I am looking at booking train tickets for these routes:
Seville to Granada (Dec 9th or 10th)
Granada to Cordoba (Dec 12th)
Cordoba to Madrid (Dec 13th)
I live in the US. What site is best for me to purchase tickets and how can I tell if the schedule has been released yet? Do I have to search multiple sites to find the "fast" routes?
Also, I assume there are also different "classes" of tickets - anything to look out for or avoid? Do all tickets include some luggage allowance?
Thanks!
Hello Becky,
Spanish train tickets are typically available 2-months ahead. You can buy them online through Renfe, the official Spanish Railway website, but it doesn't accept all U.S. credit cards and is a bit quirky. I prefer to use Trainline, which sells tickets at the same prices, but is much easier to use.
Buen Viaje!
There are 3 passenger train companies in Spain, Renfe (the national train company), Iryo, and Ouigo. You can use any of them pretty interchangeably. Service will not be significantly different. I would just book the lowest price/ most convenient time for your needs.
There a few different aggregator websites to search multiple train carriers. The Train Line or Rome2Rio will have listings of all the different lines on the city pair you search. I would do the research on those aggregator websites and then book directly on Renfe, Iryo or Ouigo's website. Some people have trouble with the Renfe website, and it might be slightly easier to use the Renfe smartphone app to book your tickets.
I've taken the Renfe business/premium class with the "Comfort seat," it doesn't make a big difference for a two hour train trip honestly.
They're all going to allow you to bring a carry-on size suitcase. If you have a very large suitcase, there may be an additional fee.
....If you have a very large suitcase, there may be an additional fee...... If that is true, then it is a recent change in policy as we have never encountered any luggage check or fees or limits. Since there is no "check-in" I am not sure where the check or how they would collect a fee. If you can carry it on, it is yours. Spanish trains do have a very light screening of you and your luggage at the head of the platform. Nothing as through as an airport screening. Personally I think standard, economy, 2ns class tickets are fine. Train travel is easy and convenient.
