AVE from Barcelona to Madrid Spain

Fast service.,....2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hour trip, downtown to downtown...very comfortable. And yes, the tickets are far cheaper, up tp 60% off, if you purchase in advance at http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html

I took the AVE from Madrid to Barcelona in March 2009. The tickets were MUCH cheaper when purchased in Madrid. Of course, a friend of ours who is a Madrid resident, purchased them for us with a coupon he had, but still I was amazed at the price difference between what the Renfe website had and what we paid. I can't remember how much less it was but it was enough that I think it was due to more than the coupon. I don't remember seeing a 60% off special then, so that will probably make it cheaper to buy online, but if you have any contacts in Madrid, hotel maybe, it might be worth checking out what it costs to buy there and compare.

It's a quick, pleasant trip. Like most things, it's probably cheaper to book ahead. RENFE's website is tricky, you can start in English but it then swithces you to Spanish. Use Google translator for help or come back here with specific questions if you Spanish is rusty.

Actually, Douglas, as Nancy discovered a couple of weeks ago, RENFE now has its complete site in English...all the way thru ticket purchasing. The tickets you can purchase on line are printable at home. They'll show up as a pdf file, which can also be stored on your computer at home.

my wife and i flew on vueling. it was cheaper than the train. just a suggestion...

I have taken the AVE from Barcelona to Madrid and it is definitely better than flying.

On the tripadvisor forum, there is an excellent article on buying tickets online from RENFE. Here is the link:
http://tinyurl.com/ctgmr5

Definitely take Norm's advice and buy 62 days in advance. You can save a lot of money. When I bought my ticket, my purchase was rejected on my first attempt. I had to contact my credit card company who it turned out was blocking the charge. After they made a change, I was able to purchase.

http://www.vueling.com/offers/offer.php?sid=&mode=&language=EN&data=20100601

check out the specials from barcelona to madrid. flights seem to average around 50-60 euros with flights as cheap as 33 euros.

the cheapest adult ticket for ave i found on renfe for an adult was 115 euro. that's a pretty big difference. (you might find one cheaper than i could)

of course, you have to get to the airport earlier than you would to board the train, but the train takes twice as long. i think of it as a wash. just pocket the difference.

your mileage may vary, of course.

Web specials on RENFE's high speed trains are as low as 46 Euro, all in.

What is the difference between Preferrente & Club?

We bought online last August (?) for travel in October. Not only does the number of days in advance of travel make a difference in fare, the particular train (i.e., time of day) makes a difference. On the Renfe site, check several different times on the date you wish to travel to look for the cheaper/cheapest trains.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong but the prices are the same one week from now as 61 days. I checked different times and the fares were all the same.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong but the prices are the same one week from now as 61 days. I checked different times and the fares were all the same.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong but the prices are the same one week from now as 61 days. I checked different times and the fares were all the same.

Ambrosia....it's a bit misleading. WHen you click on the english "Welcome", you get a page entitled "Passengers-Timetables." The fares that show up once you enter your dates are only the regular fares. Although you will eventually be able to work your way thru to the discount fares, you can short-circuit the operation a bit.
When you get to the "Passengers-Timetables" page, click on "Purchase" in the upper right. That will open a new window where you are required to enter your origin, destination, and date. Then the train schedules, plus ALL the prices will be displayed....select and go from there. For September 3rd, I find Web specials from 46 Euro Barcelona-Madrid.

Thanks Norm, that worked. I'm still trying to figure out the difference between Preferente & Club (beside the $$ that is).

Ambrosia, check this link on tripadvisor to see info on preferente and club
http://tinyurl.com/ctgmr5

See #23 on this page for info about preferente.

Also, See #71 on this page indicates that Club is only for Spanish citizens and residents

By the way, I took two trips on AVE in May. Both tickets were turista but on one of the trips I was put in a preferente car (3 seats across rather than 4). I thought turista was fine and would not pay extra for preferente.

Ambrosia....there are three basic levels of service on RENFE trains...Turista (2-2 seating), Preferente (2-1 seating, meal, newspapers, etc), and Club (2-1 leather seats, choice of meal, and free liquor.) This Club class can be purchased by anyone, where available....the "Club AVE," a "frequent flyer" card for frequent AVE travellers, is what's only available to residents.