I know I should probably put this on the "hotel forum", but wanted to get some help quickly and I know everyone at least looks at off topic.

So in looking into doing our own air for TUT, we have a issue coming home and it looks like we will have to overnight in Madrid, arriving around 6pm, with flight out next day at 4pm.

In this situation we'd probably like to stay in the historic/old town part of the city center.

So all you wonderfully traveled LCT'er where would you stay? And.....just as a thought, would you actually choose to stay an additional day? We figure this, arriving around 6, collect luggage, find transportation into city (and i've read nightmares about the cabs) arrive hotel around 8, check in go to dinner (at least in Spain its normal to eat really late), get up fairly early next morning, have breakfast and try to spend 3-4 hours walking around (or should we get a private guide, if so who?) and then plan to be back at airport around 2. Does this work? Does anyone know if there is any place to store luggage at the airport, so we could just take an overnight bag? Hotel recommendations? What about private driver services that would pick us up at airport, take us to hotel, pick us up next day give short tour and then drop at airport?

Thanks everyone, I know there are some of you out there who will be a lot of help.