Spain Rail Pass vs France-Spain Pass

Old Apr 11th, 2014, 05:36 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Spain Rail Pass vs France-Spain Pass

After comparing the prices for the Eurail Spain pass and the France-Spain pass, I was surprised to see that the two country pass was cheaper for the same number of days. Initially I thought it was significant, but then read more closely and saw that the free day currently being offered on the two country pass had already been figured in, so that a 7 day pass was actually the price of what would usually be a 6 day pass. Even so, the France-Spain pass is a bit cheaper. Is there any reason for this? I am purchasing a pass for my college-aged son, who will likely just travel in Spain and fly to London from Barcelona. (The Portugal-Spain pass is significantly more, and he can buy a separate ticket from Lisbon to Faro, with bus from Faro to Seville - or bus all the way from Lisbon - which will be his only travel involving Portugal.) My thinking is that the France-Spain pass would give him the option of taking the train to Paris and the Eurostar to London if there is an airline strike as happened when my daughter needed to get from Barcelona to London for a flight home while she was in college.

Also, does anyone know how much the reservations usually add to the cost of rail travel in Spain? I haven't found the Renfe site to be very user friendly.

Finally, his planned itinerary is Lisbon-Seville-Cadiz-Cordoba-Granada-Madrid-Barcelona. Does this sound like the most workable sequence since he is booked into Lisbon and plans to depart from Barcelona?

Thanks for sharing your expertise.
drchris is offline  
Old Apr 11th, 2014, 08:02 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
He's going to visit all those places in 7 days? Is he being punished for something?

Seriously, take a look at the transit times and you will see that it is an unrealistic itinerary.
Seamus is offline  
Old Apr 12th, 2014, 07:30 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A rail pass can be used for a certain of days of travel any time within a 2 month period. He wil be in Lisbon for about 3 days and then traveling around Spain for another 18 days or so. I used the 7 day pass as an example. All of the France-Spain passes are less expensive than the Spain only pass and I was just curious as to why that might be.
drchris is offline  
Old Apr 12th, 2014, 07:38 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't know why that may be true but it is - but the France-Spain pass cannot be used on Eurostar to London but I guess you're thinking it could get him to Paris (overnight train from Perpignan to Paris)

reservations cost about 10 euros for long-distance trains in Spain and 3 euros for France on most.

For more on trains in those countries and passes check out these IMO fantstic sources: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (I have bought passes from Byron there for years - he will willingly answer any questions expertly IME even if not buying!); www.ricksteves.com.

Trains in Portugal are still quite cheap.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Apr 12th, 2014, 08:54 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ah, now that makes more sense!
Seamus is offline  
Old Apr 12th, 2014, 01:17 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes most passes are 'flexi passes' flexible on when you want to use an unlimited calendar travel day within a two-month, some times a one-moth perid with one-country passes - days do not have to be consecutive.

If taking an overnight train after 7 pm you put the next day's date in - meaning you could relocated from say Barcelona to Seville and then use the train all the next day to go somewhere else - all on one day on a flexipass. It's called the 7pm rule and nearly every railpass type honors this.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014, 08:05 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are also ferries from Santander and Bilbao to the U K - Portsmouth, not far from London by train - it's a long 24-hour voyage but these large ships have many conveyances like bars, movies, etc.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014, 01:54 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PalenQ - Hadn't had time to look for ferries though I thought there must be some. I'll check them out.
drchris is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014, 03:57 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Check Brittany Ferries which serves Santander and Bilbao to Portsmouth. Look for foot passenger fare - these are car ferries so the price includes a car but there is often a special fare for foot passengers.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014, 08:14 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/fe.../ferries-spain
PalenQ is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
soflc
Europe
6
Jul 13th, 2016 11:23 AM
ashleyebrown
Europe
7
Oct 17th, 2013 08:48 AM
rtwin80days
Europe
32
Aug 27th, 2012 07:48 AM
inquisitive
Europe
6
Sep 4th, 2011 07:58 AM
cuenca23
Europe
36
Jun 4th, 2007 07:42 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -