Business contacts
Mobile phone hire You can rent a mobile phone from Spain Cellphone.
Contact them on Tel: 687 558 529 or visit http://puertademadrid.com/rentacellphone/
Car hire All international car hire companies are represented at the airport, together with some local ones.
Office rental Lymington Business Centre offers a wide range of business, as well as secretarial services. Contact them on Tel: 91 590 29 50, Fax: 590 29 55, email: info@lymington-center.com or visit www.lymington-center.com
Secretarial services The Office Holding organises secretarial services. Tel: 91 411 0162, Fax: 91 561 2987, email: info@officeholding.com or visit www.officeholding.com
Weather and climate
On the first warm day in April the cafés open their terraces, but the weather can be changeable in spring—snow showers have been known. July and August are seriously hot with temperatures often reaching 40C. Autumn is brief and can be rainy, and winter gets very cold—but is still very sunny.
Local press
El País and El Mundo are the main national dailies. El Mundo publishes an entertainment magazine every Friday. InMadrid is a monthly English languge magazine, with an extensive entertainment guide, www. in-madrid.com, as is TBS, www.tbs.com.es; both can be found in ex-pat hangouts and Irish pubs. www.guiadelocio.esalso has a short English section.
Tourist traps
Madrid makes up for its lack of tourist traps by providing large numbers of pick-pockets. Tourists are obvious targets and particularly vulnerable in the area around Sol and the older parts of the city.
Tipping etiquette
Service is generally not included, even in more up-market restaurants. In cafés, bars and taxis, just round up the total to the next euro. In a good restaurant 5% is acceptable, 10% is generous.
Internet cafés
Try easyInternet (Calle Montera 10) or BBIGG (Calle Mayor 1), which offers high-speed access and other services. Both are open seven days a week.
Gifts to buy
Spanish wines are widely available outside Spain today, but nowhere will you find the range stocked by Europe’s largest wine store Lavinia (Calle José Ortega y Gassett 16). Take home some olive oil, Iberian ham or Manchego cheese to accompany the wine. For traditional gifts, head to the area around the Plaza Mayor. El Caballo Cojo (Calle Segovia 7) carries a huge range of ceramics from the ’60s and ’70s. Fine hand-made guitars can be found at Guitarreria F. Manzanero(Calle Santa Ana 12). For traditional fans of every type go to Almoraima (Plaza Mayor 12) and for traditional lace and embroidered shawls try Casa Jiménez (Calle Preciados 42).
The main museums all have shops with a wealth of ideas for gifts too.