Spain Rail Pass vs France-Spain Pass
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 604
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.
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.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 604
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.
#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.
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.
#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.
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.
#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.
#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.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rtwin80days
Europe
32
Aug 27th, 2012 07:48 AM