Hi all:

My girlfriend and I are going to Spain & Portugal in 3 weeks! (Nov6-Nov14) We are SUPER excited!

In researching transportation, I've researched numerous sites on Railpasses vs. Point to Point, and obviously, we find that the point to point is much cheaper!

My dilema is the last lag of the journey is getting from Madrid to Lisbon, where we depart. I am finding alot of difficulty getting point to point tickets for a night train on HTL leaving at 10:45pm. I've checked into the Renfe, CP websites, and can't seem to book them online.

Does anyone have any suggestions? My Travel Book suggests just buying the tickets there. How safe are we in doing that, without running the risk of missing our flight?!

PLEASE HELP!!!

~ Thanks much! ...very frustrated, Sofi.

You should not have much problem buying them at any train station in Spain. You could buy them in the U.S. however if you want to put angst to rest and perhaps pay a bit more - not always so check U.S. prices versus www.renfe.es - in the U.S. for any such reservations i always refer folks to BETS (800-441-2387) who are experts in these matters or you could try www.raileurope.com but folks have complained much about this site quoting one price then another when the booking comes thru later. I really don't think you'd have any problem doing it in Spain but not sure. Think the train may not run on Saturday night?

And www.whichbudget.com for any cheap flights between the two cities.

You could buy them after you arrive, but not waiting until the day you want to travel. Go to the train station when you first arrive Madrid (assuming this is at least a few days before you need the train?).

<b>If</b> you can live with the checked luggage restrictions, consider a cheap flight as mentioned above and more specifically, check out www.vueling.com for very reasonable one-way fares.

R U in Lisbon on the 10th? Come have a drink with the Lisbon Dining Club.