Madrid stay and Atocha station to Madrid Airport

Atocha Station is a good jumping off point as you can take the Cercanias Train to Terminal 4 and then from there there is an underground people mover to get you to 4S. You can check for the timetables here: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/

Stephen has given you great advice.

Another option is to stay at a hotel near the airport that offers courtesy shuttle to/from the airport.
You can drop off your luggage at the hotel then take the Metro into the city for dinner, a stroll, etc.. then get back to the hotel for a good nights' sleep.

Last October we stayed at NH hotel Barajas & took the shuttle twice; when we arrived at Terminal 4 via the Cercanias train (from Atocha Station) & then the following morning back to the airport to fly home.

Edit to add...
You may need this:http://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportation/madrid-airport-bytrain.htm

& this explains how to get to Terminal 4S:http://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/transportation/connections-between-terminals.htm

If you choose to stay in the Atocha area, you can catch the Airport Express bus to the airport. It is 5 euros each, and takes about 20-25 minutes to get to the airport. It makes one stop at Cibeles and two stops at the airport. It leaves from Atocha every 20 minutes.

Thanks for the useful links.
Our Renfe ticket says "Combinado Cercanias". Can we use this for our travel from Atocha to Airport the next day.

The airport website says " For passengrers with AVE tickets (high-speed train) connecting with a flight, this service is free."
Not sure if it applies to us.

Is Atocha station or terminal T4 complicated to navigate. We do not speak the language.

No problem at the airport. Atocha is large, with separate areas for the cercanias trains and the longer-distance trains. Avoid buying tickets from a staffed counter there if you can; lines can be frustratingly long.

Because of the size of the station, I advise allowing some extra time at the station to find your way to the right platform. There are often uniformed Renfe staff people sort of floating around that you can ask, but it isn't the easiest train station to navigate.

Sgd,

Our Renfe ticket says "Combinado Cercanias". Can we use this for our
travel from Atocha to Airport the next day.

The airport website says " For passengrers with AVE tickets
(high-speed train) connecting with a flight, this service is free."
Not sure if it applies to us.

Is Atocha station or terminal T4 complicated to navigate

No, you cannot use the Combinado Cercanias (Cercanias ticket combined with the AVE ticket) the following day.
Cercanias Combinado can only be used 4 hours prior to the (outbound) AVE departure time & 4 hours after the arrival of the AVE train at your destination.

Puerta de Atocha station is BIG, but all you have to do is buy your Cercanias ticket at the Cercanias ticket counter, then follow the signs & go downthe escalators to the subterranean level & take the C-1 line to the airport.

Here is a Map of Atocha's Station, Cercanias train platforms are on level -1 ( Planta -1 on map) & designated by a red circle with a backward white "C" icon.

EDIT to add... If you will be traveling to the airport the day of your flight, I'd suggest buying your Cercanias ticket(s) the day prior to departure.

BTW, you don't need to go to Atocha to take the Cercanias train. If your hotel is close to one of the stations along the Cercanias C-1 route, then you can take it at that particular station.

Here is a diagram showing the Cercanias network. Cercanias C-1 ( light blue) runs from Príncipe Pío to Aeropuerto T4 ( Airport Terminal 4): http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias/planos/madrid.html

Hope this helps!

Edit to add:
Please note this important information: Keep your Cercanias train ticket because you need it to exit the station.

Here is another useful website for you: http://www.madrid-traveller.com/transport-from-madrid-to-barajas-airport/

BTW, the hotel I recommended (on my first reply) above, serves a delicious & hearty buffet breakfast for an added fee & it's certainly worth it ;-)

I've stayed twice at the Europa Hotel in the heart of town (plaza del Sol). You can take the Cercanias there from Atocha. You can take the Cercanias from Sol to Chamartin and transfer to the Cercanias to Barajas Airport. At Sol there is an elevator between street level and the station, so there are no stairs to negotiate with your luggage.

Thanks for the useful links and information again.

Priscilla,
Can we buy Cercanias ticket one day in advance when we reach Madrid ?
I think I read somewhere when I was searching if we could buy it online, that the ticket is valid for some hours after purchase.

I assume you can buy tickets a day ahead of time, but you'll need to specify the future date; hope someone else can confirm. I just wanted to point out that there are ticket-vending machines at Atocha. I think the cercanias tickets are sold in different machines from the middle-distance and long-distance tickets. Unfortunately, I don't remember how the machines are marked. At least some of the machines take currency up to 20 euros. There have been reports that US credit cards often don't work in the machines. The machines have an English-language option.

Sgd,

Can we buy Cercanias ticket one day in advance when we reach Madrid ?

I thought you could, but it looks like you can't.

According to the Renfe website, the Cercanias ticket is only valid for 2 hours from the time of purchase (click on "Tickets & Passes"-- top left ): http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/madrid/index.html

We only took the Cercanias twice when we were there; to/from the airport (upon arrival) to/from Atocha station (day before our flight)

I didn't want to stress the day of our flight, this is why we chose to stay at the hotel near the airport (the night before our flight)

At Atocha there are machines which you can use to get the Cercanias tickets to continue your journey in Madrid on arrival from Cordoba. I don't remember exactly, but you either scan the ticket's bar code or enter the ticket number and the machine spits out the ticket. In the morning, use coins or a small note to buy tickets from the machine at the station.