Madrid Travel Guide Books

Madrid travel guide books help you cover all the bases!

Travelers who've never been to Spain often feel overwhelmed just thinking about their pending adventure. Sure, the airline tickets have been booked and the hotel with all the right amenities has been booked, yet that's only part of the vacation, isn't it? There are larger questions involved. Where shall we eat? What will we do? How will we get around? How much will the museums cost? Before you board that plane, you should visit your local bookstore to find a Madrid travel guide book that will cover all the bases and help you plan your trip.

A good travel guide can help you come up with the best travel plan. Not only will you gain tips on whatever destination you're headed to, but you will also find information on discount hotels, attractions and cuisine. Few things are worse than squandering your time, paralyzed with indecision, as your vacation swiftly passes you by. Sometimes it feels good to just relax and not worry about anything, although wouldn't it be nice if you knew the most scenic spot for a picnic lunch, an easygoing stroll or a romantic view?

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The Internet is a vast sea of travel information and honestly, it can be a little overwhelming at times. It feels good to sit down with a printed book in hand, complete with colored pictures, easy-on-the-eyes print and predictably organized chapters. Whether you plan on visiting Madrid for a weekend, a week or an extended stay, a travel guide will come in handy to help you find your way around. Many books have maps, addresses, phone numbers, websites and other tips to make your vacation as wonderful and fulfilling as possible.

Madrid Travel Guide Will Direct Your Wander Lust

An overseas trip to Madrid is an ideal vacation for the hopeless wanderlust. With a trusty travel guide in hand, anything is possible, as the world is your oyster, friend. Perusing the shelves at Barnes and Noble, you'll see there are many different guide books for Madrid travel. They all claim to cover the same major areas of interest, such as attractions, museums, food, culture but you'll have to look more carefully to find just the right book that suits your particular interests. Some books are geared more towards older people who are looking for a relaxing getaway, while others are for the adventurous backpacking type. Here are a few of the popular guide books you may stumble across.

Fodor's has been a well-respected publisher of travel guides for more than seventy years, and is spearheaded by a team of over 700 professional writers. The vision of founder Eugene Fodor was to "bring to life the people and customs" of a destination, rather than spouting dry facts and figures. At www.fodors.com/world/europe/spain/madrid, you will find topics like "Top Reasons To Go," "Getting Oriented," "Where to Go," "Planning Your Time" and "Spain's Top 15 Values For Travelers on a Budget." You can also read about their top recommended restaurants, the most popular hotels and learn some additional travel tips. At a glance, you'll have a good idea of why people are drawn to Madrid.

The Lonely Planet travel guide company is a newcomer to the scene, but appeals for a youthful, budget-conscious audience. These Madrid travel books are for the people who just want to do everything, meet everyone and wind up anywhere worthwhile. "There will come a moment while you're in Madrid when you will fall irreversibly in love with this beguiling city and wonder how you can bear to live elsewhere," writes Lonely Planet author Anthony Ham. Across the well-written page of this spunky narrative, you'll be able to gather what the pulse of the city is like. You'll learn about the people and the culture, as well as the off-the-beaten-path adventures. To learn more about Lonely Planet, visit www.lonelyplanet.com.

Frommer's is another top-notch travel guide publisher that has earned its world fame. You'll find their comprehensive travel information at www.frommers.com/destinations/madrid or at any bookstore. You'll find itineraries to make planning even easier than you'd ever imagined or you can narrow down your search results to "especially for kids" attractions or "tapas restaurants." You'll be able to get to know each neighborhood as a distinct entity to decide where you'll feel most at-home. Their easy star-rating makes it a breeze to sort through the mediocre experiences and get to the golden nuggets. One of Frommer's specialties is food, so be sure to check out their extensive restaurant/cuisine section!

Rough Guides (at www.roughguides.com) is another great travel guide. Here you can search "Madrid Freebies" for a list of all the free museum hours, so you can make the most of your trip. You'll also find a section on "Madrid's Vegetarian Restaurants," which is perfect for the health-conscious herbivore. Learn about Madrid's "Fiestas" or get travel info on "Madrid in the Summer." You'll also be able to buy books of directions and maps to help you get around the city centre with ease. Whether you're looking to find hotels, flights or food in Madrid, it's all on the website for free. There are also great day trips outside of Madrid if you feel a sudden impulsive whim to venture across the rest of Spain.

Not surprisingly, newspapers often have excellent travel guide sections if you can find what you're looking for. The UK Telegraph and NY Times are especially noted for their in-depth travel information. At the UK Telegraph's page (www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/madrid/4433755/Spain-An-Insiders-Guide-to-Madrid-and-Central-Spain.html), Annie Bennett has a wonderful (and recent) insider's guide to Madrid, with links to travel information resources. For instance, she recommends specialists Madrid & Beyond for arranging your tapas tours, winery tours, culinary classes, museum visits and other activities. She tells you where to taste wine, where to see wildlife and how to get around. You'll find that these guides are a great way to stay sane while planning your bountiful adventure.

Bars, Night Clubs, and More

The Eyewitness Travel Guide series has been highly touted by many reputable sources. According to Travel & Leisure, the books are "Encyclopedic in scope, it's meant to be used before, during, and after your stay." The NY Times Syndicate touts the "hundreds of 3-D aerial maps of districts, streets and buildings" and "unique graphics" that give you an insider's glimpse at museum floor plans and short cuts. The Travelers' Need section will help you find hotels, entertainment, shops and restaurants, while the Survival Guide navigates you through airports, public transit, restrooms and keeps you out of crime-riddled areas. You can find the Madrid travel book written by Michael Leapman at Barnes and Nobles.

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Online, www.wikitravel.org is a pretty comprehensive travel guide that will give you a quick overview of all the major travel information about Madrid. You'll learn about the location, climate, culture, different neighborhoods, how to get airline tickets or travel packages to the city, how to get around once you're in the city, what major attractions you should check out and where to go shopping. You'll read about Madrid museums, music venues, movie houses, sports, theatre venues and more. The section on cuisine, local specialties and restaurants is pretty extensive, yet not overwhelming. Hotels are conveniently broken down into "Budget hotels," "Mid-range hotels" and "Splurge hotels" for quick reference. Just like its sister site, www.wikipedia.org, there is nothing you can't find here.