We will be getting off a 17 day cruise in Barcelona. After a few days there I am thinking of taking the train or, (less likely), Bus to Madrid. We will have more than the usual amount of luggage, (around 3 big and two medium bags), and I am concerned about whether there will be a problem with the trains and/or bus. Will special arrangements have to be made or can we just arrive at the Station with the bags and they will handle them?

No - Gary - YOU will handle them. You can take as much luggage as you can manage - but you will be doing all the &quot;handling&quot;. <BR><BR>If you are returning to Barcelona after Madrid - you could leave some of your bags in &quot;left luggage&quot; at the train station in barcelona and pick up when you return.<BR><BR>(But my first thought was why - even for a cruise, are you taking so much stuff? People usually overpack for cruises but it is OK because they don't have to schlepp it themselves. So think a little about cutting back - you can still be very stylish on a cruise w/o tons of luggage.)

not only will you have to move your own luggage but you will have trouble finding a taxi to carry this much. once at the train station, it's a chore to get luggage carts and then you have to handle luggage through the security scanners and up into the train, reversing the process in madrid. pack one back for the trip and try to check the rest at barcelona (assuming your return flight is from there.

Unfortunately you are both right in criticising the amount of luggage. This has been an ongoing battle between my wife and I for thirty years and I have finally decided to accept what I cannot change. That said we will not be returning to Barcelona - we have a flight out with Air Canada, (on which our frequent flier perk allows us extra luggage), and although I booked a flight on Spanair, (where i don't have extra luggage allowance), from Barcelona to Madrid I am looking at alternatives. I also enjoy train travel.

Gary, you have my sympathy on the spouse-who-packs-too-much issue. However, based on my Spanish train experience, you will have to not only move the bags yourself, but hoist them onto an overhead luggage rack. To protect your health, do a test run at home with the bags loaded. Huff and puff a lot. Your wife may rethink her packing.

Gary you are a dear for accepting your wife's overpacking. You amy want to explain to her that she will need to carry what she packs up and down high train steps and thru the terminals! I learned this the hardway when I packed a backpack that weighed about 40 lbs. I found out I'm comfortable only carrying about 20lbs. ha! Good luck! <BR><BR>Wendy

Thanks guys, it looks like I'd best stick with the plane and if I have to pay for extra luggage - c'est la vie!

Gary - even flying, that is too much luggage to deal with. Of course you know your wife and we don't - but isn't worth another try? (Notice most of the responses have come from women - Note to Mrs GaryA: IT CAN BE DONE!)<BR><BR>Once she learns to cut back, all of your future travels will be will be Sooooooo much easier.<BR><BR>Suggest she pack one suitcase and carry-on (only 2/5 of what you planned to take) and carry them to the end of the block and back to your house and then lift them up to a high shelf. If that doesn't convince her, she may be a lost cause.<BR><BR>I have taken a trip where I had a very formal occassion (Royal Command Performance), a fairly fancy reception, a business meeting, a week in London, and 2 weeks full of hiking and photography -- and did it all with a 21 inch rollaboard.<BR><BR>Granted that you want a lot of unique changes of clothing on your cruise. But you should easily be able to do it with a total of ONE suitcase and two 18 or 19 inch carry-ons. -- Not for EACH of you, for BOTH of you.

Oh dear, I am out of line. But really, on European railways if you want service you ask for service.<BR><BR>You should make special arrangements. There is no service of luggage captains (in European English we say porters), so you should ask your boat staff to phone the station to tell them when your taxi or taxis will arrive. Then for a moderate fee porters will meet you and load you and yours onto the train. When they do that, you should ask that either they or the train staff phone through to Madrid Chamartin station to ask that porters there meet you to get you to your Madrid taxi or taxis.<BR><BR>Welcome to Europe<BR><BR>[email protected]

Thanks Ben. Now I have to rethink the issue again. We're staying at the Barcelona Hilton so I guess the Concierge there could see to the arranging for porters.<BR><BR>To Janis, payant, patg, Wendy, et. al. <BR>thank you for your comisseration and advice. Believe it or not other than the luggage issue my wife is an amazing traveler. We've been around the world and she takes it all in stride. I'm the kvetcher - albeit primarily about the luggage. So I guess on balance I'm doing OK. Thanks again.