I'll be visiting Spain in April, and I'm a little uncertain about getting train tickets. I'll be taking the train from Madrid to Cuenca, from Cuenca to Valencia, and then from Málaga to Seville.

When I travel in Germany, all I have to do is go to a ticket window and buy a ticket. Is buying a ticket as uncomplicated in Spain? It seems to me that I remember long slow-moving lines at Atocha when I was there 10 or 11 years ago.

Depends on the station, time of the day, holiday season etc...
If I remember, at many stations there is a window solely for travel on "that" day .

Buying tickets for the Spanish trains on-line at RENFE can be a mysterious and frustrating experience. When one succeeds there is great joy and sense of accomplishment In Fodor land.

But you can purchase tickets in advance up to three months if I remember correctly and also ascertain travel times.

Peg,

The national carrier is - http://www.renfe.com/ Every seat, unless on commuter trains, is allocated. If you want help with the website, if you know for sure your dates of travel there may be possibly 60% savings see - http://tiny.cc/xgsxn

and if really puzzled almost every problem which may have occurred is covered here - http://tiny.cc/yw8vf

Best wishes.

I would never waste precious travel vacation time at a large renfe station ( Madrid/Valencia/BArcelona).Or buy up to the estrella fare ON THE PHONE, or through a travel agency for abut 5-6/euros service fee, or TRY online where you can sometimes get the 60% webfare as mentioned.

You will be taking the new AVE to Cuenca and Valencia!

You can book cheaper tickets if you book in advance onine at www.renfe.com - eg Madrid-Malaga from 30 euros, on the day price more like 60 euros.

But it's easy enough to buy the 60 euro fare on the day, trains seldom get full except at holiday periods.

www.seat61.com good info for Spain training try to stick with

the upscale fast AVE trains 3rd class is slow and really bad

the seats are boards(no kidding) on some routes.

Tourist class trains in Spain suck mainly on the plain...

Bus like Alsa better or best fly long distances.

lincasanova: I checked on the RENFE site and saw that I can take the trains between Madrid and Cuenca and Cuenca and Valencia, each of which takes about an hour. I assume those are both AVE trains.

I will fly from Valencia to Málaga.

I've read a lot about how frustrating the RENFE site is. That's why I haven't considered using it. I'm also not sure about what time of day I'll so. Maybe I should stop being so lazy and just go ahead and give it a try.

Man_in_seat_61: <i>But it's easy enough to buy the 60 euro fare on the day, trains seldom get full except at holiday periods.</i>

So in other words... the train in Spain doesn't have to be a pain.

(Sorry. Had to.)

qwovadis "3rd class is slow and really bad the seats are boards(no kidding) on some routes."

In all my travels to Spain I've never been on a train that had boards as seats. My travels have been in the last 10 years.

I'm curious when and on what route you encountered these trains?

Back to the original poster question: I'd also suggest buying the tickets in advance. It will not only save you time but also money. If you're traveling during Holy Week I would definately buy the tickets in advance or you may be waiting a LONG time before the next available train.

Buying tickets on line through Renfe can be a challenge but I usually hang in there and eventually am able to purchase. I've attached a link to some step by step instructions that may be helpful:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...s.Online..html

"I've never been on a train that had boards as seats. "

ditto.

From your previous postings, I believe that you qualify for the senior discount card which costs about 5 Euros. It gives a 40% discount on tickets for travel Monday - Thursday and 25% discount for Friday - Sunday. My husband & I got great prices on train tickets this way. I bought my tickets at Chamartin station. I had to find an English-speaking person at the info desk to help me there.

Thanks for the help and advice, everyone. I am now going to print Cathy's link and buy the darn tickets.

P.S. By anyone's standard, I am indeed qualified for the senior discount.

Cathy, thanks. That's a terrific explanation, apparently covering all eventualities. I guess I'll wait until 62 days before I want to travel before buying tickets.

Pegontheroad.. please let me know if you will have time for a coffee in valencia.

thank you

I'll definitely do that, lincasanova.