I’ve been waiting but am a bit concerned that things will book up since it seems these 2 months becoming more and more popular. Just tried Madrid to Granada for April 15. Only showing a couple of options either leaving really early or getting in in the evening. Train to and from Toledo not showing anything at all.
Should I just relax and wait until 60 days ahead?
Should I just relax and wait until 60 days ahead?
It's not too early if you don't care about price. I am looking at our trip in May as possibly our last to Spain and we inherited a little money so we decided to "live it up". Even so, hubby really enjoys first class train rides. Once I booked our trip for May I started looking at train tickets and was rather surprised to see not many first class seats left for our train rides in May. I booked two first class tickets on two routes a week or so ago. And this was on the trainline
the trainline is recommended by so many people and it worked really well. I don't know how it works if you're looking for cheap fares though. hope this helped.
Maybe it's got better in the last couple of years, but Renfe was notorious for not opening tickets sometimes until only 3-4 weeks in advance, even when some trains for the same day were available. Relax and keep checking.
There's no advantage to buying tickets for Toledo far in advance. The prices are the same. Just be sure to get them 2-3 days ahead because they do sell out. Note that there are no early am trains on weekends (no commuters).
The train to Granada should come up closer to the 60 days, but I’ve seen the Toledo trains not be available until a few weeks out. (As mentioned, there isn’t an early purchase savings on those. And while some of those trains may sell out, that only happens same-day or a day prior.)
I don't know this for sure but it seems Renfe opens up tickets to thetrainline way ahead of 60 days. One of my purchases was for Madrid to Granada in May a week or so ago. And because we want to ride first class(see my previous post), I grabbed two of the remaining seats (I think there were maybe 5 left for that day in May?).
Thank you. I have been using Trainline. Much easier. I appreciate the heads up on first class filling up. I think I’ll book any of the longer rides really soon even if the times don’t thrill me.
Renfe booking has worked well for me for actual purchases. I didn't think about Trainline for routing, but my routes are direct. I prefer to deal with the provider for payment, not an agent like Trainline. I do know some people have trouble with US CC's and Renfe, but I have been using my Visa and Master successfully to book a number of tickets for March this year. Set up an account - much easier.
I had been monitoring the Renfe sites for several of my journeys, having had previous experience with additional times being added closer to my travel dates. I did see changes/additions for the routes I will need over the course of December - January. As I saw prices begin to rise about 1.5 months out on some routes with acceptable schedules, I went ahead and booked.
Train to Toledo will show later closer to travel dates. I was monitoring some short, similar type routes. My experience this month has been that when routes finally showed up for my travel dates, the times were very similar to those for earlier months, maybe a couple minutes difference. So, the plans I'd penciled in subject to actual train availability didn't have to be altered.
It is hard to be patient and wait - at least I find it so!!
