Sorry if this has been asked before, couldn't find it when I tried a search.

I'm looking at an overnight train from Granada to Barcelona, and it is 50 Euro. But when you are shown the "bed" tickets, the price for a tourist "bed" is 69.50 Euro.

Is this 69.50 on top of the 50 for the ticket, or is that the complete price for the tourist bunk?

I am assuming it is better to book here for this train, for Easter week, rather than wait till I get to Spain to do it.

Thanks in advance.

Why don't you check Iberia for a flight?

We have flights for two booked at under 60E for both together.

If you get flights over 100E try a day or so on either side or even a flight or so on either side.

I have the 6:55PM booked from Granada to Barcelona on June 7th.

The bed price is on top of the train ticket.

Of course on a holiday week plane tickets could be expensive but I would check.

Long-distance trains in Spain always have to be booked in advance and the quoted fares are always inclusive fares. In most other European countries, you can buy a train ticket and get any train. In Spain, tickets for long journeys are only sold with a reservation, so the quoted price is the fare for that train with the accommodation as quoted.
When comparing the fare for an overnight train with an air fare, remember that, if you fly, you'll have to pay for an extra night in a hotel. The overnight trains are a good way of getting around Spain, and leave you with whole days for sightseeing.

I did check Iberia. The one way flight is 178 Euro with taxes, EACH!

Of course, if a sleeper car on the train is 119.50 euro, that is not a striking difference. We are traveling the day after Easter which I suppose is not the greatest time. But we have all our apartments in place and cannot change the dates now.

The 50 Euro train ticket comes with a "reclining" seat - so I suppose we could do that, but we may not get much sleep. Maybe the Iberia fare will go down or I can get a flight on a different airline.

Thank you both for your help!

In case my earlier reply wasn't clear, the quoted prices are inclusive prices. In Spain, trains do not have a basic fare and a supplementary fare for sleeping accommodation. The fare of 69.50 euros includes the journey and the bunk. If there are two of you, you should try to book a two-berth sleeping compartment if you want to be sure of a night's sleep.

Geoff, thank you for clarifying the price issue. Sounds like the train is the way to go. I have taken overnights before and while you don't get a lot of sleep, they are fun.

Well, I just called the U.S. ticket agency from renfe's website, and sleeping compartments are $219 pp, and a regular bunk is $172!

I suspect that figure comes from RailEurope, who take a large markup. You might try e-mailing four others:

Euraide in Florida, http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...e/homepage.htm, telephone 1 941-480-1555 fax 1 941-480-1522 [email protected]).

Also three firms in Britain:

Trainseurope Ltd, of Cambridgeshire and London, take credit card bookings by phone and mail tickets to any address. Have the widest access in Britain to rail systems and tickets. http://www.trainseurope.co.uk/ - E-mail [email protected]. Phone 00 44 900 195 0101. Phone Mon to Fri 10 to 5 British time

German Rail UK: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk/ Phone : 00 44 870 243 53 63 then 6. Fax : 00 44 208 339 4700. E-mail : [email protected]

Ffestiniog Travel, site http://www.festtravel.co.uk, e-mail [email protected], phone 00 44 176 651 2400

For international tickets, berths and seats Trainseurope are ten percent cheaper than German Rail UK or Ffestiniog Travel. For domestic Italian trains they are cheaper again. German Rail UK are cheaper than Trainseurope or Ffestiniog Travel for domestic trains within Germany and may be competitive with Firm for international trips with a big proportion of miles in Germany. Trainseurope take Visa and MasterCard, but not Amex or Diners.

[email protected]

Back to Iberia.

Did you try a different flight on the same day?

I checked different flights and different days and you may find it really inexpensive.

Myer, you are absolutely right. I checked on a different flight, through Madrid and the price is MUCH lower. Great deal... have a great trip.

Did you decide to go for the plane?

I'd like to know if my nagging had a positive impact.

Myer, yes, your nagging had a very positive impact!

I've just booked flights from Granada to Barcelona through Madrid. We'll spend the afternoon traveling, but so what? A glass of wine in the Madrid airport won't do me any harm!

The total for two tickets will be less than $200 - they were around 58 Euro each and there will be some handling fees. It's all working out perfectly, thank you again for your help.

I don't understand why you're going thru Madrid to get to Barcelona from Granada.

We fly Granada - Barcelone 18:55 arriving 1 hour later.

Did you want to go thru Madrid?

the fare on that 18:55 flight is 168 Euro. On the day we travel, anyway.

The flight we are taking is perfect - for checking out of our place in Granada and checking into our place in Barcelona. Plus it is only 54 Euro.