Madrid: NEED to make reservations now?

Hello all!

Me and a friend of mine will be studying in Madrid starting in April through the first of July. We are getting there five days before classes start and are staying a week after classes are finished. During this time, we cannot stay with out host family. I was wondering if anyone had any sugguestions as to which hostel in Madrid we could stay at for our extra days. Do we need tomake reservations? Could we just call before we leave the airport to make sure there are beds open? I am having a very hard time picking which one to go to, so any help would be greatly appriciated. Also, does anyone have any sugguestions about the trains? All we really need is commuter trains for Madrid, and then train travel throughout Spain, but nothing in Europe. Do we need to purchase those tickets now? Or when we get there? Thank you all very much, I can use all the help I can get! Any other suggestions for trips, places to see, travel tips, anything would be appriciated!!!
~Jenn

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

Hi-

If you click on the Hostels and other lodgings link on the main message board page, you can look through all of the posts. Or you can do a search for "hostels" and you will find alot.

Try searching for Hostal Lopez, Hostal Persal, Hostal Plaza Mayor, or Hostal Chelo for starters.

Ben
pbchamp@intercom.net