mamamia2

Hi, Fodorers:

Planning our late-August trip to Spain, we have net 4.5 days in Madrid, after 4.5 days in Barcelona and 2 in Girona. Of those 4.5 Madrid days we want to spend 3 days on day-trips outside, using the train, and we even found accommodation very close to the Atocha station to make it easier for us.

2 questions:
1. We need to choose 3 destinations (different enough in style or atmosphere) out of this list: Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca, Avila or Salamanca.
2. Does it make sense to do an online purchase of a train-pass for a couple for those 3 round-trips, so that we're free with our itinerary and can jump on a train in the last minute?

Thanks!

Robert2533

Trains to the destinations you've mentioned all require reservations. Buying the tickets ahead of time (online) will save you some money and guarantee you'll be able to take the train you want.

Each of the destinations are different and have their own style and atmosphere.

kimhe

I think it would be a very bad idea to go out of Madrid for 3 out of 4,5 days. Toledo and Segovia are fine and recommendable day-trips, but very few things beats the vibe, energy and cultural scene in extremely diverse Madrid. Madrid has its very majestic side, but the city center is at the same time almost a set-up of different and very local feel and pretty easy-going small villages. The museums, the cafés, the food, the parks, the neighbourhoods, the bars, the nightlife, the theaters, the concerts etc etc you don't find anywhere else.
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

sagan55

I can't help you much with the train ticket particulars as I haven't been to Madrid since 2001, right before the euro replaced the peseta.

It depends on what you like, but my choice would be Toledo, Salamanca, and Cuenca.

I have very pleasant memories of Cuenca. I can't remember if there was any train service at all from Madrid, but I ended up taking a bus, which turned out great. I don't remember how long the trip was because I enjoyed it so much--nice conversation with the person next to me and some interesting landscapes along the way--almost lunar. As you probably know there's an AVE train now which I think started just a couple years ago.

Cuenca's old town is quite pleasant and there's an abstract art museum in one of the hanging houses that is spectacular. It's one of my all-time favorites, but then I tend to gravitate toward smaller museums. The view of the dry, craggy rockface and valley below is breathtaking.

I was there in November so it was very quiet and somewhat gray and melancholy, but in a good way. Very serene.

sagan55

My apologies, I missed the fact that you would only be in Madrid for 5 days or so. Kimhe is right, so much to see in Madrid, but of course it depends on your interests.

danon

Salamanca is along way from Madrid..not really a good day trip
Three day trips in four days seems like a lot of traveling to and from ...but, if you
are not interested in Madrid, it can be done.

lincasanova

Cuenca is about 50 minutes on the AVE now, so very easy to do a day trip there. Salamanca is too far for a day trip as danon has pointed out.. Avila is on the way to Salamanca.. nice to do together one day when you can overnight.

Segovia, Toledo and Cuenca would be my choices.

However, I also agree that going outside the city so much with so little time for Madrid seems a shame.

danon

one more point...in all three cities Lin mentioned, one has to take a bus (or tax) from the
train station to town.... Only several Km.

BigRuss

Well, I'd want to go to Salamanca, but there's no AVE service and that means it's not a "day" trip - it would need an overnight.

Staying near Atocha doesn't do a thing for Segovia, the Madrid-Segovia train is from Chamartin. That's a long ride on the #1 metro or a moderate ride on the Cercanias from Atocha.

After visiting both, Segovia is a bit like Toledo junior and Toledo is the better version. Madrid is worth more time than what you're devoting to it.

mamamia2

Thanks for all the info, and in such short time, fellow Fodorites!

After spending 4.5 days in Barcelona we felt Madrid would have less to offer... But OK, so maybe we'll take only 2 day-trips, and based on the above choose Toledo and Cuenca....

Question: Still, makes no sense to buy a pass for those 2 trips? Or (if we prefer to save time) must we commit in advance to certain dates and times for each train ride, which, of course is much less convenient and makes things more tense (after all, we're going there for vacation...)...

danon

You don't have to buy tickets ahead of time...some trains to Toledo sell out, but. A day ahead worked for us.

Christina

What kind of pass are you talking about? The only rail passes I know are really really expensive and never make sense for short local day trips even if you did one every day, but I can't imagine it would for only 2 of them. What does it cost?
I know the Spain Eurailpass costs $252 at a minimum for 3 days, that's the least you can buy.

I don't know what you mean about commit in advance for dates, you can buy tickets at the train station when you want to go. I took the bus to Toledo, anyway, I don't think the train saves you much, if any time, and the bus drops you closer to the city center. You don't need to do that in advance, for sure, not sure if you can. It was extremely cheap. But if you don't know any Spanish and aren't good with logisitics, the train station departure point in Madrid may be easier for you to find. The bus station is on a certain level in Plaza Eliptica metro station. It helps if you can read signs and maybe ask directions when you get there as it was a little confusing there to find the bus station kiosk and the right door, as I recall. Of course the train isn't expensive, but the bus is even less (about 10 euro roundtrip or less). If you are concerned about having train tickets in advance, it's an option though. I think buses leave about every half hour or so, at least in the morning. This is the bus company http://www.alsa.es/en/

lincasanova

These are the passes I assume she is talking about. I don't think, with all the discounts on advance purchased tickets for long distance, that these passes would be worth it. But it is fairly easy to do the numbers.

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/via...s/precios.html

mamamia2

What I was asking is whether one can purchase those train tickets and use them on any day, at any time, like subway tickets, or, like airline tickets, one must show up to a certain trip...

I guess the later is the right answer, so what I'll do is purchase train tickets for all our trips at one time, when I'm at the train station.

lincasanova

Take note, as mentioned, that there are two major train stations in Madrid. Atocha and Chamartin.

chapla

I prefer to take the comfortable air conditioned coach bus to Segovia,easy, cheaper and short walk down to the aqueductdown. Get an early start-about 9 AM .Have lunch in Segovia or go back to the bus station and take the 10 minute bus ride out to La Granja and have lunch there.I don't like the palace but the grounds and fountains are wonderful! You make be lucky and catch the bus back to Madrid from La Granja!
I love Cuenca and once again I take the bus.You will need to take another bus to the old part of town-steep walk.
Just a reminder, in August Spain will be super hot,take it easy!The good news is it stays light even after after 9 PM so you can keep on sight seeing!

mamamia2

Knowing I can save lots of money reserving train tickets in advance, I'm having a REALLY hard time making reservations for Barcelona-Girona, and then Girona-Madrid... I mean it's PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE, and my CC company explains that the reason is Europe using a more sophisticated CCs that we don't use... I tried my Capital One Visa, and my Amex as well... I tried calling Renfe by phone (011-34-902-320-320), but I get some blurred recorded message that seems to ask me to dial the number I want...

ANY HELP?!?!?!

mamamia2

Hey, I actually solved it... I found this (seems like British) website called loco2.com and was able to order the tickets, though using Pounds, and pay a bit more in $US, but it did the job...

cruiseluv

Well, not much to add here but I would like to say I agree, that if this is your first time to Madrid you would really shortchange it by doing all those day trips. Frankly I would just pick one, Toledo or Segovia. As it has been mentioned , Madrid has a great vibe, its a very energetic city with lots to offer culturally, food, entertainment, etc. I never get tired of visiting it and always find something new. If weather is nice spend some time on Retiro Park, its lovely. Enjoy!

mamamia2

...So, after 4.5 days in Barcelona, though we (a 60 year old couple) plan to visit both, Toledo (30 min train ride) and Cuenca (1 hour) — if we MUST CHOOSE between the two for our only day trip from Madrid — which one should we go for (asking those who've visited both)?

I must say to me Cuenca seems like more enchanting...