Planes, Train, and, well, no automobiles
 

Hello, everyone. Some of you have already been tremendously helpful in planning our March anniversary trip to Seville and Granada. We have booked Hotel Guadalupe ( Thank you, Janisj) in Granada and Hotel Alfonso XIII ( Thank you, kimhe) in Seville. Now we just need to get from Seville to Granada. Does anyone know what kind of progress has been made on the direct train route between the two? Is there still a bus transfer involved? Do you think it might be completed by Decemberish when we would be looking to purchase tickets? It seems the bus only route takes about the same amount of time and is just as comfortable. Perhaps that is what we’ll do, although I really enjoy trains.

One other question
We have a flight from LGW to Seville on the 11th and then a flight from Granada to LGW on the 17th. In the U.S. we usually give 3ish hours for security etc for international flights and 1-2 for domestic. How much time might we need prior to those flights for passport control etc? I understand Granada has a small airport, so maybe it’s faster to get through, but as I recall LGW was large. I’m also unsure if it takes Americans longer to manage immigration when flying between European countries and/or if Brexit has made things more complicated in general.

Thankful for your experience and kind responses.
C

Brexit has had no effect. The soonest it will impact anything is end of March 2019.

I leave two hours when I fly in Europe.

What would Hanky Bickers have made of all of this?

Stella rosa-
Does that reference an old poster on Fodor’s? I’m sorry. Apparently I am sadly misinformed about Hanky Bickers. My curiosity is roused though .

Jamison’s- Thanks for the info. 2 hours is enough. What if we decide to check bags with our holiday haul?

Does anyone know what kind of progress has been made on the direct train route between the two? Is there still a bus transfer involved? >

andalucia.com says:

"Trains from Granada have been disrupted since 7th April 2015 due to the construction of the high speed AVE line from Granada to Antequera. The Altaria service to Madrid has been replaced by a special bus service provided by RENFE from Granada to Antequera Santa Ana station where you change for the AVE. The fare is the same and the journey times 35mins faster. Medium distance Seville - Granada - Almeria and Algiciras - Granada are similarly affected. Timetables, tickets and reservations take this disruption into account. In Feburary 2017 the Transport Minister announced further dalays to the project and stated the opening of the new line and the return of trains to Granada would be 'early 2018'.

Check www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com for possible updates.

Cjar,
In September we took the Alsa bus from Cordoba to Granada, and then from
Granada to Malaga. The bus is fine. It is clean with comfortable seats. For the trip from Granada to Malaga, the bus driver distributed bottled water and cookies.

And buses are cheap without booking in stone weeks or months in advance as required with long-distance trains though trains are of course ALWAYS more comfy than the plushest bus IMO.

Gotta love auto correct. I really did thank jamikins not Jamisons. There has been many an evening that I have thanked Jameson’s though.

How are the buses set up for luggage? Do you keep it with you or is there a designated luggage hold and what about lavatories? I assume there is one on board, but sometimes when I assume, I get an unpleasant surprise.

I’m leaning towards a bus ride since “early 2018” sounds flexible and if we are going to transfer to a bus regardless, we may as well start there. I will have to agree with PalenQ that trains are more comfy.

Thank you and I’m sure I’ll be back with more questions as our trip date approaches.

Of the several Spanish buses I've taken and generally true for all buses everywhere is that your large luggage goes under the bus in baggage bins -you can carry a small bag onboard. And all longer intercity buses will have WCs. Spanish buses like the one you're talking about are ultra-modern and comfy but still getting up to the loo can be a pain vs train - if you do not have an aisle seat - board early to nab an aisle seat. But for better views a window seat!!!

Alsa buses:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Alsa...w=1745&bih=863

Two hours is fine including checking luggage.

We also took the bus from Cordoba to Granada - simple! You have assigned seating and your suitcases go under the bus and small backpacks go above your head. Air conditioned and comfortable. Would definitely do it again.

nice loos?

Not sure the short routes (2ish hours) have loos. The bus we were on did not.

PalenQ - Thank you for the link. Looking at it now.

Speaking of window seats , what are the views like between Seville and Granada?

I saw a post on another site that mentioned no lavatories on this route, so scenery it is.

The buses look pretty nice. The images led me to wonder if there are different standards of buses or if all ALSA are the same. I’m off to check it out.

I saw a post on another site that mentioned no lavatories on this route, so scenery it is.>

If none buses probably stop for rest breaks periodically.

Not sure the short routes (2ish hours) have loos. The bus we were on did not.>

Were the loo pit stops en route?

Nope. No stops...it is only a 2 hour drive.

All buses that travel long distances have luggage holds below, This is true in every country and city I've ever been in. They have to, saves space.

And I certainly do not agree that all trains are always better than any bus. PalenQ must have never been on some really nice luxury buses, like in Mexico, and must have never been in really crummy trains, like some of the TERs in France, and I'm sure there are worse.

Yes there are exceptions but generally trains are more comfy - TER trains in France are better than equivalent buses on those routes.