artsnletters

My son will be studying in Madrid during July. I said I would buy train tickets and Alhambra tickets for him (he's on a pretty tight budget). He would go on a Friday afternoon and return Sunday evening. The problem is, when I'm on the Renfe site, I can see tickets on Fridays from Madrid to Granada, but it finds no trains at all for Sundays from Granada to Madrid. I wondered if maybe they were sold out, but it's the same every Sunday until it gets too far in advance to get tickets. Surely they can't all be sold out this early? Any idea how I find those return trains and book one? Thanks.

kimhe

Three trains from Granada to Madrid every Sunday evening in July are listed on the Renfe site, at 2.45pm, 5.32pm and 6.50pm.

He should also know that the Veranos de la Villa (Summer in the city) festival goes on in Madrid through all July and August, top artists on stages all around town every night (also some spectacular outdoor venues): http://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/veranos-de-la-villa

On July 18th my favourite artist on the planet, the cutting edge flamenco dancer Rocío Molina goes on stage: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/20...-bosque-ardora

Robert2016

artsnletters,
When you purchase his train tickets, you may want to explain the current Madrid-Granada train situation, since his ticket will read AVE-BUS going down to Granada and BUS-AVE going back to Madrid.

To go to Granada, he'll take the high-speed AVE train only to the AVE Santa Ana station 19 km. outside of the town of Antequera, where he will transfer to a Renfe supplied bus that will take him to Granada, a ride of about 80 minutes (depending on traffic--took us 90). The bus will take him to the rail station rather than the bus station.

The transfer is a simple procedure. There are signs at the station leading passengers to the RENFE-chartered bus.
This is Renfe's temporary transit system until the Madrid-Granada high-speed AVE is completed.

No definitive date for completion of the AVE, but we read a recent article that with luck, maybe by the end of the year, then trials, then maybe available to passengers by the beginning of 2017. But that remains to be seen. It was originally scheduled to be completed by last October.

No rail service in or out of the Granada RENFE station for now, just buses.

kimhe

Perhaps the most easy way would be to take the ALSA bus both ways, frequent departures (thirteen pr. day), some 5 hours travel and a total cost of some 30-35€ roundtrip. https://www.alsa.es/en/our-destinati...madrid-granada

kja

For your time at the Alhambra, I strongly recommend a day-time visit, starting at a time as early as you find reasonable. During the day, you can visit the entire Alhambra, but you will do so with MANY others, so be prepared for crowds.

Then, in the evening of that day (and with a separate reservation), visit the magnificent Nasrid Palace (only) with just a few other visitors. When I was there, everyone who was there spoke very, very quietly, and I found it absolutely magical -- among the most magical of all of my travel moments! I didn't need to learn about what I was seeing -- I had done that during the day. But I got to see this incredible palace with very different lighting, and to smell the flowering shrubs, and hear the fountains, and … well, I'm sure you get it. I was VERY glad that my evening visit to the Nasrid Palace followed my daytime visit to the larger palace.

Since I was there, I believe the Alhambra also offers evening visits to the Generalife, though at only some times of year. If I had the chance, I would snag one of those reservations, too, preferably for the day before the day visit.

Note that advance reservations for the Alhambra are critical.

Best wishes for you and your son, artsnletters. Your "Scruffman" threads were such a delight!

Robert2016

artsnletters,
As I mentioned on another thread, there is a pleasant alternative to the current Renfe AVE-bus situation:

Alsa bus lines has added their Premium service on the Granada-Madrid run, as an alternative to the bus-AVE current service by Renfe.
This Premium service is non-stop, with 2-1 leather seat configuration (like a business class seat), just 38 seats, individual entertainment screens with a selection of 30 movies, a hostess on board serving food/drink, complimentary coffee, water, soft drinks, a special lounge waiting area in the bus station, luggage carrying service (they carry and store your luggage on the bus) and on board Wi-Fi.
More comfortable than the normal Alsa service.


There's a Premium bus departure Madrid-Granada at 9 am and at 3 pm,
and a Granada-Madrid at 9 am and another at 3 pm. The ride is schedule to take 4 1/2 hours. It can be booked a month in advance. Current fare is 43 euros.
Alsa doesn't accept non Spain bank issued credit cards but payment can be made by Pay Pal.

www.alsa.es (it will be listed as Premium rather than Eurobus or normal service)nother thread, there is a new alternative to the current AVE-bus Renfe situation

And another vote for the evening tour, either to the Nasrid Palace or the Generalife. But certainly not in lieu of the day tour, but instead as an enhancement to the total experience.

Robert2016

should read
"ride is scheduled to take 4 1/2 hours" (depending on highway traffic)

"www.alsa.es (it will be listed as Premium rather than
Eurobus or normal service)".

Although the video is in Spanish, you can see the inside of the Alsa Premium buses here-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOwHGyiUPZY

rtwin80days

I think getting to Granada is easier to manage than getting Alhambra tickets, that too in July. Get cracking on that pronto and you'd see why!