We’ve just returned from Barcelona and Madrid, and we spent 8 nights at Arco Iris with the intention of visiting Madrid. Very few sites this close to Madrid to allow comfortable day trips to the capital. We were a little apprehensive as there were no CMC reviews posted, 6amps, and we had a twin axle. Nightmare getting around Madrid on the motorways, especially coming from the east- 3 motorway ring roads!
What a pleasant surprise to find that there are now several large pitches with water and drains! We arrived on a Thursday to a good choice of pitches, having changed our arrival date based on lessons learned from Barcelona Villanova- don’t arrive on the weekend if you have a twin axle! Despite being positioned virtually on the motorway carriageway (access is off the service road that runs parallel) there is little noise, and no road noise the further up the site you pitch.
There are now 3 toilet blocks which were all impeccably clean, with showers controlled by movement sensors- took a bit of time to work out how to turn shower on! It was good to see the ongoing maintenance on the site, with hedge trimming and pitch tidying and planting ongoing. We actually had 3 rosebushes planted on our pitch whilst we were there! Pitches far better maintained than French sites (don't expect uk standards)
For visiting Madrid, there is a bus leaves the site entrance, with one change at Villaviciosa onto the Madrid service. Sadly the Sunday service was very sparse, so we drove to Boadilla (10 mins), easy parking, and caught the direct bus to Madrid- 50 mins; and did the same other days. Drops you at Moncloa by Metro station. There is a tramway to Madrid from Boadilla, which looks appealing, but locals told us it was very slow!
Small shop onsite and also restaurant; excellent supermarkets in Boadilla and Villaviciosa. Both these towns look comparatively new, and well laid out. There are some beautiful houses in the surrounding areas, and the bus journey to Madrid really gives you a feel for the area.
