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Renfe reservation

Posted by (Lancaster) on

Went to Madrid Chamartin SNFC ticket office to reserve two train seats from Madrid, Spain Atocha station to Barcelona, Spain Sants station. I showed the Agent our Eurail Global Passes and paid 10,30 Euro for each reservation. 20,70 Euro total.

Does one most always need a reservation even when using the Eurail Global Pass ?

Planning to go to Rome, Venice, Vienna, Switzerland (Glacier Express sidebar trip), Germany, Amsterdam and France.

ps This whole train reservation thing is a little more complex than I thoughtit would/needs to be. Am I making it more difficult than it needs to be ? For example, what is the best way to reserve seating on a train from Nice, France to Rome, Italy; and can I do it online; or, do you have to go to the ticket office each time you want to make a reservation ?

Thank you.

Posted by
4555 posts

Yes, you will. The vast majority of trains, other than local or slow regional trains, require either reservations or (in the case of high-speed trains) supplements to passes. You, unfortuntately, cannot make reservations separately on line unless you go through the RailEurope website...and that will cost you more. Unfortunately, train networks are also placing restrictions on the number of reservations they will allot to passholders, raising the possibility, although remote at this time of year, that there may be seats for people who walk up to purchase tickets, but not for you. You will have to make your reservations all at once each time you arrive in a new country if you want a guarantee that the seats are yours...and you will find some of the supplements, especially in Italy, particularly expensive, especially when compared to regularly-purchased point to point tickets.

Posted by
4555 posts

I might add you're lucky in Spain, where supplements are relatively inexpensive, considering a walk-up second-class ticket Madrid-Barcelona can be around $200 (although not as good as the advance-purchase $80 tickets.) And you're lucky you're travelling in the winter, when crowds are smaller...but make sure you book at the station as soon as you arrive in a new country for your onward journeys.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you Norm for the confirmation on reservation fees; and for the general coaching as well. It helps. As does having a Netbook along with the trip.

Most places so far are WiFi accessible and free to use.

Cya.

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