VI INEM Conference
Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid, 12-13 Sept. 2008

Practical Information

Official Accommodation for INEM

There is a large range of accommodation options in Madrid. The organisers of the conference have reserved a number of rooms in some hotels that are particularly appropriate for the conference. These options are described here and can be booked directly on the registration form, which we strongly recommend.

Download Official Accommodation info (pdf file)

Other Accommodation

The conference venue is in the central area of Madrid, where you can find plenty of Hotels and Bed and Breakfast (Pension) at your convenience. Please, do not delay much the booking, since in September the city is very busy with tourists.

The official Madrid Tourism site offers a guide that you can access here. Search for accomodation in the District: "Centro"

On Arrival

Most visitors will travel to Madrid by plane and arrive at Madrid's Barajas airport. From there the easiest and most comfortable way to get to any of the hotels located in the city centre is to take a taxi from outside the terminal building. The ride should cost about 25EUR (from terminals 1/2/3) or 30EUR (from terminal 4), which includes a 5EUR surcharge for trips from/to the airport. Tourist rip offs are extremely rare but have been reported, so make sure that the taxi meter is on and refuse to pay if the driver charges significantly more than 20-25EUR.

A much cheaper and slightly less comfortable way to get to the city centre is to take the Metro, which has stations at both the new terminal 4, and just outside terminal 2. (From terminals 1 and 3 you can walk there following the signs). A single trip to the centre costs 2EUR but it is more economical to buy a "Metrobus" ticket, which is valid for 10 trips and sells for 6.70EUR (plus a 1EUR supplement for the airport).

You can find your way in the city with the official journey planner: access it here (click for the English version)

Transport in Madrid

::: Taxis: Except on busy nights before weekends and bank holidays, taxis can be found very easily. There are a few taxi stands (paradas), for example, at the airports and mainline train stations, on the Plaza de Colon and on the Puerta del Sol but the most common way to get a taxi is to hail one in the street. Taxis are always white and have a green light on top, which is illuminated when the taxi is available. In most hotels, receptionists will of course be happy to call a taxi. Standard rates are below 1EUR per kilometre so that the cost of usual ride within central Madrid rarely exceeds 10EUR.

::: Public Transport: The metro system in Madrid is very reliable, safe, clean and inexpensive and, in general, the best way to travel around Madrid. Trains run from about 6AM to 1:30PM and at intervals of approximately 4 mins (at night the frequency is lower).

A single ride on the metro to any destination of Zone A (changes are permitted) costs 1EUR (all stations a typical visitor will use are located within Zone A). For most travellers it is advisable to buy a Metrobus ticket, which is valid for 10 trips and, as its name suggests, on both the metro and buses. For many destinations there are also buses available, and particularly at night when the metro doesn't run there are night buses (all lines start from the Plaza de la Cibeles). A single ride on the bus is 1EUR. Metrobus tickets have to be bought in a metro station.

For further transport information, click here (and change to the English version)

Safety

Madrid is a very safe city, especially considering its size and socio-economic and cultural heterogeneity. Reports of crime involving violence are very rare and thus it is almost always safe for both men and women to be anywhere in Madrid, even at night. However, incidences of petty crime such as pickpocketing and the theft of wallets, purses, handbags, coats, cameras and mobile phones are relatively frequent, and it is therefore advisable to take the usual precautions such as zipping up one's bags, keeping handbags close to the body, not leaving belongings unattended in restaurants, bars and public places and so forth. In restaurants, never leave your bag on the back of a chair. Special care should be taken in the busy and touristy areas around the conference venue, like Sol, Plaza Major and Gran Via as well as on busy metro carriages and buses. Also note that pickpocketers sometimes work in groups with one or more persons distracting the victim and another one doing the pickpocketing. Thus take special care when someone brushes up against you or runs into you seemingly by accident.

Assistance for foreign visitors is provided by the local police here.

Further information about Madrid:

Please, visit EsMadrid.com

INEM 2008 | Winter Workshop