Spain Renfe questions- thank you
Jan 25, 2017, 1:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
Spain Renfe questions- thank you
I would like to go to Madrid and Seville and maybe somehow see a coastal city in southern Spain. I would love to take the train. I see that Renfe offers some good deals but I don't know how convenient the trains are for what I want to see. Also, it seems that once you buy a pass, that there is a reservation charge of up to 75 euros. Maybe I don't understand this but if I use the train 8 times, this will add quite a bit to the cost. Any Renfe experts that could give me a general idea?
I don't really enjoy packing and unpacking but am great with public transportation if I could find some Spanish cities to do day trips from that would be super.
I don't really enjoy packing and unpacking but am great with public transportation if I could find some Spanish cities to do day trips from that would be super.
Jan 26, 2017, 1:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,959
I'd argue that passes are not a great deal on renfe and you're better off booking point-to-point tickets. Madrid to Seville, the train is definitely your best option. Check ticket prices on their site, and book in advance, as prices go up as departure gets closer, just like for airlines.
Non-HS trains are cheaper than HS trains.
Non-HS trains are cheaper than HS trains.
Jan 26, 2017, 2:00 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,590
Jan 26, 2017, 5:10 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
I would just buy tickets since you may only need a couple of high speed journeys and the rest would be media distancia or local trains which are cheap
If you based yourself in Seville you could do daytrips to Cordoba, Jerez, Cadiz.
From Madrid a good daytrip is Toledo
If you based yourself in Seville you could do daytrips to Cordoba, Jerez, Cadiz.
From Madrid a good daytrip is Toledo
Jan 27, 2017, 2:15 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
As said earlier, with a Renfe pass there should be no extra cost for reservations. But if you are talking about some Eurail (or Interail or whatever they are called) pass there are indeed extra costs if taking long distance trains in Spain.
Jan 27, 2017, 7:30 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
Renfe rail pass
The woman from Renfe said that in addition to railpass, you have to get a reservation and there is an additional cost. If I find the email, I will post it.
Jan 27, 2017, 11:56 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Strangly enough the same page in English doesn't mention that detail: https://venta.renfe.com/vol/index2.jsp?U=SP2N (but the Fench one does).
Jan 30, 2017, 9:30 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Grandee (Upgraded), BA Silver, AZ MilleMiglia
Posts: 3,107
Railpasses aren't all the same and there may be an additional cost if you have one but not if you have another type. Also, some railpasses are valid for a specific number of journeys, and others are valid for any number of journeys during a specific number of days, for example.