Airport in Spain

Spain is a fairly big country! Where in Spain???
No one can answer your question unless you tell us where in Spain. It would depend on how far the airport is from the city she is in to let her know what to do with her time.
Madrid or Barcelona maybe? The country Spain, has many airports.

Char...for trivia purposes, Spain is about three times the size of Oklahoma. There is more than one airport. If she's flying from the U.S., I'm guessing it's either Madrid or Barcelona.

Like Lisa mentioned, we need to know which one. It would also help to know how old your daughter is and where she is going after landing in Spain.

In Spain, the currency is the Euro as it is in most of western Europe (with a few exceptions.)

Sorry for not giving all the info. She is 21 and flying into Madrid. I don't think she will be comfortable leaving the airport by herself. But, 7 hours is a long time to spend in the airport. She is thinking of taking her laptop just so she can watch movies. Even in US airports it is hard to find a plug in. Any suggestions for her? I am sure I am more worried about it than she is!!!

There are two different answers depending on:

1) Is her final destination in the Schengen Zone? (Which is why I asked where she is flying to from Madrid)

2) Is she checking luggage?

If she is checking luggage and her final destination is outside of Spain, then she should check it all the way through to her final destination and there will be no need to clear customs. No need to retrieve it. However, if her final destination is in Spain, she will have to clear customs in Madrid.

If her final destination is in one of the Schengen countries, she will have to clear passport control at Madrid which would give her free rein of the airport. If her final destination is outside Schengen, she will not clear passport control in Madrid but will have to stay in the transfer area of the airport. (Technically, she could clear passport control in Madrid either way to let her wander more.)

My suggestion, and I say this will all due respect, is to encourage her to come here and ask the questions because she will know more about her trip and understand international travel better than you playing "middleman."

She could check with her airline regarding which airport lounge facilities, if any, she may be able to use. If available, she may need pay a day use fee, but she'll be much more comfortable compared to sitting around at the gate. With that much time, it's also possible to leave the airport and taxi (or Aerocity shuttle) to the center of Madrid for a tapas lunch and a quick walking or hop-on/hop-off bus tour. Details for both are in Rick's Spain guidebook. It's about 20 minutes one-way from the airport with no traffic. A taxi back can be picked up anywhere, or Aerocity can be arranged in advance at the airport to pick up anywhere in the city at a precise time. I'll admit that watching the clock in order to get back with plenty of time might make one a little nervous, but it can be done. I like Frank's suggestion to have her ask questions directly. Good luck.

She might want to check out Tio Pepe depending on what concourse she is passing through.

Edwin

She will be needing €uros but major credit cards and debit cards are accepted at the airpot. She can withdraw €uro cash with a Maestro or VISA Eletron ATM debit card from her US checkings account. Some information on Madrid Barajas airport can be found here: http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?SiteName=MAD&c=Page&cid=1049727006353&pagename=Aeropuerto_MAD

Come on Mom. Cut the apron strings. She 21. I think the telling part is when you posted that you were more worried than she. She needs to ask the questions. Madrid is a typical international airport. Has a lot of shopping that she can wonder through. If she is coming in on an overnight flight from the US, she might want to take a nap. Cannot address restaurants since we have never eaten in the airport. She will need an adapter plug for her computer if she is going to plug it in.

We moms are like that. But I agree that if you show her this site, she will find out all she wants. She might want to find one thing outside the airport to visit, and have an excellent adventure. But as mentioned, it depends on her luggage, her final destination, etc, as to whether or not she will have really 7 hours to spare. She needs to do this research, Mom. (Spoken as a mom who is also not good at letting go!)

;-)

I flew into the Madrid Airport in September. To take a taxi to Madrid center cost me 35.00 euro. For her it would be 70 euro round trip. If she has the money to spend on Taxi fare, It would be an experience. I also looked into storing my bags for one day and I can't remember what I was quoted but it wasn't cheap. Also remember the devaluation of the Dollar to boot!!

She can save by taking the Aerocity shuttle instead of a taxi - 23 Euro one way. As for the exchange rate, it is what it is. It really shouldn't be much of a consideration IMO when trying to decide what to do for seven hours. Why not go see the sites on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour...takes 1.25 hours for the entire route and is quite reasonable at about 17 Euro.