Newly based in Madrid - long time lurker!

[Jusrus]

Hi all,
Have been long time reader, I think this is my first post!

My family of 3 have just relocated to Madrid for work and life opportunities. I will be travelling back to AU/MEL once a quarter to check in on business things.

I have ironically just dropped from Virgin Platinum to Gold, but will be back up at Plat before the end of the year.

Moving to EU opens a whole new range of flying challenges with LCC being huge here. I miss my Virgin (and Etihad First Class in Abu DabI!) lounges very much.

Looking forward to seeing what lurks I can find in EU and report back to AU community!

Thanks again
JR

 

[cove]

Justus my eldest son was in Madrid for quite a few months at a university while on long service leave. He would go to soccer and basketball to extend his group of friends. He loved Madrid.
There are really low cost airfares in Europe so you can go visiting places without damaging your bank account.

 

[Jusrus]

Justus my eldest son was in Madrid for quite a few months at a university while on long service leave. He would go to soccer and basketball to extend his group of friends. He loved Madrid.
There are really low cost airfares in Europe so you can go visiting places without damaging your bank account.

Thanks for the tips @cove! I have quite a few music industry colleagues here, and most weeks friends are touring through here, so we are going OK so far!

Yes, low cost seem to be the way forward here - though I miss my free coffees and champagnes in the Virgin lounges!

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard Jusrus, sounds like an adventure

 

[cove]

There is a no alcohol rule at basketball and most probably other big sport stadiums in Madrid.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF.

 

[opusman]

Welcome to AFF. Madrid is my favourite city on the planet, I am very jealous

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Hi @Jusrus and welcome to the AFF community. I’m in Spain at the moment hiking the Camino de Santiago. Really enjoy seeing the rural north of the country.

 

[Silvia]

Welcome,

I recently visited family in Madrid and trust me, you are not missing out on much lounge wise. I flew Iberia intra Europe and that was probably one of the worst legroom I've ever had. Luckily I selected exit row seats at no cost and got a free drink and snack as a QF Platinum. Lounge was adequate in Madrid, but nothing like QF/VA. My brother in law laughs about how much fuss aussies we make about lounges, whereas European travel is about who gets you there the cheapest.
LATAM MAD-FRA is amazing, very cheap and comfortable option.

Train travel to the North or South of Spain is great. Quick, relatively cheap and comfortable. Spanish are not the friendliest, but some areas of Spain are just gorgeous!

 

[Jusrus]

Welcome,

I recently visited family in Madrid and trust me, you are not missing out on much lounge wise. I flew Iberia intra Europe and that was probably one of the worst legroom I've ever had. Luckily I selected exit row seats at no cost and got a free drink and snack as a QF Platinum. Lounge was adequate in Madrid, but nothing like QF/VA. My brother in law laughs about how much fuss aussies we make about lounges, whereas European travel is about who gets you there the cheapest.
LATAM MAD-FRA is amazing, very cheap and comfortable option.

Train travel to the North or South of Spain is great. Quick, relatively cheap and comfortable. Spanish are not the friendliest, but some areas of Spain are just gorgeous!

Hah - yes, I have been to the lounge at MAD Terminal 1 and was less than impressed compared to what we are used to in Australia.

We have flown Iberia, Vueling, AirFrance, BA, Easyjet and I'm sure others and they have all been on par with Jetstar or Virgin really. Big bus in the sky....

Thanks for reminding me about trains - we are looking at a long weekend away in December and think we will catch the AVA to Seville. 600km in 2 hours. Perfect

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF @Jusrus.

 

[piotreq86]

I was once in a Real Madrid match. They won 3:0
Welcome aboard @Jusrus

 

[cove]

If you see someone walking around Madrid with a Fremantle Dockers jacket it would be likely that he scored it from a bar cloakroom. We replaced it as a Christmas present for our youngest Son.

 

[kookaburra75]

Welcome aboard @Jusrus . Madrid is on MrsK and Juliet for places to see when we do the retirement thingie in a few years so I'd be interested in in places to see recover time

 

[Jusrus]

Thanks everyone for the welcomes! We are putting together a list of our favourite places and things to do in Madrid which we will share once we are confident it's complete!