Train versus air travel in Spain
Jan 25th, 2016, 06:28 AM
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Train versus air travel in Spain
My husband and I are planning a 3 week trip to Spain this April. We're looking at traveling either by train or air from Granada to Madrid, and from Madrid to Barcelona. The flight from Madrid to Barcelona is cheaper by half than the high speed train and much faster. Unfortunately, a flight from Granada to Madrid is more than twice the train fare for some reason. Any recommendations on air versus train for these two connections? Thanks!
Jan 25th, 2016, 06:43 AM
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I would take the bus from Granada to Madrid, unles you want to head over to Sevilla before going to Madrid by rail. The Granada high speed line looks to be at least several months away from completion, dispite what they say.
Jan 25th, 2016, 06:57 AM
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When you're calculating the length of the plane flight, add in the time to get to the airport and the time to get from the Barcelona airport into town as well as the time waiting at the airport before the flight. And time to collect luggage if you're checking your bags.
Jan 25th, 2016, 06:59 AM
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I think his is just a matter of those two parameters, which you know -- time and cost. So it's your decision as to how much that time is worth to you. If I had to have an itinerary of going from Granada to Madrid, I'd rearrange my plans for such a trip so that I made a stop in-between, most likely, to take advantage of the train route. Which would be Seville, the logical point in-between by train, or Cordoba on some routes. So even if you had been to Seville before Granada on your itinerary, returning by train you could spend a day in Cordoba, then take the train from there to Madrid.
That's what I would do, I wouldn't take the train all in one day as it's a long trip with connections, nor would I fly if it's so expensive. With 3 weeks, I would think you could work that itinerary out.
Besides, Vueling does fly direct from Granada to BCN, if that's on your itinerary, why not do that, and then go from Barcelona to Madrid by train? Seems more logical.
I don't understand your comparison for the flight from Madrid to BCN, however, regardless of the price of the flight, it cannot be much faster when you include time at the airports and getting to/from them. that just isn't possible. The train is only 2:30 hrs at a minimum on some runs to about 3 hrs. Even within Spain, you can't get to the airport at the last minute. BCN is an easy airport, but still takes some time to get off the plane and out of, and then into the city, one hour minimum there. The flight takes 1:15 hrs, so it can't be much faster to fly than take the train.
Granada isn't a major airport nor destination/hub, that's why it costs so much in comparison to Madrid or BCN for flights. And little to no competition, only Iberia does that route direct. Malaga has more flight choices and cheaper flights, including to Madrid. So another option to change your itinerary would be to go from Granada to Malaga somehow (buses are available cheaply, if nothing else), spend a day or two, and then fly to Madrid direct cheaply.
That's what I would do, I wouldn't take the train all in one day as it's a long trip with connections, nor would I fly if it's so expensive. With 3 weeks, I would think you could work that itinerary out.
Besides, Vueling does fly direct from Granada to BCN, if that's on your itinerary, why not do that, and then go from Barcelona to Madrid by train? Seems more logical.
I don't understand your comparison for the flight from Madrid to BCN, however, regardless of the price of the flight, it cannot be much faster when you include time at the airports and getting to/from them. that just isn't possible. The train is only 2:30 hrs at a minimum on some runs to about 3 hrs. Even within Spain, you can't get to the airport at the last minute. BCN is an easy airport, but still takes some time to get off the plane and out of, and then into the city, one hour minimum there. The flight takes 1:15 hrs, so it can't be much faster to fly than take the train.
Granada isn't a major airport nor destination/hub, that's why it costs so much in comparison to Madrid or BCN for flights. And little to no competition, only Iberia does that route direct. Malaga has more flight choices and cheaper flights, including to Madrid. So another option to change your itinerary would be to go from Granada to Malaga somehow (buses are available cheaply, if nothing else), spend a day or two, and then fly to Madrid direct cheaply.
Jan 25th, 2016, 07:07 AM
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The flight faster? No.
Add the 2-hour check-in and airport transfers and a 1-hour flight takes 4 hours.
Madrid-Barcelona train takes 2h40, faster than the plane, far more relaxed, far more interesting. Nobody in their right mind flies this route any more...
Madrid-Granada takes longer by train, but this is supposed to be a leisurely vacation, surely, not a rushed business trip?
The train ride, city centre to city centre through the countryside with a glass of wine, is PART of your vacation, an experience. Why would you want to miss out on a highlight of your trip by shlepping to an airport like a stressed-out business traveller?
Book your trains at www.renfe.com - or if you have nay problems, at www.loco2.com (in £) or www.raileurope-world.com (€, €4 fee)
Add the 2-hour check-in and airport transfers and a 1-hour flight takes 4 hours.
Madrid-Barcelona train takes 2h40, faster than the plane, far more relaxed, far more interesting. Nobody in their right mind flies this route any more...
Madrid-Granada takes longer by train, but this is supposed to be a leisurely vacation, surely, not a rushed business trip?
The train ride, city centre to city centre through the countryside with a glass of wine, is PART of your vacation, an experience. Why would you want to miss out on a highlight of your trip by shlepping to an airport like a stressed-out business traveller?
Book your trains at www.renfe.com - or if you have nay problems, at www.loco2.com (in £) or www.raileurope-world.com (€, €4 fee)
Jan 26th, 2016, 06:57 AM
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Thanks for the advice all. I do prefer train travel to air, but I was suprised by the difference in cost going from madrid to barcelona - $85 for a one way iberia flight versus $160 for a second class train ticket. We're beginning our travels in Lisbon and flying in to Seville. We fly home from Barcelona at the end. I'll look into adding a night back in Seville or in Cordoba between Granada and Madrid to make the train itinerary simpler. Thanks!
Jan 26th, 2016, 10:40 AM
#9
Madrid-Barcelona for 160 USD??? Again, where are you seeing that?
I paid 49.10 EUR for that route last fall, buying only two months out.
Pricing on renfe.es today for travel March 25th, I'm seeing prices ranging from 32 to 64.55 EUR (34.70 - 70 USD), nothing CLOSE to 160 USD.
I paid 49.10 EUR for that route last fall, buying only two months out.
Pricing on renfe.es today for travel March 25th, I'm seeing prices ranging from 32 to 64.55 EUR (34.70 - 70 USD), nothing CLOSE to 160 USD.
Jan 26th, 2016, 12:33 PM
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Booking well ahead to nab the limited in number discounted tickets Madrid to Barcelona will yield or should yield a lower price than flying - and you do not have to Schlepp out to the airport and back in - also saving money and time - just under 3 hours by train - for lots on Spanish trains see Man in Seat 61 who posts above his commercial site www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
And by train you see the Spain in between those cities and not just tarmacs and airports - see the countryside from the comfort of a train seat on the spiffy modern high-speed trains that blow along at about 200 mph many places.
And by train you see the Spain in between those cities and not just tarmacs and airports - see the countryside from the comfort of a train seat on the spiffy modern high-speed trains that blow along at about 200 mph many places.
Jan 28th, 2016, 01:55 PM
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It was on https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-ti...in-rail-passes that I saw $165 for train travel between madrid & barcelona. We're travling in May so I'm unable to see or book actual tickets yet. But we have decided to take the bus from Granada to Madrid. 5 hours, but it looks very comfortable. We will have already spent 5 nights in Seville and done a day trip to Cordoba. Looking to spend 2 nights in Granada so we can do justice to the Alahambra, perhaps both day & night tours. Thanks all!
Jan 29th, 2016, 07:42 AM
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Rick Steves doesn't have a particular incentive to sell you the best tickets at the best prices.
Other than major airlines, which compete due to price aggregators, always go to the most direct source possible for ticket prices - Renfe for trains, the discount airline itself for flights (although the Iberia flight price is good - comes from competition with Vueling), etc.
Your check-in is not 2 hours before flight but you really shouldn't cut closer than 90 minutes if you can help it. The time difference between a flight from Madrid to Barcelona and a train trip is ultimately fairly negligible if the price difference is great. But if the two are within 25-50E, definitely take the train - less check-in hassle and your cab ride upon arrival in Barcelona will be shorter to any centrally located flat/hotel from the train station than from the airport (ditto any cab ride to Atocha station v. taking a cab out to Barajas if your location in Madrid is central to any degree - and shorter cab rides are CHEAPER cab rides).
Do note that Man in Seat 61 is a valuable resource for train information and that his eponymous website allows booking on trains, for which he receives a fee.
Other than major airlines, which compete due to price aggregators, always go to the most direct source possible for ticket prices - Renfe for trains, the discount airline itself for flights (although the Iberia flight price is good - comes from competition with Vueling), etc.
Your check-in is not 2 hours before flight but you really shouldn't cut closer than 90 minutes if you can help it. The time difference between a flight from Madrid to Barcelona and a train trip is ultimately fairly negligible if the price difference is great. But if the two are within 25-50E, definitely take the train - less check-in hassle and your cab ride upon arrival in Barcelona will be shorter to any centrally located flat/hotel from the train station than from the airport (ditto any cab ride to Atocha station v. taking a cab out to Barajas if your location in Madrid is central to any degree - and shorter cab rides are CHEAPER cab rides).
Do note that Man in Seat 61 is a valuable resource for train information and that his eponymous website allows booking on trains, for which he receives a fee.
Jan 29th, 2016, 07:54 AM
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Rick Steves doesn't have a particular incentive to sell you the best tickets at the best prices.>
His site works thru Rail Europe I believe which actually does the booking - thus his site has RE prices which are usually full fare and do not carry all the discounted tickets though it is becoming more and more up with that - like in Italy RE fares can match the lowest on www.trenitalia.com but in other countries may only offer full-fare fully flexible prices - go to the source - the national rail sites for all available prices - and yes www.seat61.com is the best resource for info and tips on doing that.
His site works thru Rail Europe I believe which actually does the booking - thus his site has RE prices which are usually full fare and do not carry all the discounted tickets though it is becoming more and more up with that - like in Italy RE fares can match the lowest on www.trenitalia.com but in other countries may only offer full-fare fully flexible prices - go to the source - the national rail sites for all available prices - and yes www.seat61.com is the best resource for info and tips on doing that.
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