In reading Rick's guidebook about picking up Alhambra tickets, he says that you MUST have the same credit card that you purchased them with online and that you MUST know the PIN number and he goes on to say that every credit card has one, ask your bank if you don't know yours. We have 2 different credit cards that we have traveled with all over Europe, never any problem, both chip cards with NO pin. I have checked with the issuing companies...both say there is NO PIN connected to these type of cards. So will that be an issue in picking up our tickets, if we have no PIN? Never needed one before anywhere, including in picking up pre booked tickets in Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, France. Any thoughts? Anybody else have any problems with no PIN number? Is this incorrect information from RS guidebook?
Posted by
TN, USA
2158 posts
Donna,
I think that's only if you pick up your tickets thru the automated kiosk thing. We were just in Spain in March, and I never saw the automated things, but I really never looked.
We just took a printout of the confirmation from where we ordered/paid for our tickets to the ticket booth manned by real people (at the bottom of the hill one then climbs to enter the Alhambra). All I recall doing is showing the paper (and maybe my passport), and the tickets were given to me without a problem. I don't think I even showed the credit card, but if I did, my credit card sure does NOT have a pin associated with it (yet).
If you will be in Granada the day before your reserved entry time for the Alhambra, you might want to stop by the ticket office late the day prior. Granted, we were there in the off-season, early March, but there were only one or two people in line before us. I understand the line can be really long during prime season
If you haven't booked your hotel for Granada yet, I highly recommend the Parador, since it is within the walls of the Alhambra. And, they often offer some special promotions for seniors (starting, I think I recall at age 50 or 55). But, even if you don't stay there, it's a nice place for lunch, etc.
Safe travels.
Posted by
Whittington
984 posts
A pin is not required, your card will be recognised - Point 12 onward - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187441-c77529/Granada:Spain:Buying.Alhambra.Tickets.Online.html
Posted by
OP
Reno, Nevada, USA
195 posts
Thank you, Margaret...it is as I suspected then......no problem!! And, Neil, thank you for the link to TripAdvisor info....I had read that prior to reading that notation in RS and that was why I was confused! No one but Rick says that a PIN is necessary for picking up the tickets......he doesn't mention the kiosks as a pickup point so I suspect he is just giving incorrect information on this!! We will be at the Alhambra in mid April so we will take your advice, Margaret, and pick up our tickets the prior day!
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
I like picking up tickets at the official Alhambra store in town, on the day before my visit (the store is near Plaza Nueva, right on Calle Reyes Catolicos, before the big Isabel fountain) No lines, and there's a helpful person there as well as a kiosk. If you are staying at the Parador, this isn't necessary, but if you are staying in town somewhere and plan to walk to the Alhambra, it is easier to walk up to the Justice gate entry ticket in hand, vs. walking all the way to the main entrance where the ticket pick up is located.
I don't think my card has a PIN and I've had no trouble picking up tickets.
Posted by
Chicago
565 posts
It is partly true. If you pick up your tickets at a CaixaATM, you will need to know your pin. If you pick them up at the official Alhambra bookstore on Plaza Nueva, your card is instantly recognized. I picked them up from the bookstore late afternoon (5:30ish) and only had to wait a few minutes.
Posted by
OP
Reno, Nevada, USA
195 posts
We are staying at the Santa Isabel la Real so it sounds like it would be much easier to pick the tickets up the day before at the Alhambra official store (is that the same as the book store?). Thanks for the advice and input!!
Posted by
Brookline, MA
61 posts
We just got back. For printing reserved tickets you do not need the pin #, just the same card that you used to reserve the ticket. Print tickets day before at the Alhambra bookstore across from Plaza Nueva (they are open till 8PM. You can enter the palace from Justice Gate stop on bus C3 (shortest walk to palace). Enjoy.
Posted by
Seattle
119 posts
We were in Granada last week and the Ticketmaster kiosk in the book store was out of order for at least a couple of days. We went to the ATM down the block (near the Cathedral) and tried my credit card (chip, but no PIN) to retrieve the tickets. The first machine, even after several tries, did not recognize my credit card. We tried the second machine which recognized my credit card, but only printed one of our two tickets and did not print the receipt. When we tried again to retrieve the second ticket, we got a message from the machine that the ticket had already been printed. We went back to the book store and the employee there called up to the Alhambra and said we could go up there to get our ticket. When we went up there, we had no problem retrieving the second ticket. So I would advise giving yourself some extra time in case you run into a glitch.
Posted by
Seattle
119 posts
I should have been more specific - the first machine my husband used actually did ask for a PIN. He inserted the card several times to see if he got a different response. Each time he was prompted for a PIN. I think the English translation was "secret code" or "secret number." This was all very frustrating since I asked at the book store if there would be a problem with a chip/no PIN card and was told "no".
The out of order kiosk also made it difficult for people who bought discounted tickets. They were told at the book store that only regular price tickets can be retrieved from the ATM machines. Discounted tickets require proof of age or whatever document is required for the discount.