Madrid Marco Polo Travel Guide - with pull out map (Marco Polo Spiral Guides)

As expected, gave a good introduction to Madrid, things to see in various parts of the city which can be done on the same day, and tips for making the most of your stay. We used it extensively in planning our holiday.

A very good guide to take with you to Madrid.

Overview: A fantastic compact travel guide/map which offers a breadth of information for any type of holiday to Madrid.Review of: Madrid Marco Polo Spiral Guide (Marco Polo Spiral Guides)Features:> A spiral bound book meaning it is easy to open up and leave the book on a certain page, unlike a spine book which would close on itself.> Compact size yet large enough to easily read it> Simple to navigate around the book> The books gives an indication of prices to enter resorts and also the seasons/times of the year they are open.> There are important phone number throughout e.g. for taxi firms, car rental, hotels, resorts etc.> At the back of the book there is a pull out map which is perfect to carry in a money travel belt on a day out.The book's contents:> TOP 10 - this is a section featuring the top 10 destinations or things to do in Madrid.> THE MAGAZINE- a section which showcases the best parts of Madrid.> FINDING YOUR FEET - This section gives an overview of how to settle into your new environment. It gives important info such as departing the airport with a car rental or other transport links including buses. Next it gives information about what types of accommodation are available which gives an idea about the types of places you could stay. The next section is detailing the types of food and drink you may find. This is very useful when planning a holiday as it can be hard to adapt to the food abroad and having this rough guide is a good indicator as to whether it would suit you or not. Shopping is the next section which gives details about where to shop, info on duty free and also a beware sections linking to haggling, and about craft fairs. The final section is entertainment which gives an overview of what's on during different months of the year including festivals and events.> There are 4 sections for different parts of Madrid (1. In the Heart of Madrid, 2. Prado, Retiro & Surrounds 3. West of the City and 4. South of the City.) Each of these sections have the same layout and give guidance on: getting your bearings, the perfect day, the top 10 things to do, things to do at your leisure, more places to explore, where to eat, where to drink, where to shop and where to go out.> EXCURSIONS - This section covers 3 excusions: El Escorial, Toledo and Alcasla de Henares.> WALKS - This section gives walking information of 3 areas: 1 Madrid - the Essence; 2 Barrio de las Letras; and 3 Squares, Boulevards & Greenery.> PRACTICALITIES - This is a very helpful section which specifies what you need to know before you go (what you need e.g passport, health documentation; when high/low season is; time changes; currency/foreign exchange), what you need to know when you are there (dates of national holidays; opening hours of shops etc; keeping in touch such as what a post box looks like; health services etc) and then useful words and phrases (numbers; greetings; accommodations phrases; directional phrases; days of the week; emergency phrases; restaurant phrases; and also a menu reader.> STREET ATLAS> STREET INDEX> INDEX> 10 REASONS TO COME BACKDrawbacks:> So far i have found no drawbacks, however if any do arise i will update this review accordingly.Overall i would recommend this great little travel guide/map as it is easy to navigate around and it provides lots of information.

I used this guide for a 5 day trip to Madrid and it certainly helped us cover much of the city. All the obvious places and also a trip out (on foot, a nice walk from the centre along the fairly functional and unprepossessing river) to Goya’s tomb (with frescos by him in the cupola – at Ermita De San Antonio De La Florida just under the funicular station).Tourist tip of the hot chocolate con churros at San Ginés, worth a visit! Plaza Santa Ana, Barrio de las Letras for a bit of Cervantes adulation…I like these guides because they do take you a couple of levels into the city, beyond the obvious tourist areas. And, as ever, it is a very hand size that fits neatly into a small backpack or bag.For all our culinary recommendations and fails, you can find our reviews on TripAdvisor.There is a good map that we found adequate for our trip. If you are in the city for a lot longer, then something more detailed would be useful. Definitely good value for our shortish break.