Train Tickets for citiies outside of Madrid and Barcelona
 

Hi,

My husband and I are going to Madrid and Barcelona in July. We want to Gerona and
Toledo as side trips.
We will be flying from Madrid to Barcelona but need transportation to these
towns. My question-- do we get tickets
ahead through our travel agent, book them
online or wait until we get to Spain and book them at that time. What is better?
One thing, we are not sure exactly
when during the trip we want to go to these
places- but we could decide if the tickets were bought ahead. We really need help with this.

natjgc

There are trains between Barcelona and Girona every 30 minutes or so. You can buy them easily at the machines at the train station for 6 Euro, just get there 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The trip takes a little over an hour.

Between Madrid and Toledo, there are 6-7 trains a day, but only two of those are convenient for a day trip (an 8:30 train that gets there at 10:00, and another at 10:14 that get to Toledo at 11:44). I'd also buy the tickets at the train station in Madrid. The tickets are 5.15 Euro

You can check schedules at www.renfe.es

When was the last time you were in Spain? My agent told me that getting seats on the train at the last minute could be difficult. She might to make
a buck. natjgc

natjgc, you might want to check your other (same subject) post. Madrid-Toledo and Barcelona-Girona are handled by Cercanias, or local commuter trains. Online advance ticket purchases are not necessary (and perhaps not even possible.)

natjgc,

I'd ask your agent how much he wants for 'booking' your tickets.

Both are short haul trains, and you can't even reserve a seat. If the train gets full, you can stand. In that sense, these trains are more like subways.

Your travel agent would be absolutely right for the high speed train (AVE) or for long range trains (Grandes Lineas). These trips are not the case.

We took the Continental-Auto Bus between Madrid and Toledo one week ago. The bus departed from Estacion Sur, was very easy, and took an hour. The buses leave much more often than the trains. We didn't need prior reservations, even while traveling on a holiday weekend.

Martytravels,

I posted that message last night but I couldn't find it , that's why I posted it again. Where is that one?
natjgc

Just click your name and all of your posts will come up.

I don't think it's necessary to book your train tickets in advance unless you are traveling during a major holiday. I travel to Spain every September and usually just purchase the first leg of my train trip through tiknet. The remainder of the tickets I purchase as I go.....much more flexible. Never had an issue except for trying to get to Barcelona from Leon during the Merce festival (sept). It may be a little more crowded in July but I don't think enough to warrant buying the tickets in the US from a travel agent and paying a fee.

P.S. Toledo and Girona are gems. I spent 2 nights in each of these cities and if at all possible they are much nicer when you can stay over. Of course, you're schedule may not allow it - I'm sure you will enjoy these cities.