enzian,

With all the information you now have, I am now hoping this tournament will be very one sided.

One can never be too well prepared.

I'm still having trouble logging in to Renfe; each time I get an error message. It is definitely a quirky website.

I still like the rumbo.es option; the website seem very user-friendly.

Just an update. I have started purchasing our tickets as they become available. I dis all the stuff---registered with Verified by visa, called my bank, etc. RENFE still does not work for me, after numerous attempts. Rumbo.es, on the other hand, DOES work. There is a handling charge of several euros per tickets, but I'm happy to pay that to avoid the RENFE aggravation (and still get the Web or Estrella fares).

Now the wrinkle seems to be that there are no Web fares for travel to Andalucia in May. I checked both May 1 and May 2, for travel to and from Madrid to Sevilla and Cordoba, and there are no Web or Estrala fares at all. They are still available for April 30, but nothing in May.

I am thinking that they are not offering the discount fares to Seville and Cordoba because so many people will be traveling at this time---Feria and the Patio festival. Does anyone know anything about this?

"I'm still having trouble logging in to Renfe; each time I get an error message. It is definitely a quirky website."

It seems that the problem Renfe software has is with the American issued CC. I purchased tickets two years in row ( with a Canadian CC) in a few minutes without calling my bank or any other business. The only security check was a question from my bank that popped up on the screen during the process.
I am not sure if Renfe will offer more discounts...you
might as well wait for a few days and see.
May 1 and 2 are holidays in Madrid , so they might be "big" travel days.

bookmarking

Updates: the web fares for May 1 and 2 did appear, and I got our tickets at a great discount, saving almost 100 euros even after paying the handling fee to Rumbo.

Then I had another go on RENFE for different tickets, and wonder of wonders it went through. I gave up trying to log in, just went straight to "compre de billets" and got the tickets. (I did call my bank yet again first).

Quick question-I have not arranged my train travel for my Spain trip April 29-May 1. Are there any discounts on train travel between Barcelona to Madrid, then to Selvilla and onto Granada? Not sure to wait until there or still buy tickets now. Any help is appreciated.

Patricia,

'Are there any discounts on train travel between Barcelona to Madrid?' - Well, yes - see for yourself.

'then to Selvilla and onto Granada?' - No, never.

Sorry, may have misinterpreted.

Madrid to Seville - Yes, again - see for yourself, available now.

If you do not want a 60% web discount wait and purchase in Spain.

enzian, maybe your renfe ticket purchase went through because you had already used your card at rumbo.?? who knows?

Holiday tickets need to be purchased quickly. they will go fast at the discounted rates.

WomBatt-The reason I was questioning the cost was it seems like you need to be in the 62 day margin to get discount. Yes I would love the discount. I just don't recall the advance ticketing when I was in Italy, England, France or Ireland. Thank you for your help. Going to try renfe again!

Patricia,

I have had a quick look through this thread and I do not see this brief mentioned - http://tiny.cc/xgsxn - although you appear to be aware. Additionally this - http://tiny.cc/yw8vf which, I think, covers all trial and tribulations, if you find it necessary.

Best wishes.

lincasanova, that is just what I believe---my card was accepted on Renfe after I first bought on rumbo.es, so the rumbo purchase seems to be the key, at least for me. The rumbo.es purchase actually shows up as two transactions on my credit card---one from Renfe for the tickets, then a separate handling fee from rumbo.

I am indebted to you for the rumbo suggestion, as going to Renfe at first did not work!

Patricia_Cooke, I believe there are still discounts available from Barcelona to Madrid and Madrid to Sevilla on some trains during you rtravel period. It is well worth looking.

If nothing else, where web fares in turista class are no longer available, you may be able to purchase a discounted "preferente" clas ticket for less than the cost of a full-price turista ticket.

I need to thank Robert2533 with the great tip about Petrabax. I spent several very frustrating hours trying renfe and rumbo...neither worked! ARGH!!!

I logged on to Petrabax--it is easy to navigate, it is in US dollars, they offer both the web and estrella fares, and I saved $96 over RailEurope's English language website on my trip from Madrid to Barcelona. I did the currency translator, and I think the Renfe site might have been about $3 lower...but Petrabax was WELL worth the extra money for no hassle. I also bought a ticket from Seville to Madrid, and the prices were identical--and still about $50 lower than RailEurope.

Love this forum...the options presented were all great!