Strategy for 2 nights in Toledo

Keri - with all due respect....no, I don't think that's reasonable. That sounds like a really, really bad idea to me.

The train station is not just not-centrally-located, it's outside of town - a long way from everything. Might as well stay in Madrid!

Besides, the whole point of being in Toledo is to be deep in the old city. Staying in there is magical, and not to be missed.

To get from the train station to your hotel deep in the old center, just take a taxi. Reliable, simple, no big deal. Honestly, I can not think of a single good reason to go with your plan - I think it would be a terrible mistake that you would immediately regret.

My advice: choose a nice place in the old center, near the cathedral (we loved Posada de Manolo - in the book). Arrive on the train, walk out the door, grab a cab, they'll drop you at the hotel. Enjoy being in this magical old city. When it's time to leave, have your hotel call you a cab, step outside, get in the cab, step out at the train station, leave happy.

BTW - if your bags are prompting you to make choices like this....just sayin.'

Regardless, good luck and have a great trip.

Thanks for the frank reaction. The main concern was something I had picked up from some other travel advice sources -- namely, that trying to arrange reliable transportation (yes, even a taxi; yes, even with help from the hotel) sometimes yields surprise.. And from our own experience arranging a taxi that never came at 4am. That was London, where there was NO language problem.

But I hear your 'pros' and will give it some thought. Again, thanks!!

I would not have wanted to miss staying in the town, it was truly magical.

On the other hand, when you're in a hotel; either you're in the shower or you're asleep, so it doesn't matter much where it's located.

Ed, with all due respect, i disagree with your hotel assessment. I agree that for the most part you are only sleeping in your hotel, but that's why location is important, especially if you're spending more than one night someplace. Do you want to make that trek from the train station twice a day for two or three days?? Or do you want only make that trek when you arrive and leave?? Just one reason. You know what they say...location...location...location.

We're still looking ... thinking. Thanks to Ed for agreeing that this isn't totally crazy as an alternative.

We have two kinds of stays - one where we want the ambiance and the other is for the convenience of the journey (and we do plenty of Ibid and Kyriads for that category).

Yes, we've looked at the maps and we've read that this is a hike. But we are "walkers" ... plan would be to drop off the bags and walk, walk, walk for the first evening, and again for all day/evening of the full day in Toledo. It is only two nights (the one full day) after all. We aren't looking for any "ambience" of the nights when our heads hit the pillows.

But I do hear you, David. That is why I asked for a "sanity check"!

Have you looked into taking a bus to Madrid? It's still a walk downhill to the bus station, but it's not very far.

Otherwise, I thought there was a local bus from the old town to the train station.

Adam, We are going from Toledo to San Sebastian (by train). From what we can tell from the (not yet available) summer schedule, we will need to catch the first train out of Toledo -- 6:50am -- which becomes the first leg of the 8am train from Madrid to SS. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I agree with David - even down to the recommendation of Posada de Manolo. We caught an early train when we left Toledo and the ride from the hotel to the station was less than 10 minutes (no traffic). It would be hard to beat that walking from a hotel near the station. The hotel arranged our taxi the night before and it was waiting for us before the appointed time.

All the charm of Toledo is on the hill. Stay there.

Not at the train station for sure.

A taxi to the hotel...only way to get there --(1) you will not get lost (2) there is no flat land between the train ststion and town (3) you will be able to walk and enjoy the town with some energy left!,,,and, the taxi ride will be an experience you will never forget!!!

As to the location: Hostal Posada de Manlo by all criteria. I have stayed there twice in the past year..central location by the cathederal, so if you get lost, you can look for the cathderal. Built in the 1400's it has been newly done..best locaton, staff, and great breakfast, but well after 6 am I think...

And, they do arrange taxi service for you.