To be worrying about our trip to Madrid

[badger2005]

Please help - either sympathy or advice particularly welcome, or of course you could tell me to 'man up'!

Dh has booked the 4 of us (me, him, ds (9) dd (7) a week's holiday in Madrid, end of July. We are staying in an apartment booked through airbnb. I am scared that we are just going to be too hot and it won't be fun! On the way to school today (in this heat ) me and the dc were all slow and listless and wanting to be in the shade. But Madrid will be so much hotter! How will we cope? Will we get sunstroke? Feel nauseous? Be counting the days till the end of the holiday? Or what?

I am also irritated with dh I think for booking this holiday. We agreed that we would each book a holiday this year for the family (with a budget)- and I booked a UK caravan type holiday. He was kind and enthusiastic about it, but it isn't really adventurous enough for dh. He likes adventures, and I think he is okay with the heat (he likes 'dry' heat). I feel though that while the holiday I booked was at least designed to make sure the children would enjoy it, he hasn't really taken them into account enough in booking this holiday. He also doesn't like people whining and prefers them to come to him with solutions rather than problems! But I feel a bit like whining! We are all very active, and I think it is hard to be active in the heat. E.g. will we feel like hiring bikes in 40 degrees? I'm assuming that because of the apartment there will be no pool to hang out by if it's really hot... I've just got everything crossed that there is aircon!

Anyway, I guess I am whining here instead of to dh. What can I do to make this all work? Thank you kind mumsnetters!

[danceswithcats]

I did a language course in Barcelona many years back, end of July time. I found that excessively hot and that was in the 30's. The folks at the school who had been in Madrid the fortnight before said it was super hot there, well into the 40's.

I used to come back from school about 2 to the flat, then have a siesta for a couple of hours, before heading out sightseeing/to the beach/shopping. All the shops, bars & public buildings in Spain will have good a/c, just make sure you're inside for the hottest parts of the day.

Also went to Madrid in September about 3 or 4 yrs ago, but the hot weather lasted much later than usual so it was high 30's. We managed by visiting museums & shops in the day, carrying round 2 litres of water, going to the shady parts of Retiro park... great botanical garden there :-) generally taking it easy & unhurried and lots of café stops for refreshment.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Spanish cities are fab even in heat, though I speak from experience of Seville and Barcelona not Madrid. But the traditional buildings are lovely and cool, modern buildings have aircon. You can find lots of shade in city streets anyway, and they have trees everywhere.

The Spanish hate being in the sun when it's hot, so they set things up to they don't have to be. You'll be fine.

[badger2005]

Great plan! So active thing (if any) first thing, then public pool or airconditioned museum or park with fountains/lake, lunch, big siesta in apartment, and then out for dinner at 10pm!

Sounds like a solution to me.

[riskycat123]

Hmmm Badger ..it does lack forethought. As for what you can do .. think carefully about what the Spanish citizens will do . Up early and get to places before the heat . Take siestas across the worst part of the day or plan to be places indoors (e.g museums ) in hot afternoons. Leave walks til late evening etc . When living in Cyprus I asked why the men /boys wear vests and t shirts. ...wasn't it tooo hot? This helps regulate the body temp apparently . Careful planning of what you can do and where you can go will be your solution here. It may not be hugely sporty /active in your usual sense but you can all adjust accordingly surely.

[WorktoLive]

We recently had a city break in another Spanish city where it was unseasonably hot (over 40C). As others have said, try to do anything 'active' first thing in the morning and seek shade where possible. Look out for public pools and water fountains etc. Museums will be cooler so a good thing to do at midday when it is starting to get very hot.

Then big 'menu del dia' lunch in the early afternoon and a proper siesta of about 3 or 4 hours in the afternoon. Then you can go out late in the evening, like the Spaniards do, including DCs - even at 10/11 pm or midnight, restaurants will be full of families out for dinner. Enjoy!

[badger2005]

Ahh - you are all so lovely, thank you so much. I feel better already. I'm so relieved to hear that it is going to be good after all (and dp never even had to hear my whining!). I will investigate these communal pools - sound perfect. And of course the Prado, Retiro park... thank you!

[leccybill]

I've been to Madrid in August.
Yes it is a very hot city but it is geared up for it. All buildings have good air-con and a lot of the main thoroughfares have canopies or large trees so there is plenty of shade.
Just live as the locals do - get up very early, sightsee, head back to you accommodation in the afternoon and have a nap, go back out around teatime, Madrid really is a 24hr city.
The open top bus tour is a good way to get around, traffic isn't too bad and there's a nice breeze as you travel along.

I'm jealous - it is my favourite city in the world. Retiro Park is the best place for walks, picnics, general people watching and hiring a rowing boat.

[marialuisa]

Whilst Madrid in high summer wouldn't be my first choice IMO it's actually a very kid friendly city. There are outdoor pools and a water park on the outskirts (we managed to get there on the bus) so there will be a chance to cool off. Retiro park and boating lake are good and the Prado has air con!

[WaltzingWithHeiferlumps]

Most areas in Madrid have communal swimming pools within walking distance where locals head to get cooled down! I suggest you do touristy stuff in the morning if that's what takes your fancy and then head down to one of these outdoor pool areas in the afternoon. Where in Madrid is your apartment?

[TriJo]

Do as the locals do - snooze in the middle of the day and do things in the morning and evening. Madrid is a great city.