Renfe Pass or Eurail - travel from spain
Oct 15th, 2013, 09:45 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Renfe Pass or Eurail - travel from spain
I'm planning on studying abroad in Barcelona in the spring. While I'm there I would like to travel to other countries and see other cities in spain. I'll be there for 4 months and was wondering if i should invest in a eurail pass, a renfe pass, or just buy individual tickets as trips come up. If I do buy a pass which one would you suggest? or is flying a more efficient/cheaper way to see the rest of europe from spain? any help would be much appreciated!
Oct 15th, 2013, 09:55 AM
#2
here are two sites you can use if you are interested in budget airline flights:
www.whichbudget.com
www.skycanner.com
I suggest you bookmark them. Be aware that flights are not always direct.
One good budget possibility out of the main BCN airport is Vueling airlines. Some folks hate them; others like them. Our experience with them has been positive.
Trains will give you the advantage of city center to city center travel.
As to rail passes it is hard to say (same thing with air) if you aren't sure yet where to go. be aware that the traditional Eurail Pass may be difficulty to get once you are already in Europe but there are other pass schemes. But with all of them the same is true: the more you use them the more economical they become.
www.whichbudget.com
www.skycanner.com
I suggest you bookmark them. Be aware that flights are not always direct.
One good budget possibility out of the main BCN airport is Vueling airlines. Some folks hate them; others like them. Our experience with them has been positive.
Trains will give you the advantage of city center to city center travel.
As to rail passes it is hard to say (same thing with air) if you aren't sure yet where to go. be aware that the traditional Eurail Pass may be difficulty to get once you are already in Europe but there are other pass schemes. But with all of them the same is true: the more you use them the more economical they become.
Oct 15th, 2013, 12:00 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes - with vague plans difficult to say whether a Eurail Youthpass (2nd class if under 26 you qualify - over 25 you need to buy the regular Eurailpass (first class) which is much more expensive.
Personally I would look at a 2-month Eurail Global Youth Flexipass, valid on nearly all trains in Europe save those in the U K and from Barcelona there will soon be thru trains to many French towns and there is an overnight train to Paris - if you have a longish break take the overnight train to Paris for a few days, bop over maybe to Switzerland and back down to Spain - and of course the pass would be valid on Spanish trains as well.
And there is a France-Spain Eurail Youthpass - again valid on trains all across Spain and France - cheaper than the regular Eurail - a flexipass - good for X number of unlimited travel days (you decide at time of booking) over a 2-month period - you decide when to use them - need not be consecutive or could be.
Anyway to get a great fix on European trains and passes check out these IMO superb sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. You need not make any decision until you get there and then if you find you want a pass (others in the program may have one, etc) then someone at home can order it for you and send it to you in Spain.
Places easily reached by train from Barcelona - all of southern France and Spain - the French Riviera, Switzerland (talking about school breaks) - and from Barcelona there is an overnight ferry to Italy that honors Eurailpasses for a sizable discount - if you have a week sail to Italy!
Personally I would look at a 2-month Eurail Global Youth Flexipass, valid on nearly all trains in Europe save those in the U K and from Barcelona there will soon be thru trains to many French towns and there is an overnight train to Paris - if you have a longish break take the overnight train to Paris for a few days, bop over maybe to Switzerland and back down to Spain - and of course the pass would be valid on Spanish trains as well.
And there is a France-Spain Eurail Youthpass - again valid on trains all across Spain and France - cheaper than the regular Eurail - a flexipass - good for X number of unlimited travel days (you decide at time of booking) over a 2-month period - you decide when to use them - need not be consecutive or could be.
Anyway to get a great fix on European trains and passes check out these IMO superb sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. You need not make any decision until you get there and then if you find you want a pass (others in the program may have one, etc) then someone at home can order it for you and send it to you in Spain.
Places easily reached by train from Barcelona - all of southern France and Spain - the French Riviera, Switzerland (talking about school breaks) - and from Barcelona there is an overnight ferry to Italy that honors Eurailpasses for a sizable discount - if you have a week sail to Italy!
Oct 15th, 2013, 01:38 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
www.renfe.com is the Spanish Railways official site - if you book well in advance you can get discounted tickets but I believe those cannot be changed nor refunded once issued so you lose flexibility to hop on say the train to Madrid for a weekend without paying full fare - so advance planning there is a key to saving money.
Spain also has an extensive bus system that is cheaper than the train and often just as quick.
Spain also has an extensive bus system that is cheaper than the train and often just as quick.
Oct 15th, 2013, 02:06 PM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you do opt for a Eurail Pass, you still have to reserve a seat on any international train and all medium and long distance trains within Spain.
Renfe does offer the Spain Pass for non-residents, which might be a good option for you (http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/via...ass/index.html).
Renfe does offer the Spain Pass for non-residents, which might be a good option for you (http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/via...ass/index.html).
Oct 16th, 2013, 05:48 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The France-Spain pass I believe does not cost that much more than a straight up Spain Pass - expands your horizons a bit - places in France that can be easy weekends include Carcassonne, Toulouse and the nice coastal area from the Spanish border to Montepllier.
Oct 16th, 2013, 12:29 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In Spain like Robert says you must have seat reservations for all but local trains and these cost about $10-15 a pop for pass holders (plus using a day on a pass) I think - something to factor in if riding several trains - in France you'll pay 3 euros on most TGVs but many other trains just hop on - liek many of those from the Spanish border to places nearby.
Oct 17th, 2013, 08:48 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oddly enough for folks under 26 the France-Spain railpass is cheaper than the Spain only railpass!
For example a 10-day flexipass for Spain costs more than the same length of a France-Spain Pass ($470 for 10 days or $47/day or about 32 euros a day - better than the discounted and highly restricted fares - this is because the Spain Railpass does not have a Youthpass rate but the France-Spain pass does!
So you would never consider a Spain only railpass even if traveling only in Spain as the France-Spain pass, if under 26, would be much cheaper and cover everything the Sapin Railpass would.
For example a 10-day flexipass for Spain costs more than the same length of a France-Spain Pass ($470 for 10 days or $47/day or about 32 euros a day - better than the discounted and highly restricted fares - this is because the Spain Railpass does not have a Youthpass rate but the France-Spain pass does!
So you would never consider a Spain only railpass even if traveling only in Spain as the France-Spain pass, if under 26, would be much cheaper and cover everything the Sapin Railpass would.
