Question about booking Spanish Trains

1) Yes it is. Savings can be as high as 60%. You can book up to 62 days in advance at http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html (Click on "Buy Tickets" at the upper center). Since they start loading new fares in at midnight, Spain time, you will start to see the sale fare on line from Tigard at 3 the previous afternoon, your time. You will be able to print out your tickets at home.

2) The seat reservation is included in the cost of your ticket.

3) Yes, there is an additional fee...usually less than $10. But national rail networks are restricting the seats available for passholders, so if you NEED to make a reservation, do so 62 days out at RailEurope so you're sure you've got the seat.

I think you'll find point to point will be cheaper in Spain.

When I enter http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.htme as you suggest for prior booking for 60% discount on Spanish trains, all I get is "recurso no encontrado"

I am also having a problem....after I click on "buy ticket" on the English version, I get to a Spanish page and have no clue what to do next. I've clicked all over the page (and opened several others--all in Spanish.) Right now, I am at the Rail Europe page (in English) but I don't see anything like a 60% discount....about the same price as Renfe. I would appreciate advice on how to use the Renfe site or if it is better to use Renfe or Rail Europe site. (The Rail Europe site probably sells passes, but they also sell individual tickets...point to point. Of course, I would buy a pass from Rick Steves!! -- seriously, I bought from him before and it worked well.)

Thanks!

Merill...check the website address you used in your message. The last four letters are "html" not "htme". Raymond...the page is mostly Spanish, but that's no matter...the ticket booking section to the left is mostly in English. Enter your origin and destination, and date, then click "Buscar" to get the list of trains available. "Web" is the cheapest, followed by "Estrella," "Turista" (second class) and "Preferente" (first class). Select your fare and continue through the payment process. Where it asks for Type of Document, use "Other" and enter either your passport number or drivers' license number...something you'll be carrying with you on your trip in case they ask to verify your ID (altho I've never been asked). You will be able to print out your tickets at home. As a backup, bring the e-mail confirmation with your reservation number on it, the credit card you used to purchase them with, and the ID that you used, so you can talk to a ticket agent if there are problems.

"I am also having a problem....after I click on "buy ticket" on the English version, I get to a Spanish page and have no clue what to do next."

I've never bought a ticket on Renfe's website, but it looks like it is mostly in Spanish -- the English part just lists trains and schedules. You have to go back to Spanish if you want to buy a ticket. But basically, it looks pretty easy -- you put in your origin and destination, dates, etc., then at the next screen it tells you what trains are available, and the prices. You then select a train and press the "Continuar" button, which brings you to a screen to put in payment details.

Let me know and I can translate if you can't figure it out. I speak Spanish.

Okay, I think I got it. The original window in English does not allow you to buy tickets. The pop up window that opens after you have entered your date and cities does not allow you to buy tickets. You have to go to https://w1.renfe.es/vol/ and then re-enter you date and cities. For some reason (even after re-reading Norm's response) I thought that putting in your date and cities would lead you to a pop-up where you would simply select your train. The http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html helps find prices and times but doesn't let you buy the ticket.

Whew....will buy some tickets tonight. Thanks for the help.

Exactly, Ray. You've got it. But, as I said, let me know if you need any help with the Spanish.

"The http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html helps find prices and times but doesn't let you buy the ticket."
Ray, that is only partly correct. If you re-read the original instructions, you will see that you were supposed to click on the "Buy Tickets" link at the top of that page. That brings you to the purchasing page.
The initial page is faster for those who just wish to check schedules....don't even rely on it for prices, since discounts aren't listed.

"Ray, that is only partly correct. If you re-read the original instructions, you will see that you were supposed to click on the "Buy Tickets" link at the top of that page. That brings you to the purchasing page."

Don't worry, Norm, Ray gets it. The point is, the purchasing page is only in Spanish. That's why I offered to help him if necessary.

Thanks, Tyler, but that's not correct. The purchasing page does use some Spanish words, but it is mostly in English.

Hi,
This is a related question about rail passes: I've never used a rail pass before. Would a one-day roundtrip on the AVE or Altaria to Cordoba from Madrid count as "one day" on a rail pass? A one-day roundrip on the Altaria comes in at 100 Euros--about $140/person. This is more than half of the price of a 3-day pass.

And if I buy a rail pass in the US, can I use it to book trains before I get to Spain?

Thanks.

Dan

Dan....yes, you can make as many trips as you want in the 24 hours. Actually, if you want to use fast trains, a pass is not a bad idea for Spain. And yes, you can make reservations ahead of time with a pass. Unfortunately, there's no place on the Spanish rail site to do that, and their phone service lacks a lot of English speaking operators. The best bet for reservations is probably RailEurope or Euraide. RailEurope charges more per reservation....but Euraide has a big fee.

"Thanks, Tyler, but that's not correct. The purchasing page does use some Spanish words, but it is mostly in English."

Well then, you must be using something different, but I guess you figured it out?

Yep...mission accomplished.

Norm,
Thanks for the information. I'll look into it.

Dan

I have found two sources that give very detailed (and hopefully fairly current) details on how to navigate the Renfe site:
* Trip Advisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online..html)
* seat61 (http://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-tickets.htm#How%20to%20use%20the%20Spanish%20Railways%20website)

According to the wisdom given, I should be able to see/purchase a ticket exactly 62 days out -- so, for today (Mar. 23) that would be May 24. However, when I search for a fare from Madrid (Madrid*) to San Sebastian for that date, I get no hit. I can back up, day by day, to the first day that shows trains, which is in April, where I find two trains listed.

Then, if I try the DB BAHN site to search for this route, there are many more options listed and (interestingly) not the two that the Renfe site presents.

Has anyone traveled by rail from Madrid to San Sebastian and, if so, can you suggest a better strategy for locating schedules and fares?

Basically the Renfe site finally worked...I don't remember if it was 62 days out or what... but it worked and I got most of the tickets I wanted. Oddly, one of the day trips was unavailable (Madrid to Toledo) even after I had purchased tickets for use later in my trip. Being compulsive, I think I got the Madrid-Toledo ticket from RailEurope??? and they cost more.... but they were available. A week to two after I bought them from RailEurope, the Madrid Toledo ticket became available at Renfe. I realize this doesn't directly answer your question, but I hope it helps. Basically, what I am saying, is that the routes/tickets are available on the Renfe site, but you may have to wait to get them. If waiting is not your forte, check other sites (again, I think it is Rail Europe, but a search might help.)

Keri...they usually increase the frequency of trains to San Sebastian in the summer because it's such a popular destination. I guess they haven't decided on their new schedule yet. You can compare prices to RailEurope and see if you can book them there, if you're desperate to get them now....or check every day until they finally do come on-line and try for the discount fares.

Ray, Norm,

Thanks for your replies. I was confused because the 'advice' sites seemed to be SO definite about the "62 days" business.

I was also confused by the differing results DB Bahn was giving, but now I see that they were reporting ALL trains (including those with connections). At present, there are only two direct (0 stop) trains listed.

I am happy to wait a bit and see if the "more trains" emerges for the summer schedule. We are looking at an apartment that would charge a (smallish) "early checkout" fee if we leave before 9am. (The first train now leaves at 8am.) Or maybe we'll just rent a car and drive....