- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances 2007,
Via Francigena Italy, 2008,
Jakobsweg Austria 2010,
Camino Frances 2011,
Le Puy to Lourdes 2012,
Via de la Plata 2013,
Future:
Ökumenischer (Via Regia), Germany,
Lycian Way, Turkey
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
I think that may be true only for certain types of lines (Alvia vs AVE vs MD) because I got my tickets for Madrid to Pamplona in late May last week.I was told by a contact in Spain that you can't book tickets on RENFE more than one month in advance, but that you can check current schedules for train times (for example, if you're traveling on a weekend or weekday, pick a similar day of the week) as the schedules rarely change. That will at least give you some idea of timing and pricing.
thanks for the clarification - I tried a couple of months ago booking high speed train from Barcelona to Valencia and couldn't get it to work and the reason I was told was as reported above and I thought I'd just wait until closer, but maybe it just depends on the lineI think that may be true only for certain types of lines (Alvia vs AVE vs MD) because I got my tickets for Madrid to Pamplona in late May last week.
Try using the Trainline App... I often buy tickets there that are not available on Renfe although I travel with ALSA more often due to cheaper coat and arriving within 30 minutes of the same on train...Has anybody experienced any issues with reserving and booking tickets with either Renfe or Alsa bus from Canada?
I fly into Madrid May 9th and would like to catch either a train or bus to Ponferrada.
Right now while you can not reserve a train ticket with Renfe there appears to be a train at 11:10 and 14:40 that goes to Ponferrada via Leon leaving from Madrid Charmartin. It appears you have book each segment separately.
With Alsa bus, there are a number of buses leaving Madrid Estacion Sur that go to Ponferrada but the journey is much longer than by train
Has anybody that has done either trip would care to comment or offer alternate suggestions?
Thanks
The fastest direct ALSA buses on that day's timetable take about 4 hours 20 minutes. Not much longer than the fastest service on the current RENFE timetable. Do you have reason to believe that there will be a significantly faster train service in the summer timetable?
Thanks for this info on Tarjeta Dorada! It looks like a 50% discount - will def try to get one.I have been booking through the Trainline App instead of the Renfe app unless I just need to buy a ticket at the train station for a short trip somewhere at the last minute. I also have the Tarjeta Dorada which is a sr citizen discount card and Trainline stores my number and my husband's in the App so I don't have to look it up each time as with my Renfe App. The conductor does check our physical Dorada card with our tickets before boarding or on board though. You have to buy the card for 6 euros in the station. You can't get one online. We will renew our card again this summer as they are only good for one year and give a significant discount.
I agree that the train is usually more comfortable. There is usually a relatively clean bathroom on board and sometimes even a place to get food or drink depending on the line. Having said that, the buses in Spain are inexpensive and much nicer than any bus I have been on in the US. Some have Wifi and movies. There are different classes of tickets on different routes just as with the train system. There is usually plenty of seat room and buses are frequented by a wide variety of people. There is often a longer stop enroute to my destination where I can run in and use the bathroom. I have gotten motion sick from a driver who drives like he's a former race car driver on hills and curves going for example to Muxia, but its sometimes a bus ride and sometimes the train for me.I think, more than the time, is the comfort and space the train affords me, that is the deciding factor I have settled upon. Tis far more comfortable. But, you need to go into Madrid to get it.
The trains leaving from Chamartin have convenient connections from Leon to Ponferrada. The second segment is a seperate ticket, a regional train. But again you need to go to Chamartin. We take a 20 minute cab to Chamartin (€30).
I get motion sickness. I have had tickets, purchased on-line for the Madrid-Leon section for late April. As departure time gets closer I will purchase the regional ticket. All usually goes smoothly. We have done this numerous times. We once took the bus from Burgos to the Madrid Airport. The bus was packed and we felt like canned sardines. Yes I would take an hour bus ride, but that is now my tolerance limit! That said it is cheaper to take a bus and the time difference is not a major factor.
Yes, since we rode the train a lot last summer in Spain it was very worthwhile and it was still good for my upcoming trip as it was within the year.Thanks for this info on Tarjeta Dorada! It looks like a 50% discount - will def try to get one.
I am planning to travel May 9 from Madrid to Leon and then on to Ponferrada. My camino partner told me that never books ahead, just shows up and buys the ticket at the station and uses her Tarjeta Dorada to get the discount. She plans to do that going back to Madrid from Santiago later at the end of MayI have been booking through the Trainline App instead of the Renfe app unless I just need to buy a ticket at the train station for a short trip somewhere at the last minute. I also have the Tarjeta Dorada which is a sr citizen discount card and Trainline stores my number and my husband's in the App so I don't have to look it up each time as with my Renfe App. The conductor does check our physical Dorada card with our tickets before boarding or on board though. You have to buy the card for 6 euros in the station. You can't get one online. We will renew our card again this summer as they are only good for one year and give a significant discount.
I have purchased Renfe tickets via Petrabax a number of times and am happy with their service.Has anybody experienced any issues with reserving and booking tickets with either Renfe or Alsa bus from Canada?
I fly into Madrid May 9th and would like to catch either a train or bus to Ponferrada.
Right now while you can not reserve a train ticket with Renfe there appears to be a train at 11:10 and 14:40 that goes to Ponferrada via Leon leaving from Madrid Charmartin. It appears you have book each segment separately.
With Alsa bus, there are a number of buses leaving Madrid Estacion Sur that go to Ponferrada but the journey is much longer than by train
Has anybody that has done either trip would care to comment or offer alternate suggestions?
Thanks
Is the sr citizen discount card only for members of EU?I have been booking through the Trainline App instead of the Renfe app unless I just need to buy a ticket at the train station for a short trip somewhere at the last minute. I also have the Tarjeta Dorada which is a sr citizen discount card and Trainline stores my number and my husband's in the App so I don't have to look it up each time as with my Renfe App. The conductor does check our physical Dorada card with our tickets before boarding or on board though. You have to buy the card for 6 euros in the station. You can't get one online. We will renew our card again this summer as they are only good for one year and give a significant discount.
It is available to people of all nationalities. "The Man in Seat 61" makes the following observation about bookings before your arrival in Spain though.Is the sr citizen discount card only for members of EU?
No as Bradypus indicates, it is for anyone over 59, but you must confirm your age in person with ID when you buy a Tarjeta Dorada at the Renfe counter and it is good for one year. It is subject to a check by the conductor when you buy future tickets online. We used ours multiple times last summer and arranged our trip this summer so we could buy train tickets from home before it expires.Is the sr citizen discount card only for members of EU?
Even the slow train isn't terrible. You can walk around and there is a bathroom and sometimes a dining car. It just takes longer...Going from Madrid to Leon the fast trains can be sold out in May. You might windup on alater or next day train. It happens! I suggest you puchase the train ticket to Leon now, unless you won’t be upset if you are delayed. Then buy your discount card in Spain-and use it to purchase your return ticket from SdC. But do not wait till you get SdC to purchase it…. otherwise you may wind upon a slow 6-7 train back to Madrid.
Good suggestion about buying the TD and Santiago to Madrid in Ponferrada. I arrive in Ponferrada about 6:30 pm - do you think the ticket counters will be still open ?It might be easier to buy the TD in Ponferrada after you arrive if you don't have time in Madrid. You could also buy yourreturn to Madrid ticket there if you don't want to buy it online. There's less traffic in and out there. The stations in Madrid are sometimes very busy and lines sometimes very long. Ponferrada less so. My husband got his first TD in Ponferrada in 2018. I got my first one if Zaragoza last year. Time of day also impacts the length of the lines. Best wishes. By the way, the TD is just a little slip of paper with ink printing about the size of a business card so be sure you have a place to keep it in your wallet that where it won't get lost or wet.
Should be according to a local website.Good suggestion about buying the TD and Santiago to Madrid in Ponferrada. I arrive in Ponferrada about 6:30 pm - do you think the ticket counters will be still open ?
I did not prebook my train from Madrid airport to Pomplona nor my bus to St Jean Pied d P. Seemed to be plenty of space.Has anybody experienced any issues with reserving and booking tickets with either Renfe or Alsa bus from Canada?
I fly into Madrid May 9th and would like to catch either a train or bus to Ponferrada.
Right now while you can not reserve a train ticket with Renfe there appears to be a train at 11:10 and 14:40 that goes to Ponferrada via Leon leaving from Madrid Charmartin. It appears you have book each segment separately.
With Alsa bus, there are a number of buses leaving Madrid Estacion Sur that go to Ponferrada but the journey is much longer than by train
Has anybody that has done either trip would care to comment or offer alternate suggestions?
Thanks
In 2021 when we walked the Salvador & Primitivo, we took the bus from MAD to Leon, had a reservation made in advance, it was an afternoon's ride but not bad at all. The bus is downstairs at the airport.I am planning to travel May 9 from Madrid to Leon and then on to Ponferrada. My camino partner told me that never books ahead, just shows up and buys the ticket at the station and uses her Tarjeta Dorada to get the discount. She plans to do that going back to Madrid from Santiago later at the end of May
I got the impression that most trains would be sold out by that date.
It is wise or required to book ahead?
Tarjeta Dorada: Is that good for anybody over 60?
The Tarjeta Dorado is for anyone, but you have to present proof of age. A passport, for example.Is the sr citizen discount card only for members of EU?
You can take the Cercanias train from the bottom floor of T4 at the airport to Chamartin station.In 2021 when we walked the Salvador & Primitivo, we took the bus from MAD to Leon, had a reservation made in advance, it was an afternoon's ride but not bad at all. The bus is downstairs at the airport.
This next walk (Via de la Plata), we're planning to take the Yellow Bus (express) to Atocha and then hop onto the AVE train to Sevilla. It is hoped that we can do that with no problems because we're landing on Sunday at 0900 and we're thinking that we can catch the 1100 train. (Though it's not on topic for this thread, if anyone is laughing out loud at the idea this is possible, feel free to reply!)
I don't remember right now off the top of my head, but there may be an express route to Chamartin, too. 5 euros a head and hardly any stops.
I read elsewhere on the Forum, that if one books through anything but Renfe itself, you don't get notified if there is a change in the trip you booked -- if I remember correctly, a fellow said he'd missed hiis train to Madrird from Santiago because the departure time had been changed & he wasn't aware of it. Have you had any such experience?I have been booking through the Trainline App instead of the Renfe app unless I just need to buy a ticket at the train station for a short trip somewhere at the last minute. I also have the Tarjeta Dorada which is a sr citizen discount card and Trainline stores my number and my husband's in the App so I don't have to look it up each time as with my Renfe App. The conductor does check our physical Dorada card with our tickets before boarding or on board though. You have to buy the card for 6 euros in the station. You can't get one online. We will renew our card again this summer as they are only good for one year and give a significant discount.
Following....As I need to book in May also.Has anybody experienced any issues with reserving and booking tickets with either Renfe or Alsa bus from Canada?
I fly into Madrid May 9th and would like to catch either a train or bus to Ponferrada.
Right now while you can not reserve a train ticket with Renfe there appears to be a train at 11:10 and 14:40 that goes to Ponferrada via Leon leaving from Madrid Charmartin. It appears you have book each segment separately.
With Alsa bus, there are a number of buses leaving Madrid Estacion Sur that go to Ponferrada but the journey is much longer than by train
Has anybody that has done either trip would care to comment or offer alternate suggestions?
Thanks
Thank you. I don't use PayPal either.I have not had that problem, but I do have the ADIF App on my phone to check the times of arrival and departure at various stations of the trains in Spain and their train numbers.
I have had trouble using my US credit card on the RENFE App. Other people have had luck with PayPal, but I don't have a PayPal account and don't really want to set one up.
I was wanting to travel from Madrid to Leon by train. However, on the day I am planning to travel , there appears to only be combination train/bus options avalable as I won't arrive from overseas and clear Customs until at least noon.I think, more than the time, is the comfort and space the train affords me, that is the deciding factor I have settled upon. Tis far more comfortable. But, you need to go into Madrid to get it.
The trains leaving from Chamartin have convenient connections from Leon to Ponferrada. The second segment is a seperate ticket, a regional train. But again you need to go to Chamartin. We take a 20 minute cab to Chamartin (€30).
I get motion sickness. I have had tickets, purchased on-line for the Madrid-Leon section for late April. As departure time gets closer I will purchase the regional ticket. All usually goes smoothly. We have done this numerous times. We once took the bus from Burgos to the Madrid Airport. The bus was packed and we felt like canned sardines. Yes I would take an hour bus ride, but that is now my tolerance limit! That said it is cheaper to take a bus and the time difference is not a major factor.
If the bus and train station are close by, it usually isn't a problem to combine, but in a town like Burgos, the train station and bus station are far apart. What towns would have to switch?I was wanting to travel from Madrid to Leon by train. However, on the day I am planning to travel , there appears to only be combination train/bus options avalable as I won't arrive from overseas and clear Customs until at least noon.
Has anyone had experience with this combo type of travel ?
I am actually thinking that my best option is to catch the Alsa bus at Airport Terminal 4
I was wanting mid-to-late afternoon.If the bus and train station are close by, it usually isn't a problem to combine, but in a town like Burgos, the train station and bus station are far apart. What towns would have to switch?
I do see some direct trains to Leon from Madrid Chamartin station in the afternoons. When were you wanting to travel?
Thank you so much for all your tips on train travel & accommodations. It is much appreciated.I would say mid-afternoon to give yourself plenty of time. You can take the intra-airport shuttle to get from T1 to T4. It stops at all the terminals and is free...catch it out front of the terminal where all the other buses and shuttles stop. Or you can take a cab directly to the train station from the airport which will probably save some time although not money unless you are traveling with several people together.
I always spend the first night in Madrid to get over my jet lag, but that may not work for everyone. I always make sure my hotel will let me check in early if needed. I have a sleep disorder and just cannot "power through" and think clearly. Need some actual CPAP time to get the rest I need and I don't sleep well on the plane. I either stay out at one of the soul-less airport hotels with a free shuttle or I take the Yellow Express into town and stay near the Atocha station (if I am leaving from there the next day). I have not found any good quiet hotels to my liking near Chamartin yet. I usually just return to the airport on the shuttle the next morning and take the C train to Chamartin from Terminal 4. Others may have a recommendation to share.
I almost always stay at a Marriott or AC hotel in Madrid, Logrono, Burgos, Leon, Ponferrada, and Santiago when I am there. (Also stayed at the one in Bilbao last summer. There used to be one in Pamplona, too, but it has closed.) I am a long-time Platinum Marriott club member and use points to stay for free. The hotels are quiet and comfortable, but that is not everyone's taste. I especially love their pillows and I know I will sleep well. There are a couple close to the airport and one near Atocha station that I most often use in Madrid.
Ive taken that bus from the terminal and it was way better than the train I took the previous time. You can relax in the airport cafe while you wait. The bus was luxurious, cheaper and faster than the train option. Reclining seats, footrests, free water, snacks, wifi, a seatback screen and toilets. My husband was impressed. I havent had a bad bus experience in Spain, but I wouldn't repeat the train trip, first having to go into Madrid for the station, waiting for the train, then having a weird guy lurking around the toilet area the whole time (despite being chased away by Spanish ladies from time to time), a toilet door that wouldn't lock, and semi comfortable seats, no footrest, no food or water. And twice the price.I was wanting to travel from Madrid to Leon by train. However, on the day I am planning to travel , there appears to only be combination train/bus options avalable as I won't arrive from overseas and clear Customs until at least noon.
Has anyone had experience with this combo type of travel ?
I am actually thinking that my best option is to catch the Alsa bus at Airport Terminal 4
Ive always had a good experience with Alsa, but you certainly don't want to dawdle to the station - they leave on the dot.I like both train and bus and there are different classes for each.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?