nettersweet
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June-July (2013)
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whariwharangi said:There are two major terminal buildings in Madrid Barajas airport .... one is T1T2T3 and the other is T4.
The metro leaves from both buildings. If you arrive at T1 then you walk to the far end of the building to catch it, perhaps a 15 minute walk. It runs every 5 minutes. The metro requires transfering two times.
There are two major train stations in Madrid. one is Chamartin, the other is Puerto Atocha. The metro goes to both. The train to Leon leaves from Chamartin. Allow about an hour for Metro.
If you decide to stay in Madrid the hotels are located near the Atocha station in the city center ... (I'd try near the SOL metro station) There is a 4 or 5 star hotel at Chamartin and nothing else.
Metro Map http://www.metromadrid.es/export/sites/ ... ingles.pdf
Renfe (Spains train system)
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html
oursonpolaire said:Given the cost of Madrid hotels and as most transatlantic flights arrive in the morning, I would suggest boarding the train and heading straight for Leon. Train routes in Spain are usually much more scenic than the motorway-bound buses, but note that Alsa buses for Leon stop at Barajas airport 7 times a day, the first leaving at 1.45pm and arriving in Leon at 6.30pm, costing 25 euro. The very comfortable 1st-class bus leaves an hour later (I think at about 45 euro) and includes a box lunch, wine, and coffee.
Leon has quite a few less-expensive-than-Madrid places to stay, such as the Albany kitty-corner to the cathedral, the Hotel Paris as a reasonable 3-star down the pedestrian street, and the basic but clean and comfortable Hostales Guzman or San Martin. I would suggest it as a better spot for a recuperation-from-flight day or two than the pricier and much more hectic metropolitan Madrid--- but if Madrid is somewhere you want to see, and this is the only way it works for your timetable, then follow the other suggestions.
You can get a "Gold Card", for 5.15 euros if aged over 60 at any rail agency or station ticket office, giving 40% discount Mon - Thur, 25% Fri - Sun. The website also offers various "promo" tickets - it's not that difficult to follow, even with minimal Spanish, and on some routes the prices compare favourably with the bus. For example, I've got a promo ticket from Chamartin to Burgos for next week - 21.35 euros.longwalker said:I am also flying into Madrid and on to Leon this year. I want to take the train up to Leon. I find the Renfe site difficult to follow but it seems you can get a discounted ticket if you are sixty , can you find a timetable, order a ticket, get a discount, and pay for it online and in english?
Thanks.
You should have enough time to get to Chamartin without rushing - it is quite a trek from T3 to the metro, but there is a free shuttle bus running between the terminals, so you could catch that to get to T4 for the Cercanias train, which will take you to Chamartin in less than 15mins. And the metro will get you there in the time, probably. Assuming of course that your flight isn't delayed. Think taxi as the backstop.Shannon_Flekkefjord said:Will we make the train?? :?
We will be arriving in Madrid, Barajas Airport, terminal 3 at 12:20,
and just a tad over 2 hrs later we will have to be leaving from Chamartin at 14:40 (June 21st)
to travel to León.
Should we grab a taxi??
Shannon_Flekkefjord said:Will we make the train?? :?
We will be arriving in Madrid, Barajas Airport, terminal 3 at 12:20,
and just a tad over 2 hrs later we will have to be leaving from Chamartin at 14:40 (June 21st)
to travel to León.
Should we grab a taxi??
nefesh said:TAKE TWO -
I flew to Madrid. Took the free shuttle from T 1 to T 4. The Renfe office is directly across from the entrance to the trains and you can buy tickets there or through the vending machines. I Took the train to Chamartin - which was there and waiting to go - from Chamartin I took the train to LEON. It was the train that made a bunch of stops along the way, so see if there is a more direct train in your time frame. From the train station I walked into the city to the QH Hotel which is right by the Cathedral, a great locarion and a fine little hotel to boot. If yo are planning to leave early to start your camino, let someone know at the front desk. I left at about 6:15 and no one was at the desk. Fortunately I noticed a guy setting up tables at the adjoining cafe and exited through the cafe. There are yellow arrows to follow across from the Cathedral and you are on your way!!!. I like staying in a hotel after traveling for 27 hours straight, but there are - of course - albuerges and other places to stay.There lots of pilgrims leaving the city and I felt like I was in great company. It´s not the most attractive first day. I walked to Hospital del Obrigo. I recommend the Verde albuerge. Some folks stayed there and it sounds like it was a lot nicer than where I stayed. Alao, if you another kilometer or so, there´s an awesome albuergue at the next town. BUEN CAMINO !!!
nettersweet said:OK - I thought I was all set to plan my travel to Leon, but I seem to have run into a problem. I've looked into flights that leave from the US on June 25th, arriving in Madrid in the am of June 26th. I checked the Renfe train schedule http://www.renfe.com/ for June 26th, but it's telling me that there are no trains from Madrid (Chamartin Station) to Leon. This doesn't seem possible. What am I doing wrong? According to what everyone has written, taking the train from Madrid Chamartin to Leon is a piece of cake. Thanks for any insights you can share.
whariwharangi said:nettersweet said:OK - I thought I was all set to plan my travel to Leon, but I seem to have run into a problem. I've looked into flights that leave from the US on June 25th, arriving in Madrid in the am of June 26th. I checked the Renfe train schedule http://www.renfe.com/ for June 26th, but it's telling me that there are no trains from Madrid (Chamartin Station) to Leon. This doesn't seem possible. What am I doing wrong? According to what everyone has written, taking the train from Madrid Chamartin to Leon is a piece of cake. Thanks for any insights you can share.
I can get the site to work up to the 22nd of June. Try closer to your departure date.
Thanks, Olivares. I do gather that logistically it would be easier, but isn't it a longer ride on the bus (from Madrid to Leon)? Also, on a bus, you are confined to your seat. After flying overnight on a plane confined to my seat, I'm attracted to the option of not being so confined and being able to get up and move around. At least in the US, trains are more comfortable in that way. But it might be different in Spain. I'm open to suggestions and persuasion, so let me know if you have any additional thoughts.Olivares said:I would STRONGLY suggest you consider bus travel. Cheaper, more accesible, more comfortable, and better logistics overall. FROM THE AIRPORT T4 Terminal, you do not need to deal with the metro and going into Madrid. Get on the Alsa.es website and find out more. Bus travel is comfortable, reliable, and cheap. I just took the bus from T4 to Logroño and from Burgos to Madrid. I made a comparison with train options and it was a no-brainer-- bus travel by far the best option.
THank you this is really great adviceYou can get a "Gold Card", for 5.15 euros if aged over 60 at any rail agency or station ticket office, giving 40% discount Mon - Thur, 25% Fri - Sun. The website also offers various "promo" tickets - it's not that difficult to follow, even with minimal Spanish, and on some routes the prices compare favourably with the bus. For example, I've got a promo ticket from Chamartin to Burgos for next week - 21.35 euros.
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