Madrid to Marbella - What is the least expensive way to travel?
Dec 31st, 2013, 06:30 PM
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Madrid to Marbella - What is the least expensive way to travel?
Flying into Madrid, Spain the end of March 2014. My wife and I will be spending 3 days in Madrid before heading on to Marbella for 7 days. What would be the least expensive public transportation way to travel? We are thinking of renting a car in Malaga and drive ourselves to Marbella. Any recommendations?
Jan 1st, 2014, 01:19 AM
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Do the calculations:
Bus- http://www.alsa.es/en
Train- http://www.renfe.com/
Car hire- http://www.rentalcars.com/
Or a combination of the three???
Do not forget when hiring a car (depending in which country you live in) you may need an I.D.P.
Bus- http://www.alsa.es/en
Train- http://www.renfe.com/
Car hire- http://www.rentalcars.com/
Or a combination of the three???
Do not forget when hiring a car (depending in which country you live in) you may need an I.D.P.
Jan 1st, 2014, 01:21 AM
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'What would be the least expensive public transportation way to travel?'
If it is truly only the expense you are concerned with, you will have to do the monetary comparisons for Madrid to Malaga, but personally, even if bus is cheapest, I would not expend six hours when the train takes about two and a half.
Train - www.renfe.com - and read one of the guides on use of the site and advance discounted ticket purchase - like http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.h..._www.renfe.com
Bus - www.alsa.es
Flights - the likes of skyscanner or whichbudget.com will give the airlines that fly the route.
If it is truly only the expense you are concerned with, you will have to do the monetary comparisons for Madrid to Malaga, but personally, even if bus is cheapest, I would not expend six hours when the train takes about two and a half.
Train - www.renfe.com - and read one of the guides on use of the site and advance discounted ticket purchase - like http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.h..._www.renfe.com
Bus - www.alsa.es
Flights - the likes of skyscanner or whichbudget.com will give the airlines that fly the route.
Jan 1st, 2014, 01:35 AM
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Even if cheapest, I wouldn't recommend bus. The journey is frankly quite boring, except when crossing into Andalucía over a low pass. Otherwise, a monotonous flat landscape of endless olive groves! Again there isn't much going for driving, unless you intend to stop off en route in Toledo, Almagro or Córdoba etc.
Jan 1st, 2014, 04:49 AM
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Yreka:
We were there in september 2013.
We very much enjoyed a 5 days stay in Malaga and a day trip to Marbella. We did Madrid to Malaga on the High speed train AVE and Malaga to Marbella by bus, really inexpensive.
Madrid malaga on the AVE took something less than three hours .
You will certainly enjoy the area. If your base is Marbella, don't omit a visit to the pedestrian zone in Malaga. Also the Alcazaba and the thyssen Musseum.
Of course, ask me if you want to know any thing more.
Enjoy!
We were there in september 2013.
We very much enjoyed a 5 days stay in Malaga and a day trip to Marbella. We did Madrid to Malaga on the High speed train AVE and Malaga to Marbella by bus, really inexpensive.
Madrid malaga on the AVE took something less than three hours .
You will certainly enjoy the area. If your base is Marbella, don't omit a visit to the pedestrian zone in Malaga. Also the Alcazaba and the thyssen Musseum.
Of course, ask me if you want to know any thing more.
Enjoy!
Jun 10th, 2014, 06:49 AM
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I agree with euromom - trains are just so much more relaxing and straightforward. No map reading or hot buses! Also when you get to Marbella you might find this useful http://fuertehoteles.com/img/pdf/guias/MARBELLA_EN.pdf just tell you about the best beaches, eats, tours and everything else, really good for planning!
Jun 10th, 2014, 07:55 AM
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For comfort and ease, would agree w/ train; however, we had rental car, we dropped off our friends at Malaga airport and continued to Marbella. The Malaga rental process was very easy when we returned the car there to catch our int'l flight out of Madrid, key drop box at 4:30 a.m. BUT it was frustrating approaching & driving in Marbella as our hotel was situated in the pedestrian zone, (at great little Town House), and of course the GPS could not get us there. Overnight parking expensive and few blocks away. We ferried over to Puerto Banos (don't miss) but did not explore other cities of Costa del Sol from Marbella. With 7 days you will probably wish to do so. Cannot quantify rental cost, as we had car from Seville/Ronda/Granada/Marbella.
Jun 26th, 2014, 07:18 AM
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There are a number of other guides here (http://fuertehoteles.com/en/download-info/) too if you are interested - Conil looks beautiful!
Jul 17th, 2018, 05:30 AM
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I agree: train is very convenient.
Anyway, if money is an issue, apart from checking buses you might also want to check carpooling's platform BlaBlaCar. If anybody is offering a ride, it is usually faster than the bus and similar price or cheaper.
Anyway, if money is an issue, apart from checking buses you might also want to check carpooling's platform BlaBlaCar. If anybody is offering a ride, it is usually faster than the bus and similar price or cheaper.
