Chocolate, Soccer, and the Prado
371 days. It's about time I wrote my Madrid trip report. Thanks to an amazing British Airways Business Class sale, a couple of friends and I spent 5 days in Madrid last January.
Madrid Trip Report
Introduction: Chocolate, Soccer, and the Prado
Madrid wasn't high on my bucket list. But I'm not really a bucket list traveler.
I travel wherever I can find a good deal. Whether it's a mistake fare, an airline sale, or an opportunity to use airline miles. I'm not picky. I'll just go.
So when my friends, Sagy and Steve, emailed me about the British Airway Business Class sale, I was in.
I don't care what country. Just tell me where to show up.
Sagy picked Madrid, Steve and I followed. You gotta love great travel companions. They make travel and life more interesting.
Airfare
We booked round-trip Business Class tickets from Los Angeles to Madrid through British Airways. But we didn't fly on British Airways. We flew on American Airlines, thanks, to their codeshare agreement. The total cost for airfare: $766.99.
But we didn't fly on British Airways. We flew on American Airlines, thanks, to their codeshare agreement.
Because we flew on American Airlines, we earned American Airlines elite qualifying miles and redeemable miles.
The total cost for airfare: 30,000 British Airways Avios plus $766.99.
Pro-tip: You can use British Avios points to reduce the cost of your airline ticket.
4 Nights Hotel
If you're a regular blog reader you know I usually bounce hotels each night. But for this trip, I stayed all 4 nights at the Westin Palace Madrid.
Steve and I have Hyatt Diamond elite status but Sagy was on track to become a lifetime Platinum member with Starwood. So we booked all 3 rooms under Sagy's name...using points. 🙂
The cost for hotel: $0
Pro-tip: You can earn stay credit for multiple room bookings with Starwood.
Pro-tip: Rooms booked with points earn stay credit with Starwood.
Transportation
Like many European cities, Madrid is very walkable. We walked everywhere except for the few times we used Uber and when we took the train to Toledo.
The total cost for transportation: 81.75 euros
Activities and Tours
Madrid is amazing. From the Prado to the Plaza Mayor and everything in between. I'll detail our activities in a separate post.
- Ticket to Real Madrid Game: 75 euros
- Round-trip train ticket to Toledo: 20.60 euros
- Hop on, Hop Off bus in Toledo: 9 euros
- Admission to Da Vinci tour: 4.5 euros
- Admission to San Juan de los Reyes: 2.5 euros
- Admission to Santa Maria la Blanca: 2.5 euros
- Admission to the Prado: 0 euros
Cost for activities and tours: 114.10 euros
Food
Food prices are incredibly reasonable in Madrid. It's absolutely crazy how inexpensively you can eat and eat well. Food costs include alcohol.
Food: 171.50 euros
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this brief Madrid trip report. I'm trying to get caught up on all my trips from last year.
Traveling two weeks of every month has created a huge backlog of trips. I either have to stop traveling so much or write faster...
Stay tuned for how to get to Madrid using miles and points.
Have you been to Madrid? Share your favorite thing in the comments.
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Wow, sounds completely amazing! Wish I was a friend ? I would love a trip like that!
I love these trip reports you do. They're a great way for me to get ideas on destinations and what to expect when we get there. Keep traveling and just write faster! 😉
You make me want to travel the world with my little dog Peanut. I'd love to start in Madrid.
I love that you scored free hotel rooms. I only tend to earn one free night a year.
Happy New Year! I, too, love Madrid. The architecture is what stays in my mind. Yes, there are chocolate churros, but it's definitely not a destination for chocolate lovers. But your headline sucked me in anyway.
I think it's awesome to be able to go to Madrid, it's one of the best places in Spain! Looks like you had a great time there too. I appreciate all your tips! This makes a good guide for people who would like to travel to Madrid.
That sounds really expensive. I know it's probably really cheap because I'm out of the traveling loop. I haven't flown since before 9-11 and I think I bought a ticket from Arizona to Riverside California for $90 bucks. Prior to that I flew to from Arizona to Florida round-trip for like $200. Like I said, over a decade ago, so this is probably a good deal.
That was really an awesome travel experience. A lot of discounts, points, and 0 cost for hotels. Who wouldn't want that trip?
I really, really want to go to Madrid, it looks like a beautiful city. Those activities are a little expensive but when can make an efford.
Madrid has been in my bucket list for a while tho! I've always wanted to go to Spain. It seems like a beautiful country. And the fact that you barely spent anything on this is incredible!
The Churros con Chocolate looks so tempting! I've never been to Madrid, but my family is planning a trip to Europe later this year. I'll make sure Madrid is included.
I would love to visit Madrid. It sounds like a beautiful place. Those churros are totally calling my name.
Madrid is lovely. It has the old world charm which is so typical of many European cities. Would love to get there some day.
I'd love to visit Madrid one day! My sister went there to study abroad while she was in college and I wish I had the same experience.
I have always wanted to visit Madrid. What a beautiful city!
It's not a place I have visited to date but would love to go and visit one day so it's one that's going to be put on the bucket list for sure
I have been to Madrid several times but mostly because of work. It's not one of my favorite cities, but there are a lot of interesting things to do and see. Love churros too!
Madrid looks absolutely amazing. I would love to visit someday for a vacation. It looks so relaxing and I could use that right now.
As a military wife who could barely handle her busy schedule I am truly glad I came across your post. Me and my hubby loves to travel too and Madrid is definitely on our bucket list. This is very informative and interesting!
I would enjoy being able to travel more often but with kids in school it is a bit more challenging. Hopefully, we can go one of these days though.
I'm not very good at those impulse kind of trip purchases, I'm such an obsessive planner that it never happens. But full of admiration for those who just look at what's on good offer, book and go. You get some really unexpected experiences that way!
Love that you travel and work with points and still stay at amazing places. My family would love to attend a Real Madrid game! WOW!
That's a great round up on the trip. It gives a decent idea from what can be expected if you visit a place (in this case Madrid)Glad to hear that you got a deal on the flights and stay there. I'm sure that takes care of a good part of expenses.
Madrid is a wonderful city, I had the chance to spend 24 hours there, between two flights. You are right, food is really cheap in Spain and it's so delicious! I see you had churros and hot chocolate, the best breakfast! 🙂
It is always a good thing when you can find deals on trips. Madrid sounds interesting and I hope to visit there some day. Thanks for sharing your experience on your trip to Madrid.
Impromptu trips are the greatest! We're the same, a lot of our destinations are picked on a whim depending on deals that are on offer at the time. Haven't had a chance to take in Madrid yet but we got a taste of Spain last year with Barcelona so really want to get back and explore more. Thanks for the comprehensive trip report!
This awesome trip report is so useful!! i am going to Barcelona in 1 month i hope to give me some advice for this place of Spain 🙂
You've really managed to figure out some of these hotel stays and points methods really well! I love Madrid and I agree that it doesn't have to be too expensive. It's one of my favorite cities!
I love using points to fly business class for less. That is certainly a great deal that you have got and I definitely need to check out the lifetime Starwood deal. Hopefully by the time I do the research it will still be available.
I continue to be amazed at your travels, for fun ... almost. Having living in Tokyo & commuted to Australia, Singapore & HongKong (weekly), I'm not sure I could do this again but it was fun except for no life of my own. As we travel more I guess I should watch for deals ... and laugh remembering giving away over 1,000,000 miles on United when I finished my Asian assignment. I just wanted to stay home!
Sounds like it was an awesome trip to Madrid. I like to look at the deals that are available and pick a destination that way.
Great tips and wow, you really found a way to do it economically. Loved the photo of the churros and European hot chocolate, made me want to buy an airplane ticket and catch the next flight.
Wow, what a great trip. I'm impressed that it didn't cost a lot. I'd love to visit Madrid!
Great deal. $766.99 alone for airfare is super. I wish I could shop like that to travel. I would go on many more trips
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I am a total impulse traveler and you have inspired me. I've always wanted to see Madrid.
I've visited Madrid but only less than a day! I love Spain 😉 can't wait to go back!
I've never been to Spain and it would be awesome to go there someday! I'd love to spend some time in Madrid! I'm sure my daughter and I are going to have so much fun there! Thanks for this very informative post, it's really helpful.
Sounds like a great trip. I have always wanted to visit Spain and so much of Europe. That was really cheap airfare, too, and great that you could get your miles.
Looks like a lot of fun to do in Madrid! I think of it as my next destination 🙂
I really wanted to go in a place like this! Those foods are really fantastic.
I would love to visit Spain one day with my husband and I think it's a romantic place that I've heard.
Spain is one of those special places in my bucket list & I think you have had a wonderful experience at Madrid. With so much of activities to do all around, I am sure this is a dream place to visit.
I've never been to Madrid, but I would love to go there someday. Thank you for the tips. Learned so much from your trips!
I love this budget post about Madrid. It is nice to see how everything has it's price. You got a great deal on those flights! I went to Madrid years ago and it was much higher!
Much more fun when you can just pick up and go. I love my kids, but I'm looking forward to being able to do this again.
How great that you have travel buddies who can just get up and go when a great deal comes along! How generous of your friend to use his points so you can all get a free stay at the hotel - that deserves a beer for sure!
I love to travel and hope one day to do a lot more of it. Madrid is a beautiful place. I was there a long time ago but would love to see it again as an adult.
Those airline ticket glitches are the best I always find out about them after they are gone. 🙁 I hope to catch one soon before it's gone. Glad you all enjoyed yourselves. - yolonda
Madrid is a lovely place and there's so much good food as well! i would love to go back someday soon. Thanks for this trip report, it's really helpful to people who want to travel more!