Trip from ORD-Spain for high school
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, Gold Hilton, Gold SPG
Posts: 50
Trip from ORD-Spain for high school
My daughter and her friends decided to plan a last minute trip to Spain. I'm trying to help them with airfare. The best I could find is around $960.
Dates Mar 23-31 , 2013 +-3 days.
They want to visit the following cities: Seville, Granada, and Cordoba.
Number of travelers 10 students and 2 adults
I was able to get on IB from ORD-MAD-SVQ-MAD-ORD.
I'm looking for tips and recommendation from the group for the best route.
Thanks
Dates Mar 23-31 , 2013 +-3 days.
They want to visit the following cities: Seville, Granada, and Cordoba.
Number of travelers 10 students and 2 adults
I was able to get on IB from ORD-MAD-SVQ-MAD-ORD.
I'm looking for tips and recommendation from the group for the best route.
Thanks
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western PA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM
Posts: 441
Trip from ORD-Spain for high school
$960 sounds reasonable from Chicago.
Boston is sometimes cheaper w/ Iberia.
Probably the best you're going to do considering the connection to Sevilla.
Check ORD-MAD and then the domestics using the train, a bus, and/or Iberia Express.
That would allow them to also see Madrid.
Boston is sometimes cheaper w/ Iberia.
Probably the best you're going to do considering the connection to Sevilla.
Check ORD-MAD and then the domestics using the train, a bus, and/or Iberia Express.
That would allow them to also see Madrid.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: ORD
Programs: BA, Gold Hilton, Gold SPG
Posts: 50
I like the idea of the train.
We are planning to make a wo one day trips to CORDOBA and GRANADA via trains. I heard the scenery is very nice.
I tried TSATravle site. But was not much of saving or benefits for the students.
Thanks
We are planning to make a wo one day trips to CORDOBA and GRANADA via trains. I heard the scenery is very nice.
I tried TSATravle site. But was not much of saving or benefits for the students.
Thanks
#5
formerly bdohmen
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: Still dealing with the loss of my BA Concorde Room Card
Posts: 488
Trip from ORD-Spain for high school
You should also look at Barcelona. There is either a large Vueling base, or it's their hub not 100% sure, but decent starting off point.
Plus Barça has a beach so that's one up on Madrid.
Plus Barça has a beach so that's one up on Madrid.
#6
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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True, there is a beach, and it's nicer than Galveston, but I found the city itself far more interesting.
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 87
might be a little late, but with the trains you can book through here: http://www.renfe.com/
that's the official Spanish site for train tickets. You can also buy the discounted student tickets through it.
You'll need to run it through google translate if you're spanish isn't quite up to scratch but it's generally pretty easy to figure out.
have fun!
that's the official Spanish site for train tickets. You can also buy the discounted student tickets through it.
You'll need to run it through google translate if you're spanish isn't quite up to scratch but it's generally pretty easy to figure out.
have fun!
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
The Man in Seat 61
For train train, there is a lot of education in this site.
I've seen some wonderful street markets in Spain. Interesting inexpensive unique clothes. You should be able to sleuth out some of them with guide books and web searches. They typically are only one day a week. I know those girls would love them.
Romelle
I've seen some wonderful street markets in Spain. Interesting inexpensive unique clothes. You should be able to sleuth out some of them with guide books and web searches. They typically are only one day a week. I know those girls would love them.
Romelle
#10
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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trains you can book through here: http://www.renfe.com/
that's the official Spanish site for train tickets. You can also buy the discounted student tickets through it.
You'll need to run it through google translate if you're spanish isn't quite up to scratch
that's the official Spanish site for train tickets. You can also buy the discounted student tickets through it.
You'll need to run it through google translate if you're spanish isn't quite up to scratch
There is a place where you can select English at Renfe.com, but for whatever reason it switched to Spanish when I went to purchase. I can read Spanish better than speak / listen, so not a problem for me
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 87
Ah did not know about the US ticket issue. In truth I've never had a problem just buying tickets on the day when I'm out there. However I do know some routes become heavily oversubscribed in the summer (Madrid - Barcelona and Madrid - Alicante spring to mind)
#12
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I did not look for walkup fares on AVE (should have for future reference ), but online prices went up as (I'm guessing by departure times) availability decreased.
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 87
Ah, never taken the AVE. I've been lucky to book far enough in advance that a short hop on a flight from madrid to barca was just as economical. I do know fares have rocketed in recent years for rail travel since the goverment cut back on the subsidies it gives to Renfe.
#14
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