It seems that one of the major travel websites could solve your problems. I have just suggested in on another thread, and www.rumbo.es even offers the web and estrella fares.

Go to the tab that says "Trenes". Perhaps this website has an English version. I have not looked into that. You should have no credit card problems at this website. I have used them for years, (although I admit I have a Spanish card).

Good luck everyone.

www.edreams.com also offers "tren" tab.

lincasanova,

A ciber beer to enzian and yourself.

I have run a couple of trials on www.rumbo.es

One example.
Madrid to Malaga 7th March journey 1235 hrs., one way.
Renfe - web fare €35.10
Rumbo - Total €42.20.
Comprising web fare €34.20(?)
plus management fee per ticket of €13.00
less discount of €5.00 per ticket.
Total €42.20

I have checked for two people and the same pluses and minuses apply.

Certainly Rumbo will give a saving on both normal fare and estrella fare if you you have the frustrations of the credit card connectivity from outside Europe.

Best wishes.

...and there is no problem with credit card security/connectivity on Rumbo.

Maybe renfe will get their act together one day

Hi, lin,
I passed this information along to a Camino de Santiago forum, because many of the people who walk the Camino are from out of the country and want to buy train tickets. One person tried to do it but was unable to complete the transaction. Here's his report:

It did not go so well! It started so promisingly, by saying that the price I enquired about [Madrid to Seville] was 32 euro, cheaper than the renfe rate. Then it promised me a 5 euro discount. Even better! But the next window imposed a 13 euro management fee, so the total became 40 euro, still not too bad. I filled in the various fields, and gave my credit card details, and pressed continue. Then it refused the transaction because I could not give a mobile phone number for a Spanish, Portugese or English number. I had spent an hour on the renfe website prior to this, where I struck a brick wall because it refused to accept that I lived in Australia and had an Australian phone numger. Good grief, as Charlie Brown used to say. Where is the nearest travel agent? And where is that bottle of vino tinto?

I suppose you could just make up a phone number, but wonder what problem that might cause. Any ideas?

Thank you.

We were able to purchase tickets on the Renfe website for a client two days ago using the clients VISA, which had been verified by the bank in December, without any problem. If you have your bank verify your VISA or MC prior to trying to buy your tickets, then you shouldn't have any problems using the Renfe website, at least in theory. Of course the problem now is that there are so few ‘web’ fares available on many of the popular routes.

It appears that Renfe's customer service is unaware of how the website actually works, which is really not unusual, a typical "need to know" situation.

Rumbo.es is similar to Expedia and sells just about everything under the sun.

they MAY send your confirmation to a cell phone at rumbo... hmm.. wonder how we can solve this problem..besides the good advice of Visa verified.

I have written them.. we'll see what they suggest, if anything.

They have already responded!!!

They SAY their website is set up to accept foreign phone numbers and need more exact info on the error that appears.

So all I can say is to try again, or write them yourselves ,,(seems they are quick to answer9 at [email protected] and perhaps they can solve your problems directly.

Good luck again.

lin, thanks so much for the info on rumbo.

Although I had little trouble purchasing tickets from Renfe last year ( with Canadian MC), I was already dreading the thought of doing it again (for the tickets in April).
Good to know about alternatives.

lincasanova:

This is way off the subject, but I wanted to say that I had hoped to meet you for coffee in Valencia, but my plans have changed so that I won't be going there.

I have asked a friend to go to Spain with me. She hasn't been to Cordoba or Granada, and I feel that no first-time trip to Spain is complete without seeing the Mezquita and the Alhambra, so I've decided we'll go there, and I'll visit Valencia another time.

It was a nice idea, though.

Well, I know you will have a GREAT time there down south. Valencia's not going anywhere.. look me up if you come back! Hope you had a nice birthday.

Thank you for all the tips. I have finally successfully purchased tickets after days of trying. I tried on Rumbo and they have a much more user-friendly website than Renfe, however after putting in all my information, I was told there was a problem with the supplier and to try again, which I did 3 times.

Fed up, I tried Renfe one more time and lo and behold I was able to purchase tickets with my debit card and I got the webfare YaY! I also didn't have to pay Rumbo's administration fee of 13 Euros so I saved even more money.

I think the trick is just being very lucky and good timing. Also when I purchased my Alhambra tickets the other day I signed up for Visa Verisign on my debit card. I didn't have any problem with using it on the Renfe site. Good luck everyone and just keep trying.

what good news.

You may want to reconsider using your debit card for future online transactions unless your bank is backing it the same way the do credit cards. Only a few banks offer the same level of protection for debit cards as they do credit cards.

All, As expected, Renfe website makes you dance and you never know. Check the thread http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...s.Online..html at tripadvisor by "bennymalaga". Does anyone knows what is "cama preferen" means when booking the trenhotel night train from Barcelona to Granada -- it is some seating class, I guess. It is confusing, to say the least.

Las cabinas de cama Preferente, utilizadas en modalidad individual o doble, disponen de lavabo y elementos de aseo personal así como de teléfono individual para comunicación con el personal de abordo.
La puerta de acceso al departamento tiene cerradura de seguridad mecánica con bloqueo interior, las dimensiones de cada cama son 190 cm. x 77cm.

cabin is single or double with sink, wc and telephone to get in touch with persons on board
door leading to the compartment has a security lock in side
each bed is 190cm x 77cm

you can find description of all options on Renfe page( in Spanish)

http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/larga_...trenhotel.html

same in English

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/lar...trenhotel.html