Madrid to Granada and changing itinerary for the 10th time

For the general readership and not Marie ----- I am flying in and our of Madrid on miles, so no open-jaw for me.... Doing open jaw with frequently flyer points is just as easy as using cash. For Marie -- the train station security is very simply and quick -- maybe 20 seconds. Nothing like airport security.

Marie,
Consider starting your trip in Córdoba and thus avoiding the l-o-n-g trek to Granada on your day of arrival.

• Train to Córdoba (2-3N)- on day of arrival
• ALSA Bus or train to Granada (3-4N)
• ALSA Bus or train to Sevilla (4-5N)
• Train to Madrid (4-5N)

Check train and bus schedules for your journeys to/from Granada. Traveling by bus may offer more time options than traveling via train on these routes.

Wishing you a wonderful trip!

I think I would take the flight to Granada, assuming the flight time works out. It would probably take 5+ hours to make the trip by train anyway (including getting from the airport), so the time spent is probably a wash.

Yeah, I think a flight straight to Granada makes sense here. Just getting out of Barajas and to the train station will take a fair amount of time and effort, then a long train ride. I’d rather hang out in the airport for a while if that’s the difference. Like, it would probably take as much time to get to the train as it would getting to another terminal for your flight.

Hi Marie,
In doing the math, it looks like you would be spending a similar amount of time and money $ for either of your options:

1. waiting in the airport between your 8:00 arrival and the noon flight + 1 hour flight = 5 hours

2. leave MAD by taxi, get to Atocha train station, stash suitcases. Catch train to Granada at 14:00 for 3.5 hour train. 30 minute taxi, 30 minutes at train station before departure + 3.5 train = 4.5 - 5 hours

Plus for flight: arrive in Granada 4 ish hours earlier

Plus for train: you arrive at the train station in Granada rather than airport, which will be faster to your hotel. You can stretch your legs, be outside for 4 hours between flight and train (easy to pop over to Retiro Park)

Our recent experiences at the Madrid airport and train station were uneventful. No real stress.

If you decide to pop down to Toledo Monday morning, I can say that we enjoyed it as our first day, get over jet lag, location. After Toledo (2 nights for us), we took the train to Seville, so not quite as long as going to Granada, but also, no stress.

Thanks all.

@sunnyblueflax - yes - those are exactly the two options I was looking at - the noon flight or the 2PM train. To me, it seems easier to just wait at the airport vs. getting over to the train station. I think we'd have to get our baggage and then recheck and go through security again, and by the time this is done then it might be close to plane take-off. We fly in on United and would take Iberia (is this a good airline?) on a completely separate ticket so I "think" I have to leave security.

I might look into Cordoba-Granada-Seville-Madrid, but this would make 1 more hotel stop I was hoping to avoid.

Is this long day worth it to add an extra day? Only I can answer that, but sure would like to hear any other opinions! :).

With the airline miles I have used the number of miles for a one way is half the round trip rate so buying one way tickets in an "open jaw" fashion is no more than a round trip , assuming there is availability .

Did you explore that option?

@Joe32F - that is so smart! I'm a well travelled person and didn't look at that - thanks so much! There is a flight to Malaga I can catch and then just stay there for a couple of days and go Granada from there. That flight is "cheap" and will still have our return flight home on miles. I knew there had to be some sort of solution. I kept looking at Granada airport which United does not service, but Malaga is close enough!

Just wondering if you knew of the fast trains from Madrid Atocha to Granada (3.5 hours with trains departing Madrid Atocha at 7am 2pm and 8:03 pm). Renfe has AVE trains from Granada to Seville in 2.5 hours and IRYO has trains from Granada to Cordoba taking 1.5 hours, stopping in Cordoba and continuing for 50 more minutes from Cordoba to Seville. AVE and AVANT train tix will not be for sale until 90 days prior to the date of departure but IRYO— a private train company— may have their tix for sale now.

You can check schedules by putting in a June or July day of the week that matches your September/October travel days of the week (ie a July Monday if your travel day is a September Monday) at www.TheTrainline.com
BTW: Malaga to Granada takes just 80 minutes on a Renfe high-speed Avant train.
For my trip to Spain in September, I found some great deals on rooms and apartments on Booking.com. If you have the flexibility to cancel some of your AirB&B reservations, perhaps you can find accommodations that work better with your preferred itinerary. I know it’s a lot of work, but with September being shoulder season. It’s easier to change accommodation bookings than it is for July and August,
Iberia is Spain’s National airline. Iberia has two subsidiary airlines— Vueling and LEVEL. I’m not aware of major complaints about Iberia.
Best of luck to you in your travel planning.
Happy Travels.

I agree with SunnyBlueFlax.
Since you will be at the airport already with packed luggage, taking the noon flight to Granada will save you time. It will be less choppy if you leave all your Madrid days towards the end of the trip.

We took the train to Granada and it is about 3+ hours but you should be at the station 15-30 minutes before to have your luggage scanned.

Marie,

I am struggling with the exact same issue. I am leaning toward booking LA - Madrid - Granada. (American Airlines is a partner with Iberia BTW.)

The other option is to take a train that is NOT direct. For example, there is a train at 10:10am from Madrid to Cordoba then onto Granada. That time might be cutting it too close. Perhaps a connecting train is the answer if you feel more comfortable on trains.

Unfortunately, I think Trainline only posts direct trains though.