Trouble booking on Renfe Site

rumbo.es and petrabax also seel the discounted tickets but add a service harge. It is worth payging if you are getting the Web fare (60% off) or the Estrella fare (40% off). If not, you can just wait and buy the tickets in Spain, unless you want one of the routes like Sevilla to Granada that has very few trains. I just tried the site and got as far as the Verified by Visa popup window with no trouble, but of course I didn't enter my password to see what would happen next as I don't want to buy any tickets. I can't think of any more advice but what you have already been given. Sometimes the website is just quirky. Maybe try a different computer? Some people have reported better luck with a debit card than a credit card. And some have said a Bank of America card will never work, but that's just a rumor. I do know it does not help to call Renfe; they will tell youthey don't take non-spanish credit cards, but that is clearly not true. I bought lots of tickets from Renfe a year ago.

Oh my gosh. I finally got it to work. I tried to just buy them on Rail Europe, but the credit card was declined. I thought it was strange since I've been buying several different tickets online. I tried going to Petrabax and was finally able to buy the tickets! Their service fee was even less than Rail Europe. Hooray! Thanks for the tip!

April, If you have not already, go to the tripadvisor Madrid forum and look for a post on the right side of the page under top questions about buying tickets. There are pages of info about purchasing through RENFE. Two years ago, I bought RENFE tickets successfully. However, it took multiple attempts. Along the way I had to: 1) Use the Spanish site (the TA post has translations)
2) Register my card with Verified with Visa 3) Talk to the fraud department at my bank (after one transaction got past Verifed by Visa but then was rejected by bank) to have them change something on my account. 4) Finally success Good luck. If you can't get it to work, search this site. There have been a number of recent posts where people have been able to get tickets from other agencies with minimal fees.

I've done most of those things. I registered my card for Visa Verify and I have no problems going through the whole process, until AFTER I enter my credit card info it gives me this error message: "The process cannot continue right now. We apologise for any inconvenience". I even tried using the Spanish version of the site like it mentions on TripAdvisor. I'm at a loss. Tried several times since yesterday.

That is the point where it should open a popup where you enter your Verified by Visa password. maybe your popup blocker is preventing this? Are yo sure you are correctly registered with Verified by Visa? Have you tried at a time of day when it is daytime in Spain? If all else fails, you can get prices very close to the Web fares from Rail Europe.

Yes, I've tried two different cards of mine and one of my daughters. I thought that I had got someone for a minute. I held down the control key to allow for a pop-up and the Visa Verify popped up. I entered the password and then it still gave me the same error message. I wouldn't mind using Rail Europe, but the ticket itself is $3 more and then they charge an $8 service charge. I might have to bite the bullet since in the end it's not alot of money. Unless anyone else has any other suggestions??

Excellent! Interesting that Petrabax would take your card when RailEurope would not. Will you be buying more tickets? Did the ticket from Petrabax come as a printable ticket from Renfe-sort of pink/lavender? See if your credit card was charged separately from Renfe and from Petrabax. If so, Renfe may recognize you rcard if you go to make another pruchase. Anyway, have fun in Spain. It's a great place!

No, thankfully that's the only train ticket I need to purchase, but good point. I have only received the e-mail confirmation, but it says that I will receive the tickets ticket within 24 hours. Thanks!