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-   -   Train travel in Spain (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/train-travel-in-spain-1200414/)

Rashul Feb 7th, 2017 10:13 PM

Train travel in Spain
 
Hi, we are a couple in our late 30's.

We will be spending two weeks in Spain...
Madrid...2 nights....city and day trip Toledo.
Ubeda and Beaza....overnight stay.
Granada 2 nights.....Al hambra and city.
Granada to Seville via Ronda....Seville 2/3 nights.
Seville to Oviedo....preferably overnight train? (help).
Oviedo/el barcenal....5 nights
Oviedo to Barcelona (preferably overnight train)
Barcelona...2 nights

Our train travel would be..
Madrid to Toledo
Madrid to Ubeda/beaza
Beaza to Granada
Granada to Seville
Seville to Oviedo (Overnight)
Oviedo to Barcelona (overnight)
Should we get the train pass (Renfee)

Thank you,
Rashmi

IMDonehere Feb 7th, 2017 10:18 PM

Trains are excellent in Spain and they have the hi-speed AVE between some destinations. So are the buses.

The RENFE site can be maddening for non-Spaniards, others will have hints on how to get around that.

neckervd Feb 8th, 2017 02:46 AM

Forget the trains from Madrid to Ubeda resp Baeza and from Ronda to Sevilla and take the bus instead.
Overnight trains from Sevilla to Oviedo resp from Oviedo to Barcelona don't exist neither. But you may do these journeys by afternoon-evening trains.

Southam Feb 8th, 2017 04:42 AM

www.seat61.com has useful advice for researching and booking Spanish trains including a dodge around the cumbersome official rail company website. Hardly anyone is likely to have ridden all the trains you are asking about so it is only fair you do your own research on point-to-point ticket prices for comparison to rail passes.

Rashul Feb 8th, 2017 05:59 AM

Thank you....
Yes, did do a research on trains, Renfee site was very confusing as IMdonehere pointed out.
Did not find any overnight trains either, thought they just weren't showing up so early on. Thank you neckervd for confirming that.
Will check out seat61... Thank you southam.
Wanted to know....is this itinerary doable?

Christina Feb 8th, 2017 06:40 AM

There aren't hardly any overnight trains any more anywhere. YOu can get a direct train between Oviedo and Barcelona that takes 10.5 hrs during the day. It is quicker if you transfer in Madrid (about 8 hrs total). Of course you can fly from Asturias airport in only 1.5 hrs. Vueling/Iberia have flights for less than 100 euro, but Renfe says the train fare is only about 50 euro. And of course you'd have to get from Oviedo to that airport which is about 50 km away.

I am not clear on the problems with Renfe, it seems fairly straightforward to me, you put in the dates and departure/arrival points right on the front page in the form, and it shows you journeys and prices.

I don't know about the passes but kind of doubt it will be cost effective as the 4 trip pass costs about $200 euro in tourist class, but you need to do the math. I think your last two trips are the only long ones, aren't they, and I know one is only about 50 euro.


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