9am and then there is the time to get a taxi etc. We are a family of 4 with a 7 year old and a 9 year old. It will be an early morning for sure but we/they are early risers and I'm wondering if the trade off of spending a full day in Cordoba will outweigh the early morning wake up call. Or is it just too risky? I also have a hotel booked in Madrid on our last night there just in case. What are your thoughts?
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
Yes, too risky for me.
Personally, I would not be able to sleep a wink that last night.
You gotta ask yourself: what are the consequences (cost in $$$ and other impacts) if you miss that flight home.
There are just too many things that could go wrong: somebody oversleeps. The train is late. There's a strike. Etc. You miss the flight...how much is it going to cost you to recover? Look at what a same-day ticket home costs x 4...
Me, I'd stay in Madrid the night before you leave.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7295 posts
Yes, it is a bad idea.
Posted by
Barcelona ☀️ Sweden ❄️
3901 posts
If all goes well, you will have around 2ish hrs to get from Atocha to your international gate in Barajas, before they start boarding, during Madrid rush hour... in short - yes it is crazy ;-)
Posted by
OP
7 posts
It is on a Sunday.... but I am getting the picture and the emphatic replies are making the decision easier.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
Agree with previous contributors. Stay in Madrid on your last night.
Posted by
7661 posts
VERY BAD IDEA
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6534 posts
Beyond crazy. Heck, I wouldn’t even stay in Toledo and it’s les than an hour from the airport.
Posted by
Washington DC
27104 posts
Just book a late train back to Madrid. You can still have a good amount of time in Cordoba. There are multiple trains per hour, and in March the last Sunday train leaves Cordoba at 10:08 PM.
I assume you know that you can save quite a lot of money on rail fares by buying non-refundable/non-changeable tickets early.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thanks all. Madrid it is! And now I don’t ever have to second guess the decision, thank you!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15582 posts
You can still spend most of your last full day in Cordoba and take a late train to Madrid. There are trains until 10 pm. To make it easier, pack what you need for your last night in one or two small overnight bags. Leave everything at the hotel for the day, have an early dinner, go back for luggage, taxi to the train. Or have a late dinner in Madrid.
You might consider staying at an airport hotel so you can have a good night's sleep and a leisurely morning.