Hello, My wife and I will be traveling to Spain in September mostly by train. I've purchased a couple of tickets one-way that I've read are popular routes and could sell out, Barcelona-Madrid and Madrid to Seville. But I was wondering about the day-trips from both Madrid and Seville as our base. Will I be ok to wait til I get there to buy tickets for shorter trips as Rick recommends at a travel agency for day trips to Segovia from Madrid and also day trips from Seville to Cordoba? Also, how much time to you recommend at these places? I assume you'd buy your tickets round trip and have to choose times in advance to return? Thanks in advance for any help or recommendations.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
If over 60 you can buy a discount card (5E last year) that will get you discounts of 25% weekends and 40% weekday. You don't buy round trip tickets - just one way each way. You can buy non reserved tickets for certain trains that you get on and find a seat. There is train station ticket office (lower level near buses and TI) at the airport where you can buy your tickets.
Posted by
Port St Joe Florida
513 posts
Justin - You should have no problems buying the day trip tickets when you get to Spain. That may be a little more expensive than advanced purchase, but we are not talking expensive pricing at all. If you want to use a travel agent, I can recommend using the agency at the major department store El Cortes Ingles. I have used them several times successfully. In Madrid they are right off Puerto de Sol and in Barcelona the main store is at Placa Catalunya.
Posted by
OP
Alexandria, VA, USA
20 posts
Thank you Jack. I was planning on using that same one as Rick seemed to give it a positive review in the Spain book. Appreciate the feedback!
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
The travel agency noted is good for avoiding the long lines at the stations. There is no advance purchase discount for these routes you mention. There are trains every couple hours so you should have no issue choosing which ones you want a day or two in advance. Buy your tickets round trip if you can to avoid time and hassles of buying a return ticket.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3 posts
I noticed something curious last time I bought a train ticket in Spain (three years ago.) I bought a one way ticket from Madrid to my destination because I wasn't sure what day I was going to return to Madrid. I forgot now what it said on the ticket, but to make a long story short... save your one way ticket and when you go back to the train station's counter to buy your return ticket, give them the ticket you saved from your previous trip and they'll give you a discount. I think there was a time window of 90 days for you to be able to take advantage of this.
I'm not sure if Renfe is still doing this, but it's worth the shot (every little helps, right?). I won't be going to Spain until September so it'll be too late for you, but I'll check it then and post an update, maybe someone else could use the tip. Enjoy Spain!!! M.