- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2018 From Porto
2022 September from SJPDP
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Hola @EmmaATX I am in the "book early"camp also. You can usually book up to 60 days in advance. This gives you the best chance of a forward facing seat. Plus there was a discount for early bookings back in 2013. Not sure if this still applied.Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
+1 for book early. When I rode it in mid-October of 2016 it was pretty full. I booked online beforehand...it was one less thing to worry about at the end of a very long journey.Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
Yes, and yes. Book now ideally.Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
The card must be purchased in person at the Renfe counter. You have to show your passport so they can verify that you are 60 or older. You are then registered in a database. More than once we were "spot checked" and had to show our Tarjeta Dorada when we boarded the train to make sure we really were eligible for the fare.Hello,
I have been scouring the Renfe site and cannot find the spot to purchase the tarmeta doroda card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I don’t think you can purchase it on line. And BTW it is offers no savings the for the fast trainsHello,
I have been scouring the Renfe site and cannot find the spot to purchase the tarmeta doroda card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
There is a Spanish Holiday Oct 13 so that may bleed into before or later for train tickets as many people will take a long weekend. We bought our tickets through the Trainline App which was easier for me in the US than Renfe.I am trying to book a train from Madrid to Leon 1/10/22 but those tickets are not yet available. Then I need another from Santiago to madrid 15/10/22. I will figure it all out. I think I just need to be patient.
I am trying to book a train from Madrid to Leon 1/10/22 but those tickets are not yet available. Then I need another from Santiago to madrid 15/10/22. I will figure it all out. I think I just need to be patient.
Should be a good time to walk weatherwise! Are you saying Oct 1 you need a ticket Madrid to Leon or Jan 10. The European way of writing the date can be tricky, I could see where January wouldn't be available.Hi,
I’ve been using the rail europe app but I will check that too. I will take any and all advice as this my first Camino. It will only be from Sarria, but it’s a start.
You buy the tarjeta dorada in SpainHello,
I have been scouring the Renfe site and cannot find the spot to purchase the tarmeta doroda card. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Decided on the bus. The train (at least from my view) is in the day before and the day after I need. But, the bus is much more affordable. Thanks againOK, I can see tickets on Trainline Oct 15 from Madrid to Santiago from Madrid Chamartin at 8 a.m.,10 a.m. 11:20, 13:15 and 1600. There is more than one train station in Madrid and the trains to Santiago leave from Chamartin usually.
I see a train from Madrid Chamartin to Leon at 14:40 p.m. only. None from Atocha. It might be easier to take a bus and cheaper. Several buses for about half the cost for that day leaving from the airport on Alsa.
My experience is that these trains run at capacity or near capacity. So it is recommendable to buy in advance. Renfe does not make all tickets available at the same time and some October tickets might not yet be available. One other consideration is that 12th October is a national holiday and it might mean there is more demand on 10th October, just possibly.Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
I'm going in October and after checking the trains to Pamplona I chose to fly for 3 hours of extra sleep and 5€ more. I then booked a flight back from Santiago for 35€. I love trains but you can't beat that.Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
Would you please tell us where you can purchase the tarjeta dorada (golden card). I’m in the age of wisdom and discretion I hope. Thanks for the advice.There are relatively few trains on this run; I learned to book my ticket as soon I had determined mky travel dates. IIRC there was a RENFE desk near the pilgrims' office--- perhaps someone can confirm this.
Remember that, if you are of an age of wisdom and discretion (in Spain, 60) you can purchase the tarjeta dorada (golden card) for 6 euro. Do so in advance of your booking (or at the same time) and you can score some astonishing discounts. Much of the time I could ride in preferente (1st) for less than the young folk in steerage.
The Renfe site indicates that you must buy the Tarjeta Dorada in person (at stations or travel agents). https://www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/prepare-your-trip/descuentos/mayores-de-60Would you please tell us where you can purchase the tarjeta dorada (golden card). I’m in the age of wisdom and discretion I hope. Thanks for the advice.
IWould you please tell us where you can purchase the tarjeta dorada (golden card). I’m in the age of wisdom and discretion I hope. Thanks for the advice.
You must buy the Tarjeta Dorada at a Renfe ticket counter where they can look at your passport and register you in the system. You can't buy it online or buy tickets with the discount without the registration number for the card you get at the Renfe counter. It is good from one year of the date of purchase.The Renfe site indicates that you must buy the Tarjeta Dorada in person (at stations or travel agents). https://www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/prepare-your-trip/descuentos/mayores-de-60
Does anyone know if I can purchase a discounted ticket online now (from the U.S.) for the discounted Tarjeta Dorada fare, and then buy my Tarjeta after I arrive in Spain? [Answered my own question, I think; looks like a discounted purchase online requires putting in the number of the Tarjeta Dorada. Which I have not got. Yet. Great prices though, if the train doesn’t sell out before I get to Spain!]
Gracias!I
You must buy the Tarjeta Dorada at a Renfe ticket counter where they can look at your passport and register you in the system. You can't buy it online or buy tickets with the discount without the registration number for the card you get at the Renfe counter. It is good from one year of the date of purchase.
Yes, I would suggest you pre-book. I booked last week for my return to Madrid on Oct. 26 and the premium (comfort) section was already sold out, so now we are forced to travel regular (standard).Are the trains to Madrid from Santiago usually very crowded on a Monday in mid-October?
Is it necessary to prebook train tickets well in advance? Thanks!
My friend who will meet me in Santiago is arriving in Madrid from Canada and taking another flight to Santiago de Compostela it will only cost her something like 68 eurosOK, I can see tickets on Trainline Oct 15 from Madrid to Santiago from Madrid Chamartin at 8 a.m.,10 a.m. 11:20, 13:15 and 1600. There is more than one train station in Madrid and the trains to Santiago leave from Chamartin usually.
I see a train from Madrid Chamartin to Leon at 14:40 p.m. only. None from Atocha. It might be easier to take a bus and cheaper. Several buses for about half the cost for that day leaving from the airport on Alsa.
It’s not really much of a hardship though, is it? Standard class on a Spanish high-speed train feels rather luxurious to those of suffering the UK offering.Yes, I would suggest you pre-book. I booked last week for my return to Madrid on Oct. 26 and the premium (comfort) section was already sold out, so now we are forced to travel regular (standard).
That's right not a hardship, but the point is you may not get the desired seating or worse yet, the train may be sold out hence my recommendation to buy your ticket aheadIt’s not really much of a hardship though, is it? Standard class on a Spanish high-speed train feels rather luxurious to those of suffering the UK offering.
Ok, just be careful of Ouigo routes (Barcelona to Madrid as an example). Double decker seating. Very little legroom. Little storage area, but cheap ticketsIt’s not really much of a hardship though, is it? Standard class on a Spanish high-speed train feels rather luxurious to those of suffering the UK offering.
I can't do the jet lag. I need a night in Madrid and then another sleep on the bus/train the next day. Plane travel is pretty nightmarish right now in Europe and North America. I will take the bus or train myself.My friend who will meet me in Santiago is arriving in Madrid from Canada and taking another flight to Santiago de Compostela it will only cost her something like 68 euros
I am also spending the night in Madrid before taking the train the next day, thank goodness I will have a comfortable seat in comfort zone which includes a mealI can't do the jet lag. I need a night in Madrid and then another sleep on the bus/train the next day. Plane travel is pretty nightmarish right now in Europe and North America. I will take the bus or train myself.
Yes, that is good. The train meals are pretty nice. We had a breakfast unexpectedly that I didn't realize was included on one trip.I am also spending the night in Madrid before taking the train the next day, thank goodness I will have a comfortable seat in comfort zone which includes a meal
Do people go to madrid after camino to catch flights? I noticed compostela flights are hard to find sometimesYes, that is good. The train meals are pretty nice. We had a breakfast unexpectedly that I didn't realize was included on one trip.
Always, in my case. Madrid is; by design; at the heart of the country and has train connections to pretty much everywhere. It’s also a great place to visit.Do people go to madrid after camino to catch flights? I noticed compostela flights are hard to find sometimes
That's how I do it...Do people go to madrid after camino to catch flights? I noticed compostela flights are hard to find sometimes
I've flown home from Madrid and from Porto, which is an easy bus ride from Santiago.Do people go to madrid after camino to catch flights? I noticed compostela flights are hard to find sometimes
One thing to check out if you haven’t bought your tickets to Spain yet, is adding the Santiago to Madrid leg to your original ticket. I fly from the US and find that adding domestic flights both from Madrid to my departure city (Valencia, Almería, Sevilla, Pamplona, Irún, etc) and from Santiago to Madrid usually adds no more than the cost of the extra days you would spend getting to start point and getting back to Madrid.Do people go to madrid after camino to catch flights? I noticed compostela flights are hard to find sometimes
Interesting. I usually book my inbound/return flight from the USA to Madrid and back separately from my in country travel. Usually it's because I want to be flexible about timing and which route I actually want to take.One thing to check out if you haven’t bought your tickets to Spain yet, is adding the Santiago to Madrid leg to your original ticket. I fly from the US and find that adding domestic flights both from Madrid to my departure city (Valencia, Almería, Sevilla, Pamplona, Irún, etc) and from Santiago to Madrid usually adds no more than the cost of the extra days you would spend getting to start point and getting back to Madrid.
If you fly American or another One World partner (like BA and Iberia) it will be much more economical and convenient. And if your flights are all on one ticket, if delays mean you miss your connection, you are protected and the airline will rebook you. We’ve had several threads on this topic recently, and the strong advice from many forum members is never to flly into Madrid in the morning hoping to make a connection to a US-bound flight unless it’s all on one ticket.
That would be quite the risky decision, but maybe you are a high roller. Here’s what could happen (I have seen it). If your Ryan Air flight is late into Madrid, and you miss your international flight back to the US, you are doubly screwed. First, you will lose your ticket from MAD to LAX. Second, you will have to buy a last minute one way ticket from MAD to LAX. I saw this in Madrid, and you can bet there was a lot of screaming and crying. Maybe the young woman whose flight from Greece was late just happened to be particularly rude, but she had to call her parents to get them to use their CC for her ticket. No one was particularly happy that day.guess... but I have been tempted in the past to do the early early flight from SCQ to MAD (Ryan Air) and immediately jump on my original scheduled return flight without leaving the MAD airport.
Yah, that's why I haven't done it! But I've been tempted!That would be quite the risky decision, but maybe you are a high roller. Here’s what could happen (I have seen it). If your Ryan Air flight is late into Madrid, and you miss your international flight back to the US, you are doubly screwed. First, you will lose your ticket from MAD to LAX. Second, you will have to buy a last minute one way ticket from MAD to LAX. I saw this in Madrid, and you can bet there was a lot of screaming and crying. Maybe the young woman whose flight from Greece was late just happened to be particularly rude, but she had to call her parents to get them to use their CC for her ticket. No one was particularly happy that day.
The free thing is for everyday commuters, not for long distance trains.I would book early. I am a german native living in Texas and when I visit home in Germany tickets tend to get more expensive when not booked early. Also keep reading the news as I have read that Spain is planning to have free train service in the month of september - maybe into october as well.
I want to leave Pamplona for St. Jean Pied de Port on August 31 .There is a bus, usually two buses per day in the summer. When are you traveling?
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