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Posted
Hi everyone! I've scoured the message boards, and I came across some suggestions for the best guidebooks about Spain; however, since I'm going to be in Madrid for approximately three months, I'd like some suggestions for buying a good, factual guidebook about Madrid. Some websites ran by different guidebook producers seem like they don't really like Madrid Razzer (at least in comparison to Barcelona, i.e. Lonely Planet), so I definitely don't want to buy a book by someone who doesn't really like Madrid! So any advice on this would be helpful, thanks a lot. Smiler I'm so grateful for this message board, it really makes me so excited to be coming to Madrid in the future! Can't wait
 
Posts: 12 | Location: West Virginia, United States | Registered: 13 May 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
Posted Hide Post
Hi Brandy, buy a "Time Out" Madrid Guide ( www.timeout.com/madrid ), I have it and it is EXCELLENT.

There are also tons of monthly free guides given out once here, see www.multimadrid.com/guides for more.

So, get the Madrid guide and then a separate guide for all of Spain for your trips and travels. I use "Let's GO Spain & Portugal" for that (and a lot of www surfing Cool )

Saludos,
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12254 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Posted Hide Post
Hi Brandy, our host, Jer is being too modest! I used the general information that he provides on his main webpage more often than I used my guidebooks. Do print them out they are very useful, particularly the money section!

Please also search this website. There are other Spain websites and Madrid websites that are wonderful too, but what makes Jer's the very best is, JER! He lives in Madrid and he knows Madrid better than any native Madrile�o. He also likes to search out information for you, so if you do searches here you will find a lot of recent and valid information. He found a laundry for me that had an Internet Cafe and sent me a picture! Where else could you get this kind of help? Certainly not from the Spanish tourist office! Also most of the people that post here are living in Madrid or somewhere in Spain.

You're smart to go prepared, it makes your trip more memorable!

Buen Viaje!

Jer, I too love Let's go Travel guides. I just purchased the 2003 Spain and Portugal Edition! Getting Ready!



 
Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Posted Hide Post
I second Jer's comment about Time Out. I used their Madrid and Andalucia guides recently, which was my first experience with the series. I thought they were excellent!!

I am also a huge fan of Rick Steves, although some people don't like him. He doesn't have a book specifically for Madrid, but has one for Spain and Portugal. The prices he lists for hotels are right in my budget range.

I used to use Let's Go all the time, but when I was researching my last trip I didn't use them at all. I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm getting older (I turn 30 tomorrow -- I'm offically old Frowner ) or because I'm able to spend more money now than I did when I was younger.

I did some research on Lonely Planet, and didn't find them particularly helpful, although some swear by them.

There are a ton of guidebooks out there and each seem to fill a different niche, so to speak. I usually refer to two or three of them to cross-reference things. I'm also a little odd in that I like to read them even when not planning a trip. Eeker

Anne


Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
 
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Oye, Anne, you are not old! OK? I'm old, I'm 50, half a century. Eeker At thirty you are just entering your very best years! At forty, your most interesting years! Roll Eyes At fifty , your plain old! Wink :cheers:

Hey, I too like Rick Steves, by the way I just received an e-mail from him that he is doing a new DVD on Spain that includes northern Spain!



 
Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Je je je, Booklady. I am being somewhat sarcastic when I say that I'm "old." (Is there a such thing as a sarcastic emoticon???) Although no one will accuse me of growing old gracefully either. Big Grin

That's great news that Rick Steves is doing something on northern Spain! So many people ignore that part of the country. So I can't wait to see where he goes. He's my hero by the way. Smiler

Anne


Remember, you can't see everything in one trip. Assume you will return. (Rick Steves)
 
Posts: 143 | Location: Green Bay, WI USA | Registered: 16 April 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
Posted Hide Post
quote:
"I am being somewhat sarcastic when I say that I'm "old."
I should hope so, I have been 30 for almost 2 years now Big Grin

quote:
I am also a huge fan of Rick Steves... The prices he lists for hotels are right in my budget range.
Jejejeje, funny, they never practice what they preach once they hit the bigtime.

Met board member "thyglow" for a few beers here in Madrid in early April and he told me that he was having a drink in the Reina Victoria Hotel on Plaza de Santa Ana and Rick and his crew were in the bar. They were staying there... double room costs upwards of 200€/night Eeker

Hey, can't blame him, if ya got it, spend it!!! Smiler

GO Rick GO!!!

Saludos,
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12254 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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About guidebooks:I bought three for our trip.
Lonely Planet- This is the one I literally carried with me everywhere. Great info for day trips including transportation tips. Useful language section especially for figuring out menus. Good maps showing Metro stations.
Eyewitness Top 10 Madrid- This is the one I took to El Escorial. Good map w/ Metro stations. Good phrase section. I wish I'd had this one with me when I got lost by the Plaza Mayor because it has a street index.
Knopf City Guides Madrid- just for background info. I mainly read it on the plane and in the hotel room before heading out to see the sites.
 
Posts: 18 | Location: Loami, Illinois, USA | Registered: 21 May 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Have to agree with the reccommendations for the Time Out guide - it's fantastic. I've bought the last three editions and it has been very well updated.
 
Posts: 21 | Location: Madrid, of course! | Registered: 10 October 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I think i've said this before, but the Cadogan guides put out by a British press and available in the States are awesome!!!! They provide city guides (I have the latest on Madrid) and for regions of Spain. I like the inside walks and tips it gives. They are about the off the beaten track ideal and I enjoy the way the Brits write.
Anyway, even my madrile�o family and friends were impressed with the suggestions in the guide and also how accurate their point of view is.
 
Posts: 91 | Location: san diego, ca, usa | Registered: 23 May 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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