Alsa Bus between Portugal and Spain

Old Dec 6th, 2013, 08:51 AM
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Alsa Bus between Portugal and Spain

Hello everyone,
I'm planning a trip to Portugal and Spain in early 2014. I will spend a couple of days in Lisbon and then take the Alsa overnight bus from Lisbon to Madrid (only 7 or 8 hours so it's not too bad, right? Plus it saves me one night of hotel . I have some quick questions about Alsa.
- How was everyone's experience with Alsa especially their overnight bus? Did anyone take the same route?
- Do online tickets and booth tickets have the same price? I see the online ticket is about 40 euros, but there is definitely something wrong with the site. Sometimes it's accessible, sometimes it's not.
- At the moment, I'm planning to spend 4 days in Lisbon but depending on how I will like it, I will stay an extra day or leave earlier for Madrid. Is it possible to change the date of travel on your Alsa bus tickets without incurring additional charge?

Thank you for your responses. Much appreciated!
confused20s is offline  
Old Dec 6th, 2013, 11:33 AM
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this was on their webpage just below where you manage your tickets/ reservations

TICKET CANCELLATION
For national and international tickets:Tickets can only be cancelled if the request is made at least 2 hours before the start of the service, with the passenger going to one of the company¿s sales points or establishments. The tickets acquired via the information and sales service, 902 422242, or the webpage www.alsa.es can be cancelled via the same channels where they were bought and provided that the tickets have not been issued.
In the case of cancelation the company shall refund the passenger the full amount of the ticket is requested at least 48 hours before the departure. If the cancelation is requested between 24 and 48 hours, the company shall refund the amount of the ticket minus 10%. In the event that the cancelation is requested less than 24 hours before 20% shall be deducted from the amount of the ticket.
The tickets bought using a bank card can only be cancelled against the card which made the purchase.
Tickets purchased through the PayPal payment system can only be cancelled through the ALSA website. Under no circumstance can the cancellation be done at the point of sale or through the telephone service.

If the passenger fails to attend the departure place and the right time they shall lose the trip and shall not be entitled to change the ticket or to any refund.
Bus Plus cardholders will not be charged for cancellations.
For national tickets: In the case of tickets which have already been changed, 20% shall be deducted from the amount when requested more than 48 hours in advance. For this type of ticket, the cancellation fee shall be 30% when requested between 48 and 24 hours before and 40% of its amount when requested less than 24 hours before the start of the service.
CHANGE OF TICKETS
For national and international tickets: Changing the date or time of the trip is only possible if requested at least 2 hours before the start of the service and is conditional on the availability of seat on the new date or time requested.
The tickets acquired via the information and sales service, 902 422242, or the webpage www.alsa.es can be cancelled via the same channels where they were bought and provided that the tickets have not been issued.
For national tickets: One change per ticket is accepted, with no fee, when requested at least 48 hours before the date of the service. An additional surcharge of 5% shall be applied to the price of the ticket for those change which are requested between 24 and 48 hours in advance. In the event that the change is requested at least 24 hours in advance, a 10% surcharge shall be applied to the ticket price.
A 20% surcharge shall be applied to the second and successive changes to the tickets when requested at least 24 in advance. In the event that these changes are requested less than 24 hours in advance, the surcharge shall be applied to the ticket price.
For international tickets: International ticket changes are free of charge.


I see the bus stops in merida and caceres.. if I were you, I'd try to spend part of a day at one of those towns and catch then a later bus to Madrid. Really interesting places full of history even itf it cost a little more.

OR I'd FLY to madrid from Lisbon. Easyjet should be very cheap if you book ahead of time. carryon luggage has a size but no weight limit. and to book one case shouldn´t be too expensive.
lincasanova is offline  
Old Dec 6th, 2013, 11:50 AM
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Hi,

Ive taken Alsa buses several times, the longest trip I took was 5 hrs, between Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela. I found the seats very comfortable, specially if they're the Supra class.
I think the seats purchased online have like a 1-2 euros service charge. I've always had to call to make the reservation because the website wouldnt accept my credit card.
cruiseluv is offline  
Old Dec 7th, 2013, 05:24 AM
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Don't endure a bus seat - or resort to flying and all that airport security and extra cost getting to and from airports.

Go to www.renfe.com and book a bed in a 'Turista Cama' (4-bed Tourist class sleeper) on the overnight Lusitania Express, with print-at-home tickets.

Departs Lisbon Santa Apolonia, a stroll from Lisbon's city centre at 21:18 and arrives Madrid Chamartin 08:20.

It's a little articulated air-conditioned Talgo 'Trainhotel' with cosy bedrooms and a cafe-bar.

If you pre-book, Promo or Promo+ tickets cost €33 or €37 including that proper bed.
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Old Dec 7th, 2013, 05:58 AM
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Thank you lincasanova and cruiseluv. Just the information I need
confused20s is offline  
Old Dec 7th, 2013, 06:04 AM
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Man_in_seat_61: thank you, saw your post just now. I did look at renfe and was scared away initially by the exorbitant prices. But 33 or 37 euros, hmm, that is similar to the bus so I'm definitely checking it out again.
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Old Dec 7th, 2013, 06:55 AM
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I was going to post about the train when man-in-seat61 beat me to it. I can't sleep sitting up, so I would always take the train if I had the option. Even for shorter journeys I prefer the train - you can get up and walk around, easier to use the toilet (if there even is one on the bus), more room, sometimes even edible food.
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Old Dec 7th, 2013, 08:16 AM
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You have also cheaper tickets with seated Tourist-2ªclass tickets 24,2€ (Promo) or 27,2€ (Promo+).

From the public transportation system point of view, Santa Apolónia train station is still "centre" Lisbon so you have many buses to the station, from downtown Praça do Comércio, like the 728, 735, 759, 781, 782, 794 buses, either they stop 2 or 4 times in the trip. Pretty close.
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Old Dec 7th, 2013, 08:24 AM
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ups, i forgot

You also have the direct metro connection Terreiro do Paço=Santa Apolónia, blue line.
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