cgreer426

Hello. Im trying to coordinate a trip to Madrid with six people: me and my husband, two of my husband's soccer buddies (who also will have been in London with us for four days before we go to Madrid), and two sisters of a friend who are meeting us in Madrid. We arrive in Madrid on Oct. 21, the sisters are arriving on Oct. 23.
The sisters and I agree that we're doing a day trip to Toledo on Friday, Oct. 25 (with or without the guys). I figured we'd just show up at Atocha and get the next train. One of the sisters read that we should buy our tickets ahead of time, maybe before we even go to Spain.
I've read conflicting things on the forums: we should get our tickets weeks in advance, days in advance, or not in advance. I just don't want to be the bad guy if something goers wrong.
Any advice, including options for buses?
Thanks for your help.

gh21

We did this trip earlier in 2014. No need to purchase in advance. Just purchase round trip tickets at Atocha. As Toledo is quite hilly, we took a cab from Atoledo train station to the main square and vice versa.

basingstoke2

there is also a bus if you like. If you can, consider spending the night there. Toledo takes on a completely different character that is worth experiencing after the day trippers leave.

kja

I second basingstoke2's suggestion -- not only is Toledo especially wonderful after day trippers leave, but moreover, there is more than enough to do in Toledo to justify 2 full days there.

Enjoy!

WillTravel

I did so love staying overnight in Toledo, so I also recommend that. It's an amazing place. I was lucky enough to come across a town fiesta that night, so that definitely helped.

Sassafrass

Basingstoke2 and Kja are both right. After many nights in places in Europe that I do not even remember, I was so glad we stayed overnight in Toledo. Our evening in Toledo is one that always stands out in my memory.

cgreer426

Thank you all for your advice. I have stayed in Toledo, and I agree with you about that being the best option. But it's not an option for us this time.
I looked at the train times, and they're not very convenient, especially returning. I'm going to look up buses now, but if anyone has tips on that, I would appreciate it.

anyegr

I bought my tickets in advance, but realized later it wasn't necessary. The price is the same if you buy the same day as if you buy three months in advance (please note that there is a price difference for longer trips). And buying in advance locks you into a specific day and time.

On the other hand, if there are six of you there is a slight risk that you may not get to sit all together if you buy at the last minute. But it's only a half hour trip, after all.

When you get to Toledo train station it's a bit away from the actual town. You can jump on the HOHO bus or take a taxi. I doubt you could get six people into one taxi, but even if you split up in two groups it may be cheaper than the HOHO bus. Not sure, since I travelled solo and did not ask about taxi prices.

Christina

There isn't any place in Europe where I imagine it would be necessary to buy tickets in advance for such short-distance trips. I can't imagine who would have said that. Maybe you are confusing advice, people say that about long-distance expensive train trips because for them, it is true there are often cheaper tickets if bought far in advance, and they have seat reservations, also.

I just took the bus, it's cheap and drops you off closer to the center of town.

MaineGG

If you do take the train, take a few minutes to admire the beautiful station there. Although built in the early 20th century, it is Moorish in style and has been classified as a national monument.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tole...ed=0CAkQ_AUoAg

Also, perhaps it was a typo, but October 25 is a Saturday, not Friday as you indicated in your post.

joannyc

When I went the train was sold out. I had to wait a couple of hours for the next train.

Christina

The bus leaves from Plaza Eliptica metro station, to the south of Madrid. It's run by ALSA, here's the website
http://www.alsa.es/en/

I think I bought the ticket from the busdriver but had small cash on me. They also have ticket machines, but you might need chip credit cards for those, I don't recall. The metro station is quite large with several levels, so leave enough time to figure things out there, if you don't know it. The bus doesn't leave from the main ground floor, as I recall.

There are buses all the time, about every hour, see the schedule, some are express. It costs about 10 euro roundtrip.

It leaves you off at the main bus station and you can walk to the center but it's up on a hill, or take a short taxi ride or the local bus no. 5 which goes right into the very center.

This is main info on methods
http://www.go-toledo.com/transport/

basingstoke2

I agree with Christina about taking a bus rather than the train. The bus leaves you off within an easy walk to center city while the train does not. It does not take appreciably longer - as I recall it was under an hour.

chapla

I love taking the bus to Toledo Segovia etc.The bus is like atour bus w/comfortable seats A/C etc. I think I remeber that the seats are assigned but it's a short ride and as someone already mentioned, it's an easy walk to town.Years ago, the bus usedd to take right in to town. Make sure to stop by the tourist office and get a good map-easy to get confused in Toledo!

Christina

I really like buses in Spain, also, they are very nice and comfortable. The express one takes 1 hr, which is just a little longer than the train. There are some others that take up to 1:30, I believe. I don't think there are any assigned seats, which is why you line up and getting at the front of the line gives you your pick.