Travel between Madrid and Caceres
Oct 22nd, 2014, 11:06 AM
#1
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Travel between Madrid and Caceres
Early next year I'm planning to head to Extremadura to visit my son who's teaching English in a very small town called Oreallana La Vieja. Before getting there I want to go to Caceres for about 3 days and use it as a base to visit Merida and Trujillo. I will not be renting a car so will need to use public transport to do this. Although I've been to Spain many times, I've never been to Extremadura and would appreciate any insights from Fodorites.
Do they get extreme weather in winter? My trip will probably be in February, at the latest in March.
What's the best way to travel from Madrid to Caceres, train or bus?
In Caceres I'm looking to stay in the Parador. Is that a good choice or are there better ones?
Is it worth stopping for one night in Plasencia and stay at the Parador? Is the town itself worth visiting?
Thank you in advance for any answers. Any other suggestions for places to visit in the region would be appreciated (as long as I can get to them via public transport). I'm flexible in terms of time available, I havent bought my plane tickets yet.
Do they get extreme weather in winter? My trip will probably be in February, at the latest in March.
What's the best way to travel from Madrid to Caceres, train or bus?
In Caceres I'm looking to stay in the Parador. Is that a good choice or are there better ones?
Is it worth stopping for one night in Plasencia and stay at the Parador? Is the town itself worth visiting?
Thank you in advance for any answers. Any other suggestions for places to visit in the region would be appreciated (as long as I can get to them via public transport). I'm flexible in terms of time available, I havent bought my plane tickets yet.
Oct 22nd, 2014, 11:44 AM
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I can tell you only that I stayed at the Parador in Caceres. I liked it fine and the exterior is beautiful but our room was not fabulous at all. The staff was lovely, though.
I liked the town very much, though. Please make sure to try migas, a regional dish with bread crumbs.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-segovia.cfm
I liked the town very much, though. Please make sure to try migas, a regional dish with bread crumbs.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...nd-segovia.cfm
Oct 22nd, 2014, 12:08 PM
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Kaixo cruiseluv!
The train, the Intercity, is your best bet. It departs Madrid at 10h18, arriving in Cáceres at 14h14, 3hr 56min. We were last in Cáceres a couple of years ago in mid-March when we did a tour of the Pousadas of the Alentejo. The weather was fine, clear and bright, but it will be a little colder in late February.
The Parador in Cáceres is quite nice since the renovation and has a perfect location.
There is a bus from Cáceres to Plasencia, so it makes an easy day-trip. It has a great medieval quarter. There is also rail service between Cáceres and Mérida, but Trujillo is a little more difficult to get to without a car. There is bus local bus service, but you would have to check at the bus station in Cáceres.
The train, the Intercity, is your best bet. It departs Madrid at 10h18, arriving in Cáceres at 14h14, 3hr 56min. We were last in Cáceres a couple of years ago in mid-March when we did a tour of the Pousadas of the Alentejo. The weather was fine, clear and bright, but it will be a little colder in late February.
The Parador in Cáceres is quite nice since the renovation and has a perfect location.
There is a bus from Cáceres to Plasencia, so it makes an easy day-trip. It has a great medieval quarter. There is also rail service between Cáceres and Mérida, but Trujillo is a little more difficult to get to without a car. There is bus local bus service, but you would have to check at the bus station in Cáceres.
Oct 22nd, 2014, 01:51 PM
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I took the bus to Trujillo-loved it,stayed overnight at the parador-fabulous. Then continued by bus to Caceres and stayed at that parador-all redone,beuatiful.
February should be fine weather.I went in June and it was getting quite hot!
February should be fine weather.I went in June and it was getting quite hot!
Oct 22nd, 2014, 02:16 PM
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What's the best way to travel from Madrid to Caceres, train or bus?>
buses may be cheaper but we took the train and as Robert says not that long for such a distance. Book well in advance at www.renfe.com or www.renfe.es and possibly grab some discounted but train-specific fares - buses I think have a flat walk-up fare and seem always to be an option in Spain where buses compete with trains cost-wise if not time - though in some cases where trains take a round-about route due to rugged terrain buses can be quicker but not often. check www.seat61.com for info on discounted tickets - that said the www.renfe.com site has proven very problematic for Americans to get to work - but helpful folks like Robert are always around to walk folks thru it!
buses may be cheaper but we took the train and as Robert says not that long for such a distance. Book well in advance at www.renfe.com or www.renfe.es and possibly grab some discounted but train-specific fares - buses I think have a flat walk-up fare and seem always to be an option in Spain where buses compete with trains cost-wise if not time - though in some cases where trains take a round-about route due to rugged terrain buses can be quicker but not often. check www.seat61.com for info on discounted tickets - that said the www.renfe.com site has proven very problematic for Americans to get to work - but helpful folks like Robert are always around to walk folks thru it!
Oct 22nd, 2014, 02:39 PM
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...or use www.loco2.com which is an English site that sells train tickets for all over Europe, and their customer service is also excellent if you have any issues.
Oct 22nd, 2014, 02:45 PM
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Thank you for the comments, I'm really looking forward to exploring this "new" area of Spain.
Robert, given the medieval quarter in Plasencia, would it be a good idea to spend a night in the Parador there as a stop before Caceres? Or, if we want to sample another Parador in addition to Caceres, the one in Trujillo as Chapla mentions might be a better choice?
PalenQ, I was surprised earlier this year that for the first time I was able (with an American credit card) to purchase train tickets online with Renfe! Hope it was not a fluke!
Robert, given the medieval quarter in Plasencia, would it be a good idea to spend a night in the Parador there as a stop before Caceres? Or, if we want to sample another Parador in addition to Caceres, the one in Trujillo as Chapla mentions might be a better choice?
PalenQ, I was surprised earlier this year that for the first time I was able (with an American credit card) to purchase train tickets online with Renfe! Hope it was not a fluke!
Oct 22nd, 2014, 02:54 PM
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Check the specials for staying at the Paradors. They have some decent discounts for staying at multiple Paradors. And don't forget about becoming an Amigos member (free welcoming drink and parking (but then you're not driving).
http://www.parador.es/en
http://www.parador.es/en
Oct 23rd, 2014, 08:59 AM
#10
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The paradores in Plasencia,Trujillo, Caceres and Merida are my favorites.I find the website somewhat cumbersome even though it's been redone recently.I enjoy the videos of each parador-once you find them!
Oct 23rd, 2014, 05:38 PM
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Chapla,
I've been reading mixed reviews of the Parador in Merida, that its outdated and "rundown". What do you think?
Do you think the town itself in Plasencia merits a stopover?
Thanks!
I've been reading mixed reviews of the Parador in Merida, that its outdated and "rundown". What do you think?
Do you think the town itself in Plasencia merits a stopover?
Thanks!
Oct 23rd, 2014, 06:44 PM
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Something about staying in places like old convents appeals to me!
I don't remember being disappointed in any of these paradores,all great locations-close to all the historical sites you visit during the day.It's so nice to be able to come back during the day and then go out and wander some more.
The breakfast is very substantial for me,I skipped lunch and then had some tapas in the late afternoon.I love all the toiletries that are provided!
I enjoyed visiting Plasencia but you may be on overload and just visit Merida and Trujillo.It would be a pity though to skip it since you are so close
I don't remember being disappointed in any of these paradores,all great locations-close to all the historical sites you visit during the day.It's so nice to be able to come back during the day and then go out and wander some more.
The breakfast is very substantial for me,I skipped lunch and then had some tapas in the late afternoon.I love all the toiletries that are provided!
I enjoyed visiting Plasencia but you may be on overload and just visit Merida and Trujillo.It would be a pity though to skip it since you are so close
Oct 23rd, 2014, 06:55 PM
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Thanks Chapla, appreciate your comments. Yes, I'm concerned about the "overload" factor, lol! I'm also dealing with how to travel from the little town where my son is back to Madrid. There's a coach bus that takes 5 hrs, but that's not something I'm looking forward to! So I'm considering traveling from Orellana to Merida (about 2 hrs), staying overnight, and then going from there to Sevilla (also 2 hrs).
Oct 24th, 2014, 06:52 AM
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I actually prefer taking the bus over the train.The bus is quite comfortable and less expensive.The route is also more interesting and I enjoy the stops it makes.Time passes very quickly.
The worst train trip I ever took was from Madrid to San Sebastian,so long and so boring,not comfortable at all being seated next to a stranger who worked on her laptop the entire trip. She was very put out when I wanted to get up and move around-she didn't want to switch seats and sit next to the window!
BTW check out booking.com for other hotels and compare them w/paradores
The worst train trip I ever took was from Madrid to San Sebastian,so long and so boring,not comfortable at all being seated next to a stranger who worked on her laptop the entire trip. She was very put out when I wanted to get up and move around-she didn't want to switch seats and sit next to the window!
BTW check out booking.com for other hotels and compare them w/paradores
Oct 24th, 2014, 09:10 AM
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My complaint about buses is the same as chapla's about trains - on buses it is harder to get up and out if just to stretch your legs - the only excuse is the WC so I feel stuck in my seat much of the time and bus seats seem smaller than usual train seats - on trains I can easily walk around from car to car - on buses hardly at all.
