Madrid
"Going to Madrid? The BEWARE"
Going to Madrid? Then BEWARE.
If taking any taxi (even an official one) ask the driver to take you to your hotel by the shortest route. Ours took us the long way round the city on a Saturday afternoon and the taxi fare cost us 3 times as much as it should have. Then he had the cheek to ask for a 5 Euro surcharge because we came from the airport.
We were very careful with our bags as we walked around the city, but were unprepared for the well dressed old man (possibly South American) sitting in reception and reading a paper when we checked out. He stole one of our bags and was gone within about three seconds (probably out through the back of the hotel). Staff at the Villa de la Reina hotel looked through the footage of the security camera, but claimed he wasn't on it!!! (What a co-incident that the doorman wasn't there either).
CREDIT CARD FRAUD It can and does happen, especially in the smaller (South American) restaurants, (Caja be Burgos in the Plaza de Isabel II) DON'T USE YOUR CREDIT CARD. A dishonest member of staff can copy the details, leaving you with a lot of worry and bad feeling.
Madrid was fairly easy to get around on foot, and the Retiro Park is a nice peaceful retreat; as long as you avoid Sundays, when it is very crowded and noisy.
