To Rail Pass or Not To Rail Pass
 

All,

I've done a lot of searching on this site, and I'm STILL have trouble determining what to do.

If I travel by train from
1. Madrid - Seville
2. Seville - Granada
3. Granada - Madrid

Should I get the Spain Rail Pass? If so, even with the rail pass purchase, there is still a fee upon reserving specific routes, correct?

Secondly, last time I did Seville - Granada, I took the bus, and if I recall correctly, it was not too bad/far. Is this a better way to go that distance rather than the train?

Lastly, if anyone has a single website they use to book train tickets, I'd appreciate you passing it along. LOTS of different sites/bit confusing.

OH....my itinerary:

Sat, Sun, Mon: Madrid
Tuesday, Wed, Thurs: Seville
Thursday Friday Saturday: Granada
Saturday Sunday: Madrid/home

Thanks in advance....deppie

Not sure what research you've done here, because the main website for Spanish rail is www.renfe.com which has been mentioned here many times before.

Though I haven't done the math, I am 99.9% certain that you will save money by buying the tickets separately over buying a Rail Pass.

If you do a search here for Renfe, you'll get lots of threads with useful info, particularly how to buy the tickets in advance online.

If you buy in advance, you may be able to buy the "web" fare or "Estrella" fare, which gives anywhere between 40-60% off the regular price. These discounted fares are only available online via renfe.com.

Re Seville-Granada, taking the bus vs train is 6 vs 1/2 dozen. The bus runs more frequently and may fit your schedule better. Both take about 3 hours. For the bus, go to alsa.com and you can also purchase the ticket in advance ( no discount though).

Thanks YK.

It's funny, posting on this site, there's always an EDGE to the responses. Don't get it....

Of course, I've seen all the links to RENFE, AVE, etc....but I wanted to know what others have experienced as the best method to go.

Also, if anyone else has done the Spain Pass, please let me know about any extra costs you incurred.

Thanks.

You're welcome. Sorry I sounded a bit testy.

Just a quick look on Renfe, for Madrid-Seville, you can get a web fare for €29,80. I picked a Saturday in October (October 7th).

The bus fare for Seville-Granada is around €20, IIRC.

For Granada-Madrid, using the same date (Sat, October 7th), I got the cheapest Web fare for €24,70.

So, if you're lucky and find WEB fares for your train trips, you can do this for under €75. These fares are all 2nd class (tourist class).

The cheapest Spain RailPass (3 days in 2 months) is $230.

Thanks YK!!

I need to go back and look on RENFE, and not RAILEUROPE, because I'm not seeing those cheap fares.

Many thanks...

YK,

I'm so frustrated...I'm on RENFE, and only see fares for 67 euro....

Sorry to be a pain, but can you let me know where you are looking? Or send me a link?

Many thanks in advance....deppie

The fare is dependent on what day you're traveling. If the WEB and or ESTRELLA fares are sold out, you can only buy the more expensive fares.

On renfe.com, after I enter in your departure and arrival stations, plus put in the date,

I get a pop up window which shows me the train times and fares. If there are Web fares, there will be on a column on the Left hand side with the "W" symbol. If there are Estrella fares, you'll see the "*" symbol. If you don't see either, then those are sold out for that particular train.

The fare is dependent on what day you're traveling. If the WEB and or ESTRELLA fares are sold out, you can only buy the more expensive fares.

On renfe.com, after I enter in your departure and arrival stations, plus put in the date,

I get a pop up window which shows me the train times and fares. If there are Web fares, there will be on a column on the RIGHT hand side with the "W" symbol. If there are Estrella fares, you'll see the "*" symbol. If you don't see either, then those are sold out for that particular train.

Sorry, for the duplicate post, but I meant the RIGHT hand side of the columns you'll see web and estrella fares if available.

OK..NOW I got it.....

Thanks again...I'll get it yet!

Deppie

For lots of info on the Spanish Railpass, which may or may not be a good deal for you - i do not know - i always refer to two excellent sites with tons of objective info on using European and Spanish trains and info on railpasses - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - sites that give lots of objective info and not just pass prices and an add to cart option. Buses may be cheaper and quicker Seville-Granada as the train takes a roundabout route but if doing all three by train then the pass may (or may not) be useful. You still must make reservations that are mandated with the pass - so if buying a pass make those reservations when you buy the pass for seamless travel IMO.

I did these trips a couple of years ago, and had a rail pass. Unfortunately, I had not read the note in 'Lonely Planet, Spain' that stated re a rail pass, 'Forget it if you intend to travel mainly in Spain'. Indeed, that was my experience:
(1)There was a significant supplement to pay on the AVE from Madrid to Seville.
(2) The bus was by far the better choice for travel between Seville and Granada, being more comfortable, frequent quicker and cheaper.
(3) The train from Granada to Madrid was a very ordinary conveyance, quite slow, and with a lengthy mid-journey stop at Linares.

Next trip to Spain, I will travel exclusively by bus, thus saving myself money as well as travelling more conveniently and comfortably.

Trains from Granada to Madrid are now much faster and only demand a simple seat reservation fee with a pass i believe

AVE trains Seville-Madrid require a supplement of about $12 i believe, including the seat reservation

I am trying to understand why budgettravel expenses are almost double what my AAA agent told me about a rail pass in Italy.

please give more details

prices for each - there must be some kind of misunderstanding because railpass prices are universal - set by some committee and have to be sold at the same price by everyone - thus should be no discrepancy in price

What are the two prices - maybe then we can try to explain.

I have found that most individual country rail passes are more expensive than the alternatives for short stayes. In the "old" days of Eurorail Passes, say the early 90's a multi country any 15 day pass in a two month period was a great deal when two or more people were purchasing them. Those days seem to be past, But can still be good for two people traveling together for an extended stay in Europe but then the special trains do get their extra cash added on.

All-

Thanks for your replies....Here's what I've discovered:

IMO, the Spain rail pass is not worth it. There are so many special WEB fares, ESTRELLA fares for the train as well as the ever cheaper (but not by much) bus fares.

For example, I booked the train from Madrid to Seville: regular rate close to 70 euros, but with the web fare I found, less than 25 euros.

I will take the bus from Seville to Granada (as recommended here), and again from Granada to Madrid.

Thanks again for all input and information. It was most helpful!!

Deppie

Research does pay off! As does asking Fodorites i think.