I know the fastest way to go from Madrid to Seville is via AVE. However, at 70e a pop, it's a little steep for our family of 4. I'm looking into altertives. How long would a bus take? I've seen quotes from 4 to 6 hours. 4 doesn't sound too bad. Is there a web site I can check? Obviously time is money too.

Thanks.

Try http://www.Socibus.es
I believe base fare is 17.50 Euro each way. I took the overnighter - it took 6-hours but there are a few during the day that take less.

Madrid-Sevilla by road is 550Km buses take 6:00 including a 20minute stop.

Have you looked at airfares ? Maybe there's something cheaper than the AVE and not so tiring as the bus.

Is that 70 Euros each way or round trip?

How long is the AVE trip and how often does it run?

Can you board the AVE from the MAD airport?

I can't fly to Seville directly without changing airports or going through MAD or BCN with long layovers. So AVE seems a good way to go.

That AVE train is fairly expensive, so I'm sure it must be 70 euro oneway. RT would be the bargain of the year given that distance.

I don't think there are very competitive cheap airfares on the Madrid-Seville route, unlike Madrid-Barcelona.

scrb, 70 euros one way It runs from Madrid each 30 minutes on rush hour and each hour the rest of the day and the trip lasts 2 and a half hours.
You cannot board any train at Madrid Airport because there's no train station there

By the way, I have just looked at Iberia website. I've entered a random date (I don't know yours) and it quotes also 70 euros but return, not just one way

Was that on the Spanish site of Iberia or something?

On Travelocity, I'm getting $300 round-trip for a week (MAD-SVQ on a Sunday, SVQ-MAD on the following Saturday).

yes, Iberia Spanish site.

Hmm, I wonder if you can only get those fares with a valid Spain or EU address.

Big difference in cost if I choose USA and go to their English site.

It comes up $370!

So if I go in the Spanish site, I may get that lower fare but if I actually tried to book it and give my US address...

I think, Carcassone, you can get 20% off of train fares should you advance book a two way fare.

Your other option is TALGO (the passenger train) which is roughly $55 per adult, and ~ $35 for kids and takes a little over three hours.

Or the bus.

Or Iberia etc.

Or a car (which is what I intend to do!).

scrb, I don't think so...you should be able to book there also because the flight is inside Spain. Believe me, there's no discount applying to spanish citizens..hahaha. I have no clue on why they sell the same product at such a different rate, but certainly it has nothing to do with nationality

Scrb,

I have booked intra-Spain flights on the Spanish Iberia site may times. I live in the US and it has never been a problem. Actually, since it is an e-ticket you are buying, I don't even think they ask you for your address.

If you purchase by credit card, you'd have to give your address.

I thought there might be a different rate because I ran into a similar situation a few months back in Buenos Aires. Wanted to go to Iguazu Falls and my understanding is that the Argentine airlines charge less to Argentine citizens than Americans. So a lot of Americans (actually on the Latin American forums here) suggest using a Buenos Aires travel agent.

Scrb,

So if they asked the address info, I gave it to them and there was no problem as the e-tickets were e-mailed to me with NO problem. I did this as recently as August 2006.

just go to the spanish website. no problem. also try www.rumbo.es/ www.lastminute.com to see if there are other cheaper options.

then buy where you want.

www.lastminute.com charges less than rumbo as far as booking fees go.

but the bus is fine.. when you calculate time at airport, security, etc. it makes it look more interesting.. with that great price.. i would be tempted unless you felt like driving. there is a LOT to see in that area.. and the roads are very good.