On our Portugal/Spain trip, we stay a week in Madrid. We plan to get a car on the way out of Madrid on our way to Salamanca/Segovia. Rather than pick up the car near Plaza Major where our one week apt is located. I'd like to take a regional train and pick up the car in a more driver friendly small town. Any suggestions?

Hi pjoneslake,
I left a question for you on the AVE Toledo thread. What is your car rental agency? I misunderstood your other post. I see now that you would like to train outside of Madrid to another destination to pick up your car.
Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Atesa?

Is your plan to use the car to tour around Spain or is it to head out to Portugal? Neither Salamanca nor Segovia are a tremendous improvement as far as car situation (driving, congested, parking) from Madrid. So, I would actually advice to use local transportation to get to either Salamanca or Segovia and pick the car on your way out of one of these cities.

The agency if Rentalcargroup. Their price is much less than autoeurope. Our complete itinerary is on the 2 month portugal/spain trip thread. Click on my screen name and you'll see it. Maybe we should pick the car up when leaving Salamanca on the way to Purtugal?

Absolutely. You will not need a car in Salamanca, and it's so easy to reach Salamanca by Auto Res express bus. I've taken the bus trip several times and the ride takes under 2 1/2 hrs. See the schedule at
www.auto-res.es

Glad to help.

Thanks so much. I'll check out the prices of bus. We were planning to go to Segovia for 2 nights before Salamanca. Is it possible to go to Segovia first and then go on to Salamanca? Bus? Train? Or should we just do a day trip to Segovia

pjoneslake,
I think that you will need to rethink this.
You won't want to do a day trip from Salamanca to Segovia simply because it's too far. It is a 2 1/2 hr. drive and a 3 hr. one- way bus ride with very limited bus service and no direct train service between the two cities.

If you want to fit in Segovia before Salamanca, take the La Sepulvedana bus from Madrid to Segovia, a ride of under 1 hr. 30 min. Spend two nights. Upon departing Segovia pick up your car.
www.lasepulvedana.es
But........ I can't see that Rentalcargroup even has a contract with a car rental agency in Segovia. Have you checked? I'm sorry, but I'm just not familiar with this co.

A car is not necessary in Salamanca, as the city is wonderfully walkable, so just tuck it in the garage for your stay. Do you plan to stay 1 night or 2?
But again....are you sure that Rentalcargroup has a contract with a Salamanca car rental agency?

I think you should check to make sure, or if you have, please forgive the questions. I just don't see them after a cursory glance at
www.rentalcargroup.com but I may have simply missed them.

Thanks for looking out for me Maribel. Rentalcargroup has cars in Salamance but I'm not sure about Segovia. When you go further into the site they have Salamance as an option but Segovia is not listed. I can call them to see if they have anything there. If not, is there a train from Segovia to Salamanca?

Hi pjoneslake,
Nope, No direct train service between Segovia and Salamanca.

There's train service from Avila to Salamanca and 1 morning bus departure (9 a.m.) between Segovia and Avila on La Sepulvedana. But on your other thread, I don't see Avila listed in your plans.

Maybe we can do a daytrip to Segovia from Madrid. Then when we leave Madrid we can take a train or bus straight to Salamanca, picking up the car at the end of Salamanca.

That sounds like a better option.
Just to reiterate:

From Madrid to Segovia:
La Sepulvedana bus, trip takes 1 hr. 30 min. (usually takes a bit less), departures every half hr. from bus station at Paseo de la Florida #11, next to the Florida Norte hotel, round trip costs 10.88
www.lasepulvedana.es

From Madrid to Salamanca:
Auto Res bus, take the express, 2 hr. 30 min. ride, costs 16 euros one way, departs from the Conde de Casal bus station at Fernández Shaw #1
www.auto-res.es