Glad it worked out!

Karenwoo, yes, Alambra was a bit iffy as to tickets; we had ours in hand, purchased here in States from our travel agent, but somehow ended up in wrong line with wrong info on it when we arrived and the staff wasn't kind, so be sure to inquire before spending any minutes; then our friend tossed his ticket into a receptacle after passing through the first "checkpoint" down along the path to the Nasrid Palace and, of course, was denied admission to it! Allow 1/2 hour before your timed admission in the least. Keep ticket in hand until you leave! But it is so worth it!!!

Granted, it depends on how you get to the Alhambra complex (we walked from town) and what you plan to see first, but we found it easiest to enter at the Puerta de la Justicia. From there, you are fairly close to the Nasrid Palace, the museums and the Alcazaba. Public restrooms and lockers are also nearby (although I'd note that these seem to fill up fast). Audio guides are available just outside the Nasrid Palace.

We picked up our tickets the day before at the Caixa Bank ATM located on Gran Via.

Glad to hear perseverance paid off. That sounded like more of an adventure than using Renfe's site!

The Alhambra is incredible and we were glad to have done the night tour as well. Enjoy your time there!

Thanks everyone for your helpful information. The woman who took my order told me we should be there one hour prior to our timed ticket entry to the Nasrid Palaces. I do plan on entering through the Justice Gate. I have some difficulty walking because of arthritis so I plan on taking a taxi to the Justice Gate. I don't think I can handle the uphill walk.

BTW, I purchased my train tickets through Loco2 without any problems. And I purchased bus tickets through ALSA without any problems.

Karen, we are here now so here is the "skinny" on the tickets. (where are you staying by the way - there are three, maybe more hotels right here on site and that will make your life so much easier if you can stay at any of them - the Parador, the Washington Irving and the Hotel America - all right next door). So go to the ticket booth at the entrance at the bottom of the Alhambra (don't know what it is called but it is right there). We didn't need our passports though we were told to bring them, just the receipt and the credit card and presto, the guard gave it to us (it was about 6:30 in the evening, no line, but I'm sure there would be one earlier). If you are doing the nasrid Palace in the evening you can pretty much just waltz right in - we got late cause we were heat exhausted and confused but still got in fine.

I nagged hubby like crazy this morning to get there early. You don't actually use the tickets to get into the Alhambra grounds, but instead for each particular part of it. we got to the Nasrid palace (which is by the gate at the top of the hill) half an hour early and ended up 10th in line or something. They are very efficient and organized. (just do a better job of reading the signs than I did. Definitely take a taxi if you are at all mobility challenged - there is so much walking anyway. and advice if it is hot - in the Carlos V palace on the second floor there is a gorgeous little art museum that is air conditioned!!! hardly anyone was ther. Let me know if you have questions

Karen, glad the "old-fashioned" method worked. And Laura, as someone who is dogging Karen's trip, since mine is about a week or so after hers, thanks for the extra tips!