= IETF 108 - Madrid, Spain, July 25 - 31, 2020 = == Meeting Venue The IETF 108 Meeting Venue is the Meliá Castilla Hotel [https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/index.htm]. The Meliá Castilla is very well located next to the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the key arteries of Madrid, walking distance to the Bernabéu Real Madrid football stadium and right in the middle of the culinary Golden Mile of Madrid. It offers easy access to the airport, train stations, exhibition centers, museums and main touristic attractions. If you're coming to the IETF with your family, the hotel offers special services for your kids and even allow small dogs (up to 8 Kg.). Meliá Hotels is one of the top-10 worldwide hotel chains, offering their own Loyalty Program "Meliá Rewards" [https://www.melia.com/en/meliarewards/elprograma/home.htm]. == VISA Information TBD. == Airport Information '''Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas''' Airport (MAD) is operated by AENA, being the bigger one in Spain, 5th in Europe and 14th in the world. It has 4 main terminals, which distribute the flights among different airline alliances. The bigger and most modern terminal, the T4, concentrates all the flights from the Oneworld alliance, and has a Satellite terminal (T4S), for all the non-Schengen flights. The official AENA website with all the airport information is [http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html]. An alternative non-official website is available at [https://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/eng/]. == IBERIA Airlines Iberia Airlines is the preferred airline for IETF 108, offering discount on flights to Madrid. Complete information is available at [https://ietf.org/how/meetings/108/preferred-airline/]. == Airport and Madrid Transportation Depending on what terminal you're landing, there are several transport options to reach the venue There are different bus lines, metro and train. Google Maps offers very good information of all the choices. Of course, you can take a taxi, or Uber. In those cases, it should not take more than 15 minutes, and around 25 Euros. If you prefer public transport, Cuzco and Plaza de Castilla metro stations are at 5 and 10 minutes walking distance to the hotel, respectively. The Public Transport Consortium web site offers all the relevant information [https://www.crtm.es/?lang=en]. It offers maps and real-time apps/alerts at [https://www.crtm.es/muevete-por-madrid.aspx?lang=en]. You can get the information of different tickets and fares at [https://www.crtm.es/billetes-y-tarifas.aspx?lang=en]. == Language The official language of Spain is Spanish, together with other autonomic languages in some specific regions: * Catalonian (in Catalonia and Balearic Islands) * Valencian (in Valencia) * Galician (Galicia) * Basque (Basque Country and Navarra) == Currency and Credit/Debit Cards The currency in Spain is the Euro. The older currency (Peseta) is only accepted for exchange in the National Bank and their offices and only until 31/12/2020 [https://www.bde.es/bde/en/]. Major Credit and Debit cards, such as VISA and MasterCard are usually accepted everywhere. American Express is often also accepted, but not in smaller shops. == VAT Refund Most of the airports in Spain have offices and electronic machines for requesting tax refunds for non-EU residents. AENA, the National Airports Authority, offers the relevant information, in the case of the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport, the information is located here [http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/vat-refund.html]. == Self-tour - Not to miss while in Madrid == Museums Madrid offers an spectacular set of museums, being the more famous ones "El Prado", "Reina Sofía" and the "Thyssen Bornemisza", which coincidentally are in walking distance one to each other. However you will need several days to pay a complete visit to them! The Madrid official tourism guide, offers a specific web page for listing all them [https://www.esmadrid.com/listado-museos-madrid-pdf]. == Getting Around (to and from the Meeting Venue) Suggested Smart Phone Apps: == Exercise == Running Trails: == Hiking: == Events == ATMs & Money Conversion == Self-Service Laundry == Electrical Plug / Outlet [https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/advice-for-you/when-travelling/travel-adaptor-for-spain/] == Electronics == Cellphones / Data == Miscellaneous Information == Supermarkets There are several types of supermarkets and convenience stores at walking distance of the venue. You can find them using Google Maps. * Cheaper options: Alcampo, Carrefour, Día, Mercadona. * More expensive, probably if you want to bring some Spanish food back home: Sanchez Romero. == Wine * == Spanish Ham * == Spanish Olive Oil * == Restaurants at the Meliá Hotel The Meliá offers an impressive international breakfast buffet "Cervantes" [https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/cervantes-international-breakfast-buffet.htm]. If you want to enjoy Spanish rice dishes, you should make sure to visit L'Albufera [https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/albufera.htm]. "El Pelícano" offers international cuisine choices, while "Distrito 798" offers a sushi bar and two dining rooms offering carefully prepared and surprising cuisine, a fusion of Chifa, Nikkei and Mediterranean styles [https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/madrid/melia-castilla/restaurants.htm]. == Dining outside the venue * Amazónico [https://restauranteamazonico.com/en/]. Not precisely cheap but definitely worth the experience. * Angelita [https://madrid-angelita.es/en/experience/]. * Hermosos y Malditos [https://www.hermososymalditosmadrid.com/]. * Media Ración [https://mediaracion.es/en]. * Ocafú [http://www.ocafu.com/]. Very reasonable price, Galician typical food. * Taberna La Bola [https://www.minube.net/place/taberna-la-bola--a23155]. The best cocido in Madrid. == Bars and Tapas * Albora [http://restaurantealbora.com/]. * La Casa del Abuelo [https://lacasadelabuelo.es/]. * Marcano [http://restaurantemarcano.com/]. * Mercado de la Reina [https://mercadodelareina.es/en/]. * Mercado de San Miguel [https://mercadodesanmiguel.es/]. * Streetxo [https://streetxo.com/madrid/]. == Having a Drink * A drink at the rooftop bar of Hotel NH Collection Casa Suecia, where you can enjoy fantastic views of the entire city. [http://casasuecia.es/en/terrace/] == Espresso, Coffee, and Tea * == For Gourmets Madrid offers an incredible set of choices for gourmets, with some of the best Michelin Star Restaurants. Some of them are even at walking distance from the venue. Be aware that very advance reservation may be required! * BIBO [https://www.grupodanigarcia.com/en/booking/bibo-madrid/]. * Diverxo [https://diverxo.com/en/]. The following web sites collect information about many other options: * [https://guide.michelin.com/es/en/comunidad-de-madrid/madrid/restaurantes] * [https://www.esmadrid.com/en/michelin-starred-restaurants] * [https://madridfoodtour.com/michelin-restaurants-in-madrid/] * [https://www.viamichelin.es/web/Restaurantes/Restaurantes-Madrid-_-Madrid-Espana] == Shopping * Las Rozas Village, a cozy, elegant, outlet with the very best brands some 12 miles from downtown Madrid. Dedicated buses over and back leave from the heart of the city. [https://www.tbvsc.com/las-rozas-village/en] == Tourism in Spain Links to web sites of Tourism from Spain and around different Spanish autonomies. * Spain (general) [https://www.spain.info/en/] * Andalusia [https://www.andalucia.org/en/home] * Aragon [https://www.turismodearagon.com/en/] * Asturias [https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/] * Balearic Islands [https://www.illesbalears.travel/en/baleares/] * Basque Country [https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/] * Canary Islands [https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/] * Cantabria [https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/] * Castilla-La Mancha [http://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/] * Castilla y Leon [https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/turismocyl/en] * Catalunya [http://www.catalunya.com/?language=es] * Ceuta [https://www.ceuta.si/home] * Extremadura [https://www.turismoextremadura.com/en/index.html] * Galicia [https://www.turismo.gal/inicio?langId=en_US] * La Rioja [https://lariojaturismo.com/en] * Madrid [https://www.turismomadrid.es/en/] * Melilla [https://melillaturismo.com/en/] * Murcia [https://turismodemurcia.es/en] * Navarra [https://www.turismo.navarra.es/eng/home/default.htm] * Valencia [https://www.visitvalencia.com/en] == Tours in Madrid Here are some interesting options for tours in Madrid: * Madrid City Tour [https://madrid.city-tour.com/en] * Vintage City Tours [https://www.vintagecitytours.com/en] == Visiting Barcelona? * Boo Beach Club [http://www.elboo.es/]. * Can Fisher [https://canfisher.com/en/]. * El Nacional, a former commercial space now entirely devoted to restaurants with specialties from all over Spain, pastries, ice cream and cocktail spots in a cozy, very lively atmosphere. All in one single place and at the very heart of the city [https://www.elnacionalbcn.com/en/]. * La Deliciosa [https://www.panteabeach.com/en/la-deliciosa-en/]. * Mamarosa Beach [https://www.mamarosabeach.com/en/]. == Weather Current weather conditions in Madrid [https://www.wunderground.com/weather/es/madrid].