Hello, first time travel to Spain here. Wondering if anyone has advice about buying rail tickets in advance versus waiting to purchase them in Spain with the Tarjeta Dorada card. We have to be in country to buy the Tarjeta Dorada. Is it better to buy 2 months in advance or wait to arrive in country and buy the rail tickets then? We are traveling the week before Semana Santa in April and I'm a little worried about arriving without train tickets in hand and I wonder if the saved money is about the same. We are only covering Madrid, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba and then back to Madrid. Thank you travelers!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2350 posts
Buy your train tix in Spain for high-speed trains online in advance. The Tarjeta Dorada card discounts are around 30% off FULL-PRICE train tickets which you can only buy after arriving in Spain. By then, , the cheapest tickets which often represent 60-90% off full fares have been bought up. Buying them 2-3 months in advance offers bigger savings.
For the best deals you’ll want to compare the prices of high-speed train tix sold by the 4 different train companies: Renfe, Avlo ( Renfe’s low-cost train company) Iryo and Ouigo Espana. To compare fares, go to a website such as www.Omio.com or www.TheTrainline.com which shows you ticket prices for all 4 train companies— not just one. You can then buy the tickets directly from the train company offering the lowest price. IRYO sells its train tickets up to one year in advance of the train’s departure date.
Posted by
Orlando
2 posts
How do you buy the Tarjeta Dorada card? Is this better than the Eurail pass for 6 days for the same trip?
Steve
Posted by
North Italy
419 posts
Kenko gives excellent advice. I can only add that we were thinking of Tarjeta Dorada and experimented with advance prices on the website for a similar trip, then Renfe brought out a limited time special offer, way way better than any Tarjeta Dorada discounts. Also you will be travelling at a busy time, best not to wait until you arrive....
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you Kenko and Tinac!