Has anyone traveled from Barcelona to Madrid with the Alsa bus service? Or used this bus service in general? It was one of the bus services listed by Rick in the Spain 2019 book. It looks like it will be a lot cheaper than taking the AVE train and I have the time to spare. I was thinking about taking a late bus that leaves around 23:30 and would arrive around 7:00 in Madrid. It looks like there is a stop at Zaragoza, would I have to get off the bus and wait at this stop?
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
No, I believe you wouldn't have time to visit Zaragoza, as far as I know, it's just a "technical" stop.
This company is one of the big players in Europe. It already was the biggest player in Spain but then it was acquired by National Express, the big UK transport firm, in 2005 becoming a mammoth-size company and it now operates in several countries. This is only to say you're talking about one of the "Amtrak-like" bus companies in Europe.
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
I used it Twice about a month ago in Andalusia. It is good service it felt safe and the bus was clean a nd had wifi.
Posted by
Sevilla
1305 posts
As Enric writes, the stop in Zaragoza is just a stop - you don't change vehicles. Since it's timetabled to last 20 minutes, you could get off to stretch your legs. Although, ideally I guess you might hope to sleep through.
I've used Alsa and their coach service is good, but I'd hesitate to spend that long on one or make an overnight trip. Seats recline a little, and there is likely more space than some airliners, but it's not a bed by any means. I suppose if you can sleep on a transatlantic flight in economy, you might on the coach journey too.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4656 posts
I used ALSA for a shorter trips in Spain last year. Efficient and I would use again. But overnight? Depends how well you cope with overnights in your home country. I am well past that.
There are several levels of comfort on the bus, so you might want to pay a bit more for more comfort and room.....and still be cheaper than bus.
Have you looked at some of the costs for cheap flights?