Madrid is a fascinating city. History, culture, and an unmistakable vitality combine to make Madrid an ideal vacation destination. Visit some of the world's best museums, filled with works by Picasso, Miro, Goya, and El Greco. Savor a paella, Spain's signature dish, made with saffron rice and loaded with seafood, chicken, spicy sausage, and vegetables. Relax with a glass of Spanish sherry while watching the skillful Spanish Flamenco dancers.

Madrid makes an ideal base for exploring the Spanish countryside, as well as the historic towns of Avila and Toledo. Madrid is the most popular destination for European vacationers, and for good reason. Sample this dynamic capital city and see what Europeans have known for years: Madrid is truly fun.

Stay in Spain
Spain's capital city offers a huge variety of places to stay. Luxury hotels, like the Ritz, built by King Alfonso XIII with Cesar Ritz, rival Europe's best. In addition to offering a concierge, health club facilities, and multiple restaurants and lounges, luxury hotels in Madrid are about half the cost of similar hotels in London or Paris.

For a simpler place to stay, try a bed and breakfast inn. Privately owned and operated, these smaller hotels offer a chance to see how Madrilenos (Madrid residents) live. Your charming hosts can also give you inside information on restaurants, sightseeing, and nightclubs. Expect clean, comfortable accommodations, sometimes with a private bath. Bed and breakfasts usually don't have air conditioning, elevators, or room service.

Fly Away
Getting to Madrid is easy. Iberia, Spain's government-sponsored airline, operates non-stop flights from New York, Miami, and Chicago to Madrid. Connecting service on US carriers makes these flights accessible to travelers from hundreds of US cities. Airfare on Iberia is, surprisingly, affordable. New York to Madrid is, frequently, less than $500 per person plus taxes.

Save money on flights to Madrid by checking online travel sites for early booking and last-minute deals. Significant savings are often offered to travelers who are able to depart within a few days of booking. Packages, too, frequently offer savings. By combining hotel accommodations, airfare, and sightseeing, vacationers can usually save money over booking each component separately.

Start planning your Madrid vacation by calling or visiting your local travel agent. She can help you sort through all the various travel options. Online tour operators and online travel sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, make confirming travel arrangements easy for those who already know when and where they want to travel.