we are traveling from Granada to Madrid on Saturday May 12th. we would like to leave first thing in the morning. Is there a direct train to Madrid from Granada. if so what is the best way to book tickets before we leave the US. My daughter needs to be back in Madrid for a flight home on Sunday while my wife and I are staying a few more days. We'd like to have some time in Madrid with my daughter Saturday afternoon and evening.
Posted by
4 posts
I'm looking too because a friend and I are planning a similar trip a few weeks later. Taking the bus may be the best option and I've recommended that to my friend.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
From Granada to Antequera, they are working on the high speed train, so there is currently a replacement bus on this part of the Granada to Madrid train. The bus is coordinated with the train; it leaves from the Granada train station (not the Granada bus station, some distance away) and goes right to the Antequera train station, where you board the train the rest of the way to Madrid.
You can book the whole thing on Renfe's site, if you can get it to work: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html. I found this tutorial from TripAdvisor invaluable: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html. Use Paypal instead of a credit card, as cards usually don't go through while Paypal does.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Harold--you have provided terrific train advice. but rather than the Renfe site, I looked at the loco2 site to book the Granada-Madrid tickets and it looked very easy to use. Is there a reason I should use the Renfe site rather than the loco2 site.
Posted by
Barcelona
64 posts
There shouldn't be any problem at all, but if there are delays and you want to get a compensation it is better to use www.renfe.com .
It ain't that hard with PayPal.
Apart, you will be able to manage everything from Renfe website and use the localisator to print tickets at the station if you want to.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
I just tried to buy train tickets from Granada to Madrid on May 12th on the loco2 site. loco 2 says that they "haven't found any tickets". what does this mean, any advice for buying the tickets. i keep reading on the forum about how difficult the Renfe site is to use.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Yes, the Renfe site isn't the best, but it does work, particularly if you follow the tutorial from Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html, and use Paypal instead of a credit card.
I just went to Renfe's site for your travel date, plugged in Granada to Madrid All Stations, and got four bus-train combos for that day:
Depart 6:45, arrive 10:40
Depart 9:40, arrive 13:40
Depart 17:32, arrive 21:45
Depart 18:50, arrive 23:02
The lowest fares range from €30 to €57.20; I didn't look further to see what all the fare options on all the runs were.
I know you've been scared off from the Renfe website, but do give it a try!