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Online Train Reservations in Spain: How to

Posted by on

I am currently planning on taking about a week to travel by train throughout Spain. I have previously purchased a global railpass and now just want to make my train reservations however I have not been able to find a website online other than Raildude.com that would let me do this, before I arrive in the country. I am planning to go in May and am trying to prep beforehand. Raildude reservations are typically more than the 10 euro that all the railpass websites indicate is the regional fee for Spain and I am trying to not get ripped off while still making sure I get the trains I want. I know I can get reservations at the stations but am looking for the beginning of my journey to be reserved.

Also I do not want to have to pay full price for a normal ticket since I have the pass.

Current Routes I plan to take
Paris --> Irun --> San Sebastain
San Sebastain--> Madrid
Madrid --> Barcelona

Thank you for your help

Posted by
111 posts

Passholder seat reservations are sold at http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm and will probably be available as e-tickets. It's especially important to book ahead for the departure from Paris, since it's not sold there within 3 days of departure and could sell out much earlier. Some trains from Irun or Hendaye to San Sebastian don't need reservations and the local EuskoTren (separate ticket to buy there) is another option for that connection.

Posted by
984 posts

'I am currently planning on taking about a week to travel by train throughout Spain' - 'throughout' - we possibly are divided by a common language but you cannot see Spain in a week, neither are you indicating that.
:-)

There are a number of guides, on line, about purchase of national rail company (RENFE) tickets on line, in advance and discounted, like -
http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#Spain_by_train,_in_a_nutshell
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html

and not from 'rip off' agencies as you seem to have discovered.

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