MBluebird

Greetings!
Planning a trip this spring to Spain with husband and teen son. Flights and hotels are booked... now trying to fill in the other details. We are staying 3 nights in Madrid (Hotel Liabeny) taking the train to Barcelona and staying 4 nights (LeMeridien) then taking the train back to Madrid for one more night (again at Liabeny) and then flying home (better flight options out of Madrid). I'm within the 60 day window, so I am looking to book our AVE tickets-- but am frankly, confused by all of the fare choices on the renfe site. I'd prefer to have seats in advance, so don't mind paying a little extra for that and want to spend as little time as possible on the train to see as much of these two cities as possible.
Any help you can give would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Sabrina

DebitNM

Great info here:

www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm

PalenQ

I'd prefer to have seats in advance, so don't mind paying a little extra for that and want to spend as little time as possible >

Well by booking as far as possible in advance you'll get the cheapest fare for the exact same seats (or types of seats) as you would on a walk-up basis but for a lot less.

The fares may be those that are non-changeable non-refundable - usually the cheapest - and then flexible and changeable. And then you have first- and second-class seats - you can tell these by the prices -most expensive fully-flexible first class ones.

For lots of answers to your questions check www.seat61.com - great advice on Renfe/AVE tickets -in U.S. https://petrabax.com/renfe/tickets/ sells same prices but a small fee tacked on - maybe you could call someone there for clarification is web site doesn't answer your questions. For general info on say difference between classes check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

As for time AVE trains are the fastest and all are about the same time.

spaarne

<i> AVE Train Advice from Madrid to Barcelona
Posted by: MBluebird on Feb 20, 17 at 2:49pm</i>

The RENFE site is rather intuitive but here is probably more than you need to know about Spanish train classes, http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.h..._train_classes. For an illustrated introduction to the trains of Europe see http://www.enjoy-europe.com/trains-in-europe.htm.

Your Madrid station is Chamartin. If you have time go have a look at Puerta de Atocha station. It has an enclosed tropical garden with a small overlook terrace bar at the far end.

MBluebird

Debit NM & PalenQ:
Thank you SO much for your replies! Seat61.com was the perfect suggestion, it had all of the information that I needed to figure out how to book those tickets (and I used Loco2 which was a lot easier to navigate). One more thing is checked off of my to do list-- thank you again. Now to start booking the "fun" stuff!
Sabrina

Nepenthe

Bookmarking.

danon

"Your Madrid station is Chamartin"

Not to travel to Barcelona or arrive from Barcelona

It is Atocha.

spaarne

<i>danon on Feb 20, 17 at 6:25pm
"Your Madrid station is Chamartin"
Not to travel to Barcelona or arrive from Barcelona
It is Atocha.</i>

I stand corrected. That's good because it is a beautiful place.