Senior rail passes

Hola,
I looked into the senior discounts for trains. My quick result was, it is designed for Spanish citizens. However, entry fees to museums and churches, if over age 65 you csn get a discount.

The best place to go is, 'seat 61'. This site covers trains all over the place. Find his Spanish section and read all about it. He recommends buying tickets ASAP in Spain to get promotional prices and to do it through loco2 . I might have the name wrong. He provides 3 places to buy your tickets commission free. I used one and it is much much easier than trying to use Renfe's website.

My credit cards balked when I tried to buy Spanish tickets of any kind while I was still in the USA. Loco2 is British and there was no problem. They even gave me a heads up email when tickets became available.

Wayne iNWI

Our experience, although a couple years olds so things may change, is you can purchase a senior discount card for about six or seven euro at the station that gives a 40% discount on weekend travel and 25% week day. Anyone can purchase. Just show passport for age. The card is good for a year. Spain because its rail system is not as extensive as the rest of Europe has an excellent bus system so don't overlook using the bus. When in Spain for the shorter distances we tend to use the bus - frequent and very cheap.

Just to add to Frank’s helpful response.

Keep in mind that the Tarjeta Dorada discounts only apply to full priced train tickets. In other words, you may be able to book ”Promo” (discounted) tickets in advance and save more money now than if you wait to book your tickets when you arrive to Spain.

Anyone over the age of 60 can get a “Tarjeta Dorada” (€6 per person) at any train station in Spain. Also, you cannot apply the TD discount if you intend to book your train tickets (online) now.

If your itinerary is already set, you may want to check train schedules and compare prices on Renfe.com. It’s best to pay with PayPal when booking tickets on this site.

If your itinerary includes Granada, don’t forget to book you Alhambra tickets NOW!

If you’d like to know which train tickets you should book in advance (to save money), post your itinerary and we’ll be able to offer more assistance.

I’d urge you NOT to buy a “rail pass” for Spain.

Enjoy your trip!

Sorry, I am not going to look it up, but 2 years ago there were good savings for groups of 4. You essentially buy a ticket at a table with 4 seats. Sometimes it was cheaper even for 3 people to save money.
As mentioned, the seniors discount works for trips like Madrid to Toledo or Madrid to Segovia, but prepurchased discounted tickets may save on longer trips.....where that ticket for 4 is beneficial.

Thank you all for these great suggestions! It has really helped with the planning of our trip.

Hola from Wisconsin,
Frank has got it correct as far as my website delving showed. BUT

There always is a but. 40% off full price plus 8Euro is more than if you book 60 days in advance.

Now that 'promised' 60 day in advance posting of Renfe tickets is a suggestion and not what normally happens. Go to loco2. That is a website 'loco2'. or 'the man in seat 61'. They can either sell you tickets, send you an email when the tickets you want are posted or 'the man in seat 61' will give you instructions of how, when and why.

Seriously, this man in seat 61 is fabulous.

wayne iNWI, I bought through loco2 with NO problems at all

I try to report what I know from experience and not from web sites. Granted -- you can get cheaper discount tickets but those tickets come with restrictions as to changes/refund, etc. With the discount card, the card fee is a one time fee - not on each ticket as suggested above. And second the discount is on the walk up fare but you have maximum flexibility as when and where you travel. So you pay a bit more than the deep discount ticket but you gain a lot of flexibility with the card.