Bus from Antequerra to Granada

Ceretch - Here is the Bus schedule for your May 22nd Arrival: (Antequerra to Granada)

https://www.omio.com/search-frontend/results/1372393858/bus?locale=en&abTestParameters=&arrival_fk=378585&departure_date=02/05/2019&departure_fk=378436&easy=1&is_rebrand=true&passengerages%5B0%5D=26:199:&travel_mode=bus&user_currency=USD&user_domain=com&user_id=f50732e0-4077-4fe4-a879-a55e3077c6eb&user_locale=en&def_sort=s

http://www.andalucia.com/travel/bus/home.htm

In case it isn't clear, you book your train Madrid to Granada. Renfe train system deals with the bus portion right the Antequerra train station.
(sometimes I fly Air France from Ottawa - my first 'flight' is a bus to Montreal. True I pick up the bus somewhere other than the airport, but Air France runs the bus and it gets me right to the Montreal airport).
If you took their (bad) advise and booked already only to Antequerra, then that is unfortunate.
Tell us what if anything you have already booked and we can help you from there.

I suggest checking to see if ALSA bus has a bus from Madrid to Granada. (I assume that they do.) If so, I recommend taking the ALSA bus from Madrid to Granada, instead of the train/bus combo. We used ALSA bus several times in Spain, and they are clean, modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

I had to book my trip with Eurail pass since I bought a train pass (long story:( ). I already got my e-ticket, hence, no cancellation possible.

Their system still posts the transfer train from Antequerra to Granada even after they refunded me the reservation fees for this leg of my trip!!! They sent me an email saying that I had to take the bus without further explanation regarding how to complete my journey !!! I sent back an email asking for further assistance. Still waiting for a response. I'm leaving in 11 days!!!!

Renfe's site does specify AVE-Bus for Madrid-Granada. For the Antequerra-Granada portion, Renfe does sell bus ticket online but the schedule is not opened yet for May 22nd. I don't mind paying for the bus ticket but I just want to make sure that I don't have to travel 30 min to another bus station to catch that bus.

For the record, I'm very upset with Eurail Pass now. Due to other circumstances, I had to buy a pass. I would have been fine just with the individual city tickets.

I hope that you could help me figuring this thing out. Thank you again!!!

Several people on this forum have bought tickets to Granada (usually from origins other than Madrid) that required them to switch to buses at Antequera. All of them have said the process was seamless, with the bus departing from just outside the train station.

So, what you need is advise on getting from Antequera to Granada. Full stop.

I also see that Renfe isn't selling tickets and it might be because they are anticipating 'imminent' instigation of actual train travel on that route...but who knows?
Personally, I would wait until I got to Madrid to start making decisions.

1- stop at the train station one of your Madrid days and try to buy the Antequera to Granada transport ticket
2-arrive early for your Madrid departure and try to buy the A - G ticket
3-upon arrival in Antequera try to buy the A - G ticket from Santa Ana station to Granada
Only at that time plan for the bus.
Otherwise, transport option to the ALSA bus station is pretty much taxi or a long walk to some local bus stop then a local bus. That could be an added expense and time that you don't want. Do keep the ALSA bus schedule in your pocket so if you have to go this route, you can do so.
Remember that once you arrive, you will be in the travel groove developing your Spain 'smarts', and not having a set plan won't be as distracting as it is now. You do have options.

I don't know how well it will work to try to deal with this situation in Madrid. Ticket-buying lines at Atocha Station can be hours long (personal experience). However, there's a good chance rail-pass reservations are handled at a different place in the station, and the information counter has not looked very busy ehen I've walked past it.

Others seem to understand, but I'm not clear what ticket, if any, you currently have. Where does your e-ticket show as origin (origen) and where as destination (destino)? In particular is the destination Antequera Santa Ana or Granada? That's the key issue in terms of which bus you take.

acraven, I suggested buying in Madrid as my experience in Atocha was no line ups.

I believe Tina stated she was willing to pay the A - G route independent of the rail pass.

Thank you all!
Maria: I like your suggestions. But I'll probably try to find out about the bus tickets in Barcelona (where I would fly in to start my Spanish trip). Still hope that Eurail customer service offers a clear answer to my question.

Nick: I have a Spain pass bought through Eurail. I requested reservation for Madrid-Granada (final destination) Eurail's system booked me only for the 1st part of the journey, stop at Antequerra. There's no possibility of buses on their booking system.

The challenge I can see is that if you ask for the bus when you are in Barcelona, they are going to look at you crazy....unless you state 'renfe ticket from Antequera to Granada'. Then segue into the question is it now the train? or is it still a bus. If you are determined to buy it via your pass you may find less satisfaction than just going to the renfe counter and buying it there. But, I wish you luck and am happy to have given you several options.
Spain is wonderful! you will have a great time.

I don't understand why Eurail can't sell you a Madrid to Granada ticket - that part of the journey is by bus shouldn't matter to them, it's still Renfe selling the ticket and providing the service. Is it because Renfe are not yet showing trains for the whole route? Is there someone at Eurail you can actually talk to in order to get a straight answer?

Failing that I'd agree with others to go to a station in Madrid and try to sort this out. I know that's a pain, but Atocha is close to Reina Sofia gallery if you're going there.

Perhaps you've checked timetables and are okay, but my concern is Renfe only run a replacement bus service when there is a train service to replace. You are catching the Madrid - Malaga train and getting off at Antequera SA, so this train was never intended to go to Granada and buses may not be laid on.

PS you are right in your interpretation of the bus station. It is in Antequera itself, about 15km from Antequera Santa Ana station. The Renfe replacement buses are special and go from the railway station, but if you organised your own coach trip on a "normal" service you would need to make your own way between Antequera SA and Antequera city. Also there is a second railway station called Antequera Ciudad which is in the city - but your AVE train doesn't stop there, so don't get confused.

Hello to all!

I finally got a response from Eurail. Its customer service representative wrote that I would be able to book my bus ticket once I get to Spain. By showing them my train pass, I won't have to pay.

Thank you again for making time to help me.

Have a great weekend everybody:)

Yeah!!! Glad you have some framework to use to move forward once in Spain.