Madrid-Barajas Airport (code IATA: MAD, code OACI: LEMD) is located on the northeast of Madrid, Barajas district, only 12 kilometers from Madrid city centre. The airport changed its name from Madrid-Barajas to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas in 2014. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas is the first airport in Spain, regarding passenger traffic, transport of goods and operations, as well as the fourth in Europe concerning the number of passengers and number twelve worldwide.
At Madrid Barajas Airport, arrivals and immigration are located on the lower level of the terminals and departures is on the upper level. A transit bus links all the terminals with different routes operating between the five buildings. The metro system also serves all the terminals taking passengers to and from the city centre. An automatic train transports passengers between Terminal 4 and Terminal 4S. | 
|
The Meliá Barajas is located next to Madrid airport and offers a free 24-hr shuttle service to and from the hotel.
There is a shuttle bus stop at each terminal (T1, T2, T3 and T4) signposted “BUSES HOTEL". The hotel shuttle bus bears the name: Hotel Meliá Barajas and Hotel Tryp Alameda Aeropuerto.
Call (34) 917 477 700 and tell us which terminal you are at and the closest minibus will come and collect you. | 
|
The climate of Madrid is continental; mainly dry and quite extreme at times. Madrid sees perpetual sunshine and a characteristically hot and dry summer, and a fairly cold winter with frequent frosts during the night and the occasional snowfall. Spring and autumn are mild with the most rainfall concentrated in these seasons. Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit, especially the months of April, May, June, September and October. There is very little rainfall during summer and also less rainfall during winter.
The average daytime temperate in April is around 17C. The average nighttime temperature is 5C. | 
|
| Spain is another one of several European countries that uses the Euro as currency. You will get much better deals when working with cash rather than your debit or credit card. Also, you will be charged less of a transaction fee if you withdraw Euro’s from the numerous ATM machines rather than credit card transactions (which can charge a 2-3% transaction fee or more for foreign purchases). Twenty-four hour ATMs are everywhere in Spain, from the largest towns to small villages. In Madrid, there is always one around the corner, often several down the same street or avenue. All have onscreen instructions in English and other languages. Banks are the easiest places to exchange money, charging around €3 to €5 commission. Debit and major credit cards (especially Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted. | 
|
The dress code for the AON Tech Summit is business casual. The networking dinner on Wednesday is casual.
AON Tech Summit branded polo shirts will be available at the registration desk for all customers, partners and event staff. | 
|
The electrical supply is 230 volts +/- 10%. The frequency of the supply is 50 hertz. Most electrical outlets in bathrooms have a built-in converter for 110 volts to be used only for shavers. The two-pin rectangular plug system is used. It is recommended to bring an international adaptor as the hotel is limited in converters.
| 
|
Madrid has transformed itself into one of Europe’s culinary capitals, not least because the city has long been a magnet for people (and cuisines) from all over Spain. Everything that is exciting about Spanish cooking has gravitated to the capital, from Basque tapas bars to avant-garde Catalan chefs, from the best in Galician seafood to Andalucía’s Mediterranean catch. Every day tons of fish and seafood are trucked in to satisfy the madrileño taste for the sea, to the extent that, remarkable for a city so far inland, Madrid is home to the second-largest fish market in the world (after Tokyo). As for tapas bars, fabulous options can be found in every barrio, but the best clamor for space in La Latina, part of a Sunday ritual that has lasted centuries. Never ask a taxi driver about what restaurant you should go, they will take you to an expensive tourist-oriented restaurant, where they will receive a commission. A list of restaurant suggestions will be provided in the restaurant section and the mobile app.
| 
|
There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Medical facilities are good in Spain, but comprehensive travel insurance is always advised. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing emergency health care for EU travelers on the same terms as Spanish nationals. EU travelers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is still advised. Travelers should take any medication they require along with them, in its original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed.
In case of emergency call:
National Emergency Number: 112
(it connects you to fire, police and ambulance services). | 
|
| Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas. Even though you do not speak Spanish, everyone is pleased when they hear a foreigner trying to communicate in the language of the country they are visiting. Be it in a restaurant, on the street, in a shop or anywhere else, basic conversational phrases like „gracias” and „hola” will definitely come in handy. | 
|
| As the capital city, a cosmopolitan city, a business center, seat of government, Spanish Parliament, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political centre of Spain. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife. According to legend the original name of the city was "Ursaria" ("land of bears" in Latin), due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the arbutus ("madroño" in Spanish), have been the emblem (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree) of the city from the Middle Ages. | 
|
The nightlife in Madrid is varied and exciting with many pubs, tascas (cheap bars), theatres, movie houses and nightclubs to keep visitors entertained. El terraceo (terrace-hopping) is a way of life in Madrid. Most people only start partying at around 11pm and few locals enter a nightclub before 1am. Many places stay open past dawn. Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Gran Vía and Chueca are some of the trendiest nightlife areas. Viva Madrid and Los Gabrieles are two of the most popular bars, but there are also many old tavernas around Los Austrias to explore. Plaza Santa Ana and the surrounding streets have a few good spots and the seven-floor Kapital has a great rooftop bar. For clubbing, the Room is fantastic but only open Fridays, Joy Eslava Disco comes highly recommended, and Lavapiés is popular with the bohemian crowd. There are wonderful flamenco performances at Casa Patas, and the Lope de Vega theatre has excellent shows.
| 
|
Madrid offers arguably some of the best shopping in not only Spain but also Europe, and with so many shopping districts all touting their own specialties, visitors can find just about anything and everything! With small, specialized stores, boutiques and antique shops as well as the slightly bigger department stores and bustling food markets, Madrid is a shopper's paradise. The city's answer to Bond Street, dubbed 'the golden mile', Salamanca is one of Madrid's most glamorous places to indulge yourself and stretch your credit card's legs, while Chueca is filled with trendy fashion stores. El Corte Ingles at Sol is by far the most convenient place for shopaholics to get their fix, selling all kinds of goods from high fashion to regional foods like Chorizo (spicy sausage) and Turron (a kind of nougat). One of the most popular markets is Rastro, attracting Madrileños and tourists alike. It has become famous for its antique stalls, second hand goods, jewelers and unreliable electrical goods and is held every Sunday from morning until mid-afternoon. Tourists from outside the EU can apply for a tax refund on goods bought within Spain. A sales tax (VAT) of 16 percent is levied on most goods and services in the country and the specified minimum amount spent before claiming a refund is €90.16 in Spain. Shoppers can also purchase goods from shops participating in the 'Europe Tax-free Shopping' programme and they should look out for the ETS logo displayed in shops' windows.
| 
|
Smoking in public places is banned and stiff fines will be imposed for smoking in areas such as enclosed public spaces, areas where food is prepared and sold, public transport, non-smoking areas of bars and restaurants, and any places that cater for children.
| 
|
Most visits to Spain are trouble-free, except for occasional street crime, which is common in the big cities; travelers are advised to take precautions to avoid theft of passports, credit cards, travel documents and money. Crime is usually petty and violent assault is rare. Be wary of strangers offering or asking for help of any kind, as it is often a distraction for accomplices. If travelers exercise all the normal precautions they should have a trouble-free holiday in Spain.
| 
|
The international access code for Spain is +34. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)93 for Barcelona and (0)91 for Madrid.
| 
|
| Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In established restaurants tips of about 10 percent are expected. Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip about 5 to 10 percent for most services, including guides. | 
|
| Madrid is easy to get around and is served by an extensive network of buses, a modern and efficient metro, and trains. Taxis are plentiful and cheap although a list of surcharges will increase the fare. Visitors should check that the meter isn't already running and is in working order, as foreigners are often the victims of overcharging. The quickest way to get around is on the fast and very efficient metro that reaches most places and operates from 6am to 1:30am, although it is best to avoid rush hours. Otherwise the comprehensive bus network is there to fill in the gaps from 6am to midnight. Buses have designated lanes so they are able to avoid traffic congestion, and night buses operate after midnight. The 10-trip ticket package allows for cheaper travel and is valid on both the metro and buses. The Madrid Card also entitles the holder to free public transport. Driving in Madrid is best avoided because it is unnecessarily stressful when public transport is so cheap and convenient. Rented cars can be left at parking garages while in Madrid. The city is very compact and it is best to walk when possible; most of the touristic sights of interest are found in the downtown area between the Royal Palace and Parque del Retiro. | 
|
|
