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Renfe: What does the "Estrella" mean in regards to the fare?

Renfe: What does the "Estrella" mean in regards to the fare?

Old Nov 11, 2008, 7:56 pm
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Renfe: What does the "Estrella" mean in regards to the fare?

I have been playing around on the Spanish Renfe Train website.

I am looking at a Preferente (first class) fare that besides the 111EU fare there is a 68EU "Estrella" fare that I can check....is this a "special" or a specifically targeted fare that I should not use?
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Old Nov 11, 2008, 8:19 pm
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"Estrella" are overnight trains
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Old Nov 11, 2008, 9:50 pm
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Originally Posted by FlyingOnceMore
"Estrella" are overnight trains
Sorry...I don't think so.

After I posted my question I found this excellent post on tripadvisor......Estrella is a discounted fare open to all if one can snag it.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...s.Online..html
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Old Nov 11, 2008, 10:01 pm
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Estrella is a type of train, but maybe it's also a type of discounted fare, too.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tren_Estrella
http://www.renfe.es/estrella/index.html
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Old Nov 13, 2008, 5:35 pm
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The payment really becomes a problem as stated. I have trouble even using my spanish cards but that is more of a security problem with my bank, santander. American cards are useless and even after being asked all the way to the 3 digit security code per phone, the 20% round trip purchase was denied and the agent said American cards never work.

Finding the discounts has actually become easier as you can now book a round trip checking 2 estrellas or 2 web fares. Before they were only available as one way fares. It as just as well to buy them as one-ways though as only one discount is allowed and they are not combinable.

I am in a city that is not served by rail in Spain and therefore have no station to purchase tickets and have moved to purchasing them via a travel agent. I use Corte Ingles. I would imagine that tickets could be issued by some agents by phone, with same card and ID necessary at pick-up. Corte Ingles adds 8% service charge to the total fare. They have access to only the estrella fares as the web fares are only at Renfe site.

I have also learned a trick with the round-trip, any ticket combined with any other on the same route qualifies for a round trip fare. The same credit card must be used. That means for full flexability and still get the 20% discount by paying full fare for the one-way, then whenever you want to return within a 60 day period, the fare for the second one-way is reduced by 20% of the first one-way as well as 20% of the second one-way.

Another fact to remember is that Renfe has an on-time gaurantee. 16 to 30 minutes gives 50% cash back and 30 minutes + gives 100% refund in cash. You have to go to counter on the trains late arrival.
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Old Nov 27, 2008, 10:08 pm
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Originally Posted by soitgoes
Estrella is a type of train, but maybe it's also a type of discounted fare, too.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tren_Estrella
http://www.renfe.es/estrella/index.html
Yep, it seems that there are now:

"tarifas estrella" - Star fares, what this thread is about

and

"trenes estrella" - Star trains, the overnight services that most of us veterans think of when we associate "estrella" and "RENFE".
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Old Feb 16, 2010, 12:07 pm
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here is the link
http://www.renfe.es/productos/on_tarifaestrella.html

it's a special ticket 40% cheaper but with other limitations

changes:
15% extra in same day tickets
20% extra is other day tickets

cancellations:
30% of the ticket won't be returned
you can only cancel BEFORE the train departs
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