Father’s Day in Madrid

March 19th is coming … And you, without a gift! Telling your father that you love him is the best gift in the world, but giving a trip to Madrid can make you the son of the month. Forget wallets, ties, watches, books or socks. If you have 5 minutes, look for a flight, reserve a hotel and organize a family trip. Surely your surprise will be a great one.

Traveling to Madrid on a weekend is more than enough for you to enjoy a bit of fun, lots of culture and some rest. The capital offers a thousand and one activities on your agenda, no matter which dates you choose: in Madrid there is always something interesting to do and many of those things are also free.

For example, if you want the trip to be economical, look at the leisure and tourism web pages of Madrid all those free proposals that fill the parks, cultural centers and theaters of the capital. Hail them and there are many. Do not forget to book a walking tour: walking through Madrid is one of the most enjoyable things you can do because it’s in the streets where one meets the true essence of this unique city.

If you like to eat well, go through the San Miguel Market, the Cava Alta and the Cava Baja for the vermouth and tapas in La Latina, the taverns of the Plaza de Mayo, in the area of ​​Malasaña, just some of the trendy restaurants to treat yourself to.

For lovers of art, the Prado, Reina Sofia and Caixaforum are obligatory visits. If you go only 2 days, it is best to stick with 1 of the 3 and view it calmly. Check beforehand the temporary exhibitions that they offer to be able to decant for one or the other but, in fact, choose the one you choose, and you will get it for sure.

Cinema and theater are classics in any visit to Madrid, almost as much as the bocata de calamares, squid sandwich, in Plaza Mayor. The premieres change every weekend and the musicals can be booked directly on the Internet: do it in advance if you want to get a good place for the event because they have carried on for a long time and almost always fill up, and the best places go quickly.

El Retiro is also a place of pilgrimage in the capital. You will serve to break with the city and immerse yourself in its small oasis of tranquility and healthiness. If you go with children it is the perfect refuge to lie in the sun for a while on the lawn near its large lake, while they play and run away from the danger of roads and traffic.

Among all the accommodations in Madrid, you’ll find it very easy to find a hotel. Ideally, if you are a family unit, look for some that have family size or connected rooms. If what you’ve thought is that it’s only the parents who’ll enjoy the getaway, opt for one of the new hotels in the center of Madrid: Vincci The Mint, which has a fresh, elegant and fun design, with interesting events inside the same hotel; The IBEROSTAR Las Letras, which has a roof terrace and cocktail bar from where you can contemplate the Madrid skyline, with rooms on the Gran Vía of Madrid (also known as the Las Letras Gran Vía Hotel); The Petit Palace Puerta del Sol or the Vincci Capitol, for cinema lovers (it’s located just above the historic Madrid hall).

What are the best museums for children in Madrid?

To speak of Madrid is to speak of our country’s most cultural with regard to museums. With buildings of different shapes and sizes which enable us to know how life was many centuries ago and bring history to life, Madrid is the bane of those who wish to get lost in the corridors of a museum savoring every painting, sculpture or photograph.

For all this, and much more, you can’t think of a trip to the capital without organizing at least a couple of visits to museums like the Reina Sofia or El Prado. Now, what do we do when we travel to the capital as a family? How do we get our children to enjoy museums?

Madrid is a capital city from beginning to end and that means there will be museums for adults and lots of others for children to enjoy like interactive and fun  museums. Which are the most outstanding?

The Museo del Ratoncito Pérez

Of the many characters that accompany us throughout our childhood, the Ratóncito Pérez is one of the most intriguing. A little mouse that leaves us money, sweets and gifts every time we lose a tooth and that lives in Madrid, in the Museo del Ratoncito Pérez; a charming museum full of details that will delight your children.

The Fire Museum

With its firefighter suits from centuries ago and its vintage trucks it is sure that the Madrid Museum of the Firemen is another one of those places that makes a good visit with the family. And in addition to its exhibitions and its impressive collection of vehicles from another era, the museum has an education area in which they teach free workshops for the little ones.

The Museum of Natural Sciences

The National Museum of Natural Sciences is a jewel… nothing more. A place in which to find the answers to many of those questions that our children ask us and that they will not want to leave for hours. Beyond its exhibitions and its workshops, the museum is ideal for our children to learn basic questions about our environment always in a fun way.

The best way to spend a few days of sightseeing and … rest!

Let’s face it: family travel is lovely, but with time if we don’t consider the hotels in Madrid that lend themselves to family tourism, then the experience can become a real nightmare.

So, in order to ensure that family vacations are what we all want,(perfect, beautiful and precious), we recommend that you do not miss all the offers from the Petit Palace Hotels Family Experience.

How to enjoy a genuine family holiday in Madrid

Although for many people the success or failure of a family holiday depends on the budget that is planned to invest (always with the misconception that a larger budget is always a guarantee), the truth is that -leaving aside savings- all family trip can turn into a positive experience if these three starting points are followed:

• Choosing a suitable destination for the time of year when we travel.
• Studying the tourist destination in depth paying especial attention to the advantages and disadvantages.
• Planning things that can be done as a family (since traveling with children requires special extras that only parents know).

Taking these three practical tips as a guide and taking into account that in July is not as hot as in August, it is not surprising that many people choose Madrid as holiday destination in July.

Madrid is not the summer holiday destination par excellence for Spaniards living in the peninsula as the closest beach is 5 hours by car (in Valencia). Therefore, the capital is perfect to live an enjoyable Family Experience. Of all the hotels in Madrid you have to choose from, the Petit Palace hotels are the best option for this holiday adventure.

Plans for the whole family. One goal: have fun

Warner Parc in Madrid

• Parque Warner Madrid

Considered as the safest theme park in Spain, Parque Warner is an ideal choice to give a touch of color and fun to your family trip. Located in San Martin de la Vega (about 22 kilometers away from the city center), this park is equipped with five themed areas and almost fifty rides for young and old. Its tower is the most amazing ride. It is the highest free fall in the world (so far).

• Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

The popular and fabulous Parque de Atracciones de Madrid is located close to Casa de Campo, another option for the youngest members of the family as it is a play area well equipped to offer entertainment and fun for the family.

• Ideal museums for children

One of the things that most clearly stands out to everyone who visits Madrid is the cultural offer of this city, especially designed for children. Within this wide range of museums, we can visit Casa del Ratoncito Pérez, Museo de los Bomberos or Museo de Ciencias Naturales.

Visit Madrid with your family, entertainment for adults and kids

Madrid has a lot to offer. It’s full of museums, leisure parks and city tours, a perfect destination for a relaxing family escape.

Despite many people travels to Madrid in summer, it’s really hot in the capital in this season, so you should better travel in May or June. You should visit Madrid by foot (or by bus), therefore if you are travelling to Madrid with kids, you should better take advantage of cooler temperatures in this season.

Family Experience – Petit Palace Hotels

There are a lot of hotels in Spain, but not all of them are perfect to spend your family holidays. The destination should offer attractions for  kids, interesting activities, gourmet restaurants and a great family friendly hotels. These hotels should offer extra services for families like: big rooms for 4 to 5 people, children menus, baby buggies, bikes for family tours, etc.

There are great family hotels in Madrid but in which area of the city? Are they perfectly connected with the city nerve centres? These are the favourite hotels of families looking for a city hotel for families in Madrid

1. Petit Palace Cliper Gran Via Hotel: Petit Palace Cliper Gran Via Hotel is one of the best family hotels in Gran Via, a city hotel with excellent extras like toys for our children, WiFi, baby buggies and privileged location.

2. Petit Palace Arenal Hotel: Petit Palace Arenal Hotel is another city hotel in Madrid designed for families. It was totally renewed in 2012 and connects Puerta del Sol with Opera. Which extras make it the perfect family friendly hotel? Gourmet breakfast, WiFi and high-tech rooms.

3. Petit Palace Arturo Soria Hotel: Our last recommendation in this list of family hotels in Madrid is Petit Palace Arturo Soria, a hotel near IFEMA that is perfect for families enjoying mor than a week of holidays in Madrid. It’s perfectly connected with the centre of the city and its service and customer attention are excellent.