We have a flight out of MAD early (0600). Any suggestions on areas to stay/explore within an easy driving distance to the airport? We will be driving from Valencia the day prior to departure.
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4265 posts
Barajas Airport is a distance outside of the city centre of Madrid, with such an early flight I would not hazard staying in the centre Madrid, best stay at a hotel near the airport. Also I'd say it's best to drop off your car the day before, so you will not get bogged down by driving though Madrid/dropping off the car the morning of your flight.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15829 posts
I believe the OP wants to spend the night somewhere on the way to and not far from MAD (and not in Madrid itself), then drive to the airport, around 2.30-3.30 am for a 6 am flight.
Posted by
Washington DC
29791 posts
Another vote for the very pretty historic town of Alcala de Henares. However, I have never dealt with a rental car in Europe and don't know how the need to return the car and get to an airport hotel should affect your decision about a place to visit on the way.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8118 posts
If returning the car the day of departure, ensure the rental agency office is open that early. Personally, I don’t feel the signage to get to the rental car return was well displayed and on more than one occasion have passed the return lot and had to go around again to get to the return entrance. The new return lot, near the old one, is a little better marked, but the signage to get to it isn’t much better and would be harder to find in the dark. It’s not that there are no signs, they were just small. When I asked the gentleman at Avis, he stated that’s as large as they were allowed.