Best ALSA bus seating Madrid to Burgos May 25th

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Next week Pat and re start our latest Camino from where we left off last fall (Burgos). I am on the ALSA site to buy our tickets Madrid to Burgos and they have us pre selected in seats 29 and 30. These are on the right side and right in front of an open space which is behind us. The open space looks to be about two seats worth of area. Just wondering if these seats are ok and what is the open space behind us? Suggestions on which seats to change too based on your experience? Thank you all kindly.
Ed

 

[NualaOC]

Next week Pat and re start our latest Camino from where we left off last fall (Burgos). I am on the ALSA site to buy our tickets Madrid to Burgos and they have us pre selected in seats 29 and 30. These are on the right side and right in front of an open space which is behind us. The open space looks to be about two seats worth of area. Just wondering if these seats are ok and what is the open space behind us? Suggestions on which seats to change too based on your experience? Thank you all kindly.
Ed

From what I can recall, this is either an exit or a toilet (some of the buses have toilets).

I took the bus from Madrid to Burgos a couple of years ago and wouldn't consider any particular seats to be better than the others. It was a very comfortable ride and only took 2.5 hours.

On the other hand, if I was hoping to sleep on the bus, I probably wouldn't want a seat close to a toilet.

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Thanks NualaOC. We arrive into MAD at 0910 and there is a bus leaving T-4 at 1115. Seems that we should be able to get our bag, clear customs and then get over to T-4 in time to catch this one?

 

[NualaOC]

Thanks NualaOC. We arrive into MAD at 0910 and there is a bus leaving T-4 at 1115. Seems that we should be able to get our bag, clear customs and then get over to T-4 in time to catch this one?

That should be plenty of time- with the usual caveats about flight delays, immigration queues etc. There are regular free buses between the various terminals. From what I can recall, the Alsa buses may depart from a different level than the airport buses, so just go inside T4 when you arrive and follow the signs (or ask for directions).

At the Alsa bus area, it can be hard to figure out where your bus will stop. I remember that we kept wondering if we were in the right place, but then our bus arrived, bang on time. We just showed our booking details and the driver checked off our names. It was super-efficient.

Buen Camino to you both!

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Thank you again NualaOC. Last September we took the Tren from MAD to Pamplona then the bus from Burgos back to MAD. The bus seemed to be so much easier. It was very difficult figuring how to get out train ticket on the Renfe web site but I did finally figure it out. Should have been easier. Alsa seems to have a very easy web site to get your bus tickets.

 

[Albertagirl]

Next week Pat and re start our latest Camino from where we left off last fall (Burgos). I am on the ALSA site to buy our tickets Madrid to Burgos and they have us pre selected in seats 29 and 30. These are on the right side and right in front of an open space which is behind us. The open space looks to be about two seats worth of area. Just wondering if these seats are ok and what is the open space behind us? Suggestions on which seats to change too based on your experience? Thank you all kindly.
Ed

@HalfDomeOrBust:
From my fairly recent experience on Alsa buses, I would say that that space is probably for the rear exit. Another thing to consider is keeping an eye on your backpacks. If you can leave them on the side of the bus on which you are seated, you can keep an eye on them if there are any brief stops before you get to Burgos. A previous poster mentioned that her/his pack was taken out from under the bus at an interim stop and would have been left behind if not rescued. I don't think that passengers are expected to take their backpacks on the bus. Buen camino.

 

[SYates]

... I don't think that passengers are expected to take their backpacks on the bus. Buen camino.

Nor allowed! Buen Camino, SY

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

@HalfDomeOrBust:
From my fairly recent experience on Alsa buses, I would say that that space is probably for the rear exit. Another thing to consider is keeping an eye on your backpacks. If you can leave them on the side of the bus on which you are seated, you can keep an eye on them if there are any brief stops before you get to Burgos. A previous poster mentioned that her/his pack was taken out from under the bus at an interim stop and would have been left behind if not rescued. I don't think that passengers are expected to take their backpacks on the bus. Buen camino.

Great information!! Thank you and I will heed it. Ed

 

[VNwalking]

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Thanks NualaOC. We arrive into MAD at 0910 and there is a bus leaving T-4 at 1115. Seems that we should be able to get our bag, clear customs and then get over to T-4 in time to catch this one?

This is almost what I did in March, HDOB, in terms of timing of arrival and departure, and there was ample time. But. (Big but.) I arrived at T4 and didn't have to clear customs.
And as someone else said though it was a short and comfortable journey.

 

[HeidiL]

We strap our backpacks together when putting them into the luggage compartment, which means they're really heavy and cumbersome to remove and so are usually left alone and just pushed aside when other people rummage for their suitcases.

It is VERY smart to ask the bus driver (or luggage person) where to put them, because very often, some of the luggage compartments are for interim stops which means that there's a lot more rummaging than in the compartment for people going to a later stop.

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Good idea on strapping the packs together. We would die if someone accidentally took one or both of our packs....

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Well, it was easy booking the ALSA bus tickets. Just remember to use Pay Pal instead of your USA credit card...... Buen Camino....Third Camino starts next week!