What's the best way to buy tickets for the trains in Spain? I've visited the Renfe site, but it looks like you can only buy one ticket there if you are a new customer. We will need to purchases tickets for three different legs of the trip. Any suggestions?

Just buy them at the first Spanish station you come to - if you tell what your trips are i could advise better - don't know if online booking in Spain can get discounted fares as in other countries but if you're not doing long trips don't worry.

Thanks PalQ. We need connections from Barcelona to Flaca and then from Flaca to Valencia (probably through Barcelona I would imagine).

Barcelona-Flaca: hourly trains take 1.5 hours - most of these are second-class only commuter trains - not fancy, kind of like a subway and can get quite crowded. No doubt buses run this route also as Spain has extensive bus routes that compete with trains but rail fare on this route will be just a few euros i suspect - no reason to buy in advance and i don't think reservations are even possible on these trains. There are a few daily Talgo trains and Arco trains, fancy trains with first class also running the route and these will cost quite a bit more but still nothing to worry about. However if you're going to Valencia via Barcelona (by rail you have to) then hopping the Talgo or Arco from Flaca will be the best as you'll go direct on those trains to Valencia and not have to change in Barcelona and on the Barcelona-Valencia route these trains are much faster than the locals. Reservations are required on Arco or Talgo trains. Only a few daily that go thru to Valenica from Flaca area however. My schedule says leave Flaca at 8:05am on a local train, ar Girona 8:20, then hop on Arco train that takes you directly to Valencia (Arco train goes thru Flaca but doesn't stop there so you have to catch it at Girona. There are some service late in the afternoon as well. Otherwise take locals to Barcelona and change to EuroMed or Arco trains to Valencia from there - run frequently. but just buy your tickets at any train station after you arrive.

Buy the tickets in Barcelona Sants station.
Take the Euromed to go from Barcelona to València. It's quicker amd more comfortable.

One more thing... sounds like buying tickets at the main Sants station is the way to go (we will be stopping here on the way in). Can we buy all the tickets at the same time?

Also, PalQ, are you using the Renfe site to look up schedules or something else?

P.S. This has been incredibly helpful. thanks!

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Know much about the Mare Nostrum train? It goes direct from Girona to Valencia, but a little later in the day.

Yes you can buy them all at once.
Mare Nostrum train: leaves Girona 10:42am, take local from Flaca 10:17 (or earlier to be sure) ar Girona 10:30 and reaches Valencia 15:15. I'm using a slightly outdated Thomas Cook timetable but if it were me i'd go to www.bahn.de (German rail) site which gives schedules for all of Europe - hit international guests or int'l visitors bar at top and you'll get the timetable page in English to use. Note that the Mare Nostrum can often be hard to get on as it's one of the few trains that goes between France and Spain without chaning at the border (tracks in Spain wider than those in France; most trains can't physically go thru; Talgo trains, like Mare Nostrum have moveable wheel bases so they just move the wheels apart and go on. But since it only goes a few times a day it can be sold out as it's the optimal France-Barcelona-Valencia rail link. If you want to reserve this train in the US i suggest you call BETS (800-441-2387), who works thru RailEurope but will expertly book it for you at prices not much more than in Spain. either that or book as soon as you get to Spain. It depends but in summer there can be oodles of people flocking to Spain.

if there is a long wait to get tickets at renfe station in barcelona, go to a travel agent and pay the 5 euros service fee and be done with it.
el corte inglés also has this service. however, you may need to wait at travel agency also.

My Favorite way: you can call on phone and reserve, give credit card and pick up at customer service later.
no wait. this is the fastest and cheapest way to do it. (34) 902240202

ask for your language . they have several specialist on call until 11 pm. spanish time.

the same credit card holder MUST pick up the tickets and present that same card at customer service for billing. (This is also true when reserving on www.iberia.com unless you give the last three digits on back number.)

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS!!! I called BETS and reserved a ticket from Girona to Valencia. A perfect route! I will call to get tickets for the other regional segments. What a help you've been!