My family will be traveling visiting Spain this summer and being a planner, I like purchase train tickets in advance to get family/table seating. I can't purchase tickets for any AVE travel past June 3rd.

I'll be traveling from Madrid-->Valencia, then Valencia --->Barcelona in mid-June. The Renfe site state stickets can be purchased 62 days out. I'm well within this time frame. Is there some sort of issue with the trains that I'm unaware of? If that's the case I need to make alternative travel plans as the local trains take over 6.5 hours.

Any local knowledge on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

You'll simply have to wait until Renfe publishes the summer season, maybe by mid May, who knows.

Renfe is often late in publishing summer schedules, it seems to me. I don't know what their problem is, but I've seen this before.

People never used to worry so much about trying to book train tickets months in advance. That's about 6 weeks away. I never buy my train tickets that far in advance. I wouldn't worry about it, but it's not that long a trip anyway, so even if you can't get table seating, it shouldn't matter that much.

I think usually for June, they do open them about 30 days in advance usually, so should be soon.

Thanks Robert. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a strike or issue with the line being repaired. I'll just keep an eye out and check regularly.

Thanks Christina!

Many find renfe.com a struggle to get to work booking - I found www.loco2.com much easier to work - check it out anyway and also www.seat61.com for great tips on booking Spanish trains - general info BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. I found the same thing - no trains loaded for July when I checked a few days back.

I'm in the same boat with trying to book tickets for late June ... Seville to Madrid. I do see tickets available via RailEurope.com and wonder how these can sell a ticket when Renfe hasn't published the schedule yet.

Does anyone have successful experience booking thru RailEurope, given similar situation like this?

Ciao - Dorm

RENFE is terrible about loading trains, I had the same problem, although for a September trip. I imagine that RailEurope is selling tickets for what it expects to be the train. However, unless you are booking a night train, there is no reason whatever to worry. I have bought tickets a day or two ahead with no problems. I did find that it was cheaper to buy tickets for Spanish trains on the internet rather than in person at the station!

Just be patient - RailEurope charges top dollar. Keep looking at www.loco2.com.

Took the Renfe from Valencia to Barcelona last week. Train was over an hour late leaving Valencia - no one seemed to know or care why it was so late or when it was going to leave. Once aboard, found a worn and shabby coach with a heater without controls on next to my seat (hot day) and plenty of stops along the way. Not my fave.

Just wait, you will have ticket available, dont worry!

paranoidandroid - OP - in two weeks what have you found out? Curious?