Buying train tickets in Granada?
 

Hello, I haven't had any luck purchasing train tickets through Renfe's website, like many posters here. I'm flying to Granada this weekend (from DC via London) arriving Sunday morning, and I'm only staying one night. Monday I want to take the train to Sevilla in the afternoon.

Would I be taking a risk by waiting until Monday to purchase the train ticket? If so, I was thinking of taking a cab from the airport Sunday morning directly to the train station to purchase my ticket for Monday before heading to my hotel. I assume the ticket office at the station must be open on Sunday, right?

I don't suppose there's anyway to buy a ticket while I'm in London on Saturday, is there, like at Pancras? I didn't realize how arriving on a weekend could narrow my options so dramatically.

Thanks.

It may be too late to purchase a ticket through Rail Europe, but you might want to check it out. Otherwise, you can purchase a ticket at the Renfe office at the airport. There is one in T1 and one in T4.

Have you considered taking the bus from Granada to Seville? It takes about the same amount of time, and the buses run more frequently than the trains. You can buy your bus tickets in advance:
http://www2.alsa.es/

Waffle,
I would take the bus rather than the train because of the more frequent departures. As yk says, it's just as speedy and comfortable.

Thanks for all the responses.

Robert, which airport has a Renfe office?

I could buy through Rail Europe, but it is more expensive. I might spend the money just for the peace of mind, though.

I also would have no problem taking the bus, but my husband hates the bus and would much rather take the train.

<i>but my husband hates the bus and would much rather take the train. </i>

But at the expense of:
1) You worrying whether you'd be able to buy the Renfe tix in advance
2) Additional cost for either: taking taxi to Granada's train station to buy tix the night before; or buying marked-up tickets from RailEurope

The bus ride is under 3 hours. The bus I took was new and clean, and the driver was courteous.

Waffle,
The Madrid airport has two Renfe offices-one in T4 and the other in T1, but that won't be of use to you coming directly from London.

The Alsa buses that run from Granada-Seville are really quite comfortable-not like a US Greyhound.

But if you really want to go from Granada to Seville by train, just take a taxi from the airport to the Granada train station on the Avenida de Andaluces and buy your ticket there. It will be open.

Yes, I figured that was the Madrid airport. Oh well!

Thank you again for all the information--it was very helpful.

There is absolutely no need to purchase tickets in advance. We just returned yesterday from that area (Madrid, Cordova, Sevilla, Granada, Malaga) The Christmas/New Years is a high travel time especially for locals. By next week will be way down. Bought all of our tickets (2nd class) the day of or day before with no problems. For the most part, there are trains going every hours with lots of capacity. Relax !! You will be fine.

I could buy through Rail Europe, but it is more expensive. I might spend the money just for the peace of mind, though.&gt;

While i echo others here that you should be easily able to buy a train or bus ticket for that route once there for peace of mind you may want to go thru Raileurope and if so i always recommend calling BETS 800-441-2387 and ask for Byron who i have dealt with for years and is an expert on this - but also because BETS i believe does not have all the mailing charges RE does, even though they, like most U.S. agents work thru them. And sometimes RE can even have reduced fare tickets like online. But i think the price even with RE for this ducat would be not be that expensive and then you could just board the train and have a reserved seat awaiting you if they are required on that train as many trains in Spain do require.

Just a clarification about the daily train departures, Granada-Seville:

There are only 4 daily trains, two in the am, departing at 9:19 and 11 and two in the afternoon, with departures at 6:32 and 8:20. There aren't hourly departures on this route.

That said, you should have no problem waiting until your Sun. arrival in Granada to purchase your ticket, or even on Mon. morning, due to the slow down in traffic after the holidays.

But if you really must take the train rather than the bus and want that reservation ahead of time, you can call the Renfe international sales number:

902 24 34 02
from 7 am until 11 pm Spain time.
You can purchase your ticket with c.c. by phone. You'll be given a localizer number to use to pick up your tickets at the self-service kiosk at the train station.

This avoids the extra taxi fare from the Granada airport to the Renfe station on Sunday morning. That way you can taxi from the airport directly to your hotel upon arrival in Granada.

For the Moday trains to Seville there aren't any WEB or Estrella fares. You'll be paying the regular fare of 22.70

correction:
The first afternoon train departs at 4:32 pm (16:42)

and the first morning train departure is 8:18 am. I need better reading glasses!