Buying Alsa bus ticket Santiago to Porto?

Mar 8, 2022
46
30
United States
Time of past OR future Camino
CF 2019, Coastal Portuguese 2022, 1/2 CF Fall 2022
Hi!

Rome2Rio shows 3 daily Alsa buses from Santiago to Porto. When I search the Alsa web site and the Alsa app, I get the message "no available routes for the trip you have entered." I tried different dates (my preferred departure date is Monday 23 October). I tried Santiago de Compestela España and Santiago Compestela A Coruña España to Oporto all destinations, as well as the other options. I use a VPN and turned that off.

I do see Flix Bus has a 17:15 bus.

Am I doing something wrong? I wanted to check the bus timings before I bought plane tickets.

Many thanks in advance!

Lisa
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-

dougfitz

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Mar 12, 2011
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You aren't doing anything wrong. Its just that the schedule isn't going to be available that far in advance.

My experience is that at best there is the current and next month available for booking at any one time. The earliest I would expect Oct booking to open is in September. Note this isn't a promise, just an observation. You need to try the booking closer to the date you want to travel.
 

trecile

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 19, 2016
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I just checked, and Alsa only has their schedule up for dates through September. If you look at Flixbus schedules for August you will see many journeys that combine a Monbus to Vigo connecting to a Flixbus from Vigo to Porto. I would imagine that those fares are dependent on the Monbus schedule opening up.
 
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Pedalling Pensioner

New Member
Sep 11, 2015
9
36
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Camino Francis (2011)
Camino Finisterre (2015)
Hi!

Rome2Rio shows 3 daily Alsa buses from Santiago to Porto. When I search the Alsa web site and the Alsa app, I get the message "no available routes for the trip you have entered." I tried different dates (my preferred departure date is Monday 23 October). I tried Santiago de Compestela España and Santiago Compestela A Coruña España to Oporto all destinations, as well as the other options. I use a VPN and turned that off.

I do see Flix Bus has a 17:15 bus.

Am I doing something wrong? I wanted to check the bus timings before I bought plane tickets.

Many thanks in advance!

Lisa
I booked through omio.com without any problems.
 
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TravellingMan22

Veteran Member
Jul 25, 2023
957
2,266
London
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I had the same issue, - For Alsa you can book up to 60 days in advance, not more. Buen Camino!
Not always as long as 60 days. You can book the journey mentioned up 30 Sep. They seem to release in blocks of months as opposed to rolling 60 days despite what their website says. .
 
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TravellingMan22

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Jul 25, 2023
957
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London
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I too am waiting to book a ticket in October from Santiago to Porto. I recently contacted Alsa and they confirmed that tickets would be available one month in advance.
Sure but I would keep checking. In my experience they release tickets in blocks rather than day by day. Today is 9th Aug in Europe and the route is currently for sale to 30 sep? That’s more than one month!
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-

TravellingMan22

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Jul 25, 2023
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This was info directly from Alsa.
Sure. Well let’s not sweat the small stuff. Just keep checking. If they release all of of their October inventory on 01 sep that means 01 Oct is 30 days in advance and 30 Oct is 60 days in advance. Their website is very vague and as daft as it sounds many calls centres are not always totally conversant with that type of thing!!!

Very generally most train and coach release in period blocks whereas airline work on a rolling day basis.
 

Sheila Kenny

New Member
Mar 26, 2017
17
20
Time of past OR future Camino
C. Frances (2002), (2012), (2013) C. Portuguese (2015)
Hi!

Rome2Rio shows 3 daily Alsa buses from Santiago to Porto. When I search the Alsa web site and the Alsa app, I get the message "no available routes for the trip you have entered." I tried different dates (my preferred departure date is Monday 23 October). I tried Santiago de Compestela España and Santiago Compestela A Coruña España to Oporto all destinations, as well as the other options. I use a VPN and turned that off.

I do see Flix Bus has a 17:15 bus.

Am I doing something wrong? I wanted to check the bus timings before I bought plane tickets.

Many thanks in advance!

Lisa
Perhaps try 'Santiago de Compostela'.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-

TravellingMan22

Veteran Member
Jul 25, 2023
957
2,266
London
Time of past OR future Camino
Portuguese/Frances 2020/Norte 2021
I'm reassured by the above. I will wait patiently to see what September brings re October bookings.
Last year I booked in April for travel at the end of June - Google tells me that was 76 days in advance 🤪
Indeed. Just keep checking. I use them alot and still struggle to see a pattern of when tickets are released! Check everyday CET (Central European Time)!!

I booked a ticket recently on 06 June for travel 08 Sept (albeit domestic!).
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.

WGroleau

Wandering Weirdo aka 伟思礼
Nov 23, 2015
1,005
1,318
Time of past OR future Camino
2015–2018 (partial)
Hi!

Rome2Rio shows 3 daily Alsa buses from Santiago to Porto. When I search the Alsa web site and the Alsa app, I get the message "no available routes for the trip you have entered."
Rome2Rio is a great source for ideas of routes, but it's terrible for prices and schedules.

I’ve taken a lot of long-distance buses and trains in Spain, and never have encountered a bus even half-full (and the trains have always had many empty seats). I’ve always bought my bus tickets at the bus or in the bus station right before the trip and rarely bought a train ticket more than a day in advance.
 

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