dear all

i know it's late notice. i'm off for a weekend break to madrid with my friend tomorrow and haven't anywhere to stay yet.

from what i gather, we could book a hotel for 3 nights for 260 Euros (for the two of us).

ideally, we'd like to stay in a vibrant part of town... we are doing it on budget but at the same time would like fairly decent rooms.

we arrive evening time, so will want to set down, and go off to explore.

how easy is it to make our way around if we don't talk spanish?!

where's the best and most fun place to explore on a friday night - are the shops open?

re accommodation, i've checked out the reviews on this site, and they are all informative. but could someone suggest a good hostel or cheap hotel in a lively place in town?

many thanks

mat