🚅OUR VIDEOS ON HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL IN SPAIN: ➡ how to buy your high-speed train tickets th-cam.com/video/MYqz41n5Qn4/w-d-xo.html ➡10 tips to make the most of the high-speed train in Spain th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html ➡ the Spanish high-speed network th-cam.com/video/n_M20gV04OY/w-d-xo.html ➡ AVLO th-cam.com/video/t7CQ2TFxppA/w-d-xo.html ➡ IRYO th-cam.com/video/t83SR1tkILM/w-d-xo.html ➡ OUIGO th-cam.com/video/XagP-k2kiDo/w-d-xo.html
After experiencing the high speed trains in Spain and Portugal, I often wonder why the U.S. has not yet adopted this incredible method of travel. Spain and Portugal are light years ahead of the U.S. on this system. It was SO easy to get every place we wanted to see.
That's because GOP doesn't believe in spending money on infrastructure including transportation because that would diminish the tax breaks to the wealthy. Take for instance Clearwater Florida, there is no way to get to the airport unless you hire a car to get there. We wish there was a train but in Florida, everything requires a study followed by another study. We enjoy public transportation. USA is behind the times. So unfortunate for a wealthy country. You don't see any corporations pushing for better transportation so employees have better access to their work. Florida is a perfect example.
Perhaps it's because of the vastness of the US when compared to smaller European countries. The thing to do in the US is for regions of states to band together to create smaller networks that intersect.
Your videos were so helpful on our trip! Since this was our first time in Spain, arriving an hour early at the station, especially at Atocha, was soooooo helpful. That is one huge station! Barcelona Sants station was not as big and it was easier to find where to go. The Seville Santa Justa station is small so getting there 20-30 minutes early is enough time in our experience at this station.
Tony, thanks for this channel that I recently found. I'm planning on moving to Málaga in 2024 and plan on using the fantastic highspeed rail system of Spain and even more so now with the low cost trains(Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo). Would be nice to continue making videos of great train day or weekend trips that you can do without needing to drive. Another interesting video would be to discuss periodically any expansion of Spain's rail network as I understand there are multiple projects all around the country. Muchas gracias!
Thank you for your comment and be very welcome to the channel. We have a video on the Spanish rail network which we should be updating some time this summer: th-cam.com/video/n_M20gV04OY/w-d-xo.html All the best!
I am taking my 84 year old mother to Spain and we plan on travelling between Barcelona, Madrid and Seville by high speed train… She can walk a little but needs a wheelchair for distances… we will be travelling with our own wheelchair but we may need some assistance as I will have a suitcase to manage too… Do I need to pre-book assistance in the stations in Spain? Is there room for a collapsible wheelchair in the storage areas on the train? Thank you for all the fabulous videos. You’ve been so helpful in planning our trip!!
Hi, the assistance service we talk about on this video th-cam.com/video/a0_-PL3nLes/w-d-xo.html should be requested at the time of purchasing the ticket. When you get to the station, look for the ACERCA office where they will take care of you and your mother. There is room inside the train for a collapsible wheelchair. Book a disabled seat. All best!
Been watching your videos to help prepare me for my upcoming trip! They’re so helpful! How would you recommend a person traveling alone to take photos? I’m not sure if leaving a camera/phone on a tripod with a self timer would be the best idea…Any tips or advice would be appreciated!
Se acaba de abrir el AVE hacia Asturias, Murcia, nos queda muy poco para terminar desde Sevilla a Barcelona, el tramo de Granada- Murcia y Castellón- Tarragona 😊
Hi Tony, thanks a lot for the detailed information in your 10-step guide to the High-Speed train in Spain. It is very helpful! You mentioned that for bigger train stations like the ones in Madrid, one need to arrive an hour before the scheduled departure time so as to allow sufficient time to go through security. I am planning a day trip from Madrid to Toledo. I checked that the travel time between the two cities is about 30 minutes by train and an hour by bus. If I take into account the additional one hour needed to go through security, it would take a total of 1.5 hours to travel from Madrid to Toledo; while it would only take about 45 minutes to get there by bus (considering I need to arrive at the bus station 15 minutes before scheduled departure time). Does it mean that it is faster to travel from Madrid to Toledo by bus than by train? or are there any other factors that I need to take into consideration? Another question that I have is the locations of the bus stations. Are they close to the train station from Madrid to Toledo? Thanks a lot in advance for your advice.
Hi Judy, glad to hear our information was useful. One hour it's not just to go through security (it never takes than long), it's to find your way through a huge station. But if you visit Atocha beforehand and familiarize yourself with the location of the departure gates for Toledo, you could arrive 30 minutes before departure. Train will always be faster that the bus, it will take you longer to get to the bus terminal than to Atocha. Check the information about the stations in Toledo on this video th-cam.com/video/gLxpYH9m7HE/w-d-xo.html All the best!
Hi, Tony. Thank you so much for all your helpful videos. I’ve been using them in preparation for my first time visiting Spain. I’ve run into a bit of a situation and would love your advice on what to do. I’m looking at train tickets for my friends and me from Madrid-Chamartín to Leon in August, but there’s conflicting train information on Renfe and Trainline. On Renfe, there are only four trains, and only one late option is available for purchase. One is sold out, and the other two say Este tren no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Disculpe las molestias. On Trainline, only three options appear. Two are sold out, and only the late option is available. I’ve been checking the websites since April with little luck, and I’m confused, seeing as there are still many options for tomorrow’s travel from Madrid to Leon. My ideal train time shows up as unavailable for purchase at the moment on Refe and sold out on Trainline. I need to get to my destination before the late train option, so I’m in a bind here. Should I buy the late option now and change the time later, or should I wait longer to see if things change on either website?
Hi there, when that happens (plenty of services for a near date but hardly any for a more distant date) the usual explanation is that the tickets for the furthers away date haven't been introduced in the system yet. But with Renfe, you never know. You might want to purchase a ticket class that allows for changes, but there's a risk involved there. I'd wait.
Thank you for sharing. I am heading to Spain next week and am a little confused about this train and buses. For the train, can I take my backpack to the seat with me, or do I have to put it in the overhead compartment?
Dear Tony, just watched this video in preparation for my Oct trip. Great information & so very helpful, as always! Big thank you! I will be doing 4 high speed train journeys involving Bareclona, Madrid, Granada and Seville. I came across somewhere that wheelchairs are available at the train stations. Could you throw some light on this? Is this a free or paid for service? Can i book this in advance? How does it work? Once we board, do we just leave the wheelchair outside our carriage? Etc. Im hoping this service is easily available for the elderly and people with mobility issues. Many thanks. Monisha
Thank you so much Tony! I saw the video and it very clearly answered all my questions about wheelchair assistance! This is great news for me! That too was a superb video with 'practical information & insider tips'!!! Just as you always promise! ❤
Have you done a video about travelling and using the assistance service. As a visually impaired traveller, I would be very interested to know how it works in Spain.
Hi Tony, your videos are very helpful and easy to follow. We will be travelling from Australia to Barcelona in September. Can you please tell us when would be the earliest that we can book tickets. We can’t seem to find any tickets yet. Thank you
Hi Sally, we talk about advance purchase on this video: th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html It's impossible to tell, each company has its own criteria. Some have been selling tickets for dates until December for quite a good while now. It all depends on the specific route you want to do.
Why the Latin american doesn't biggest project of high speed rail network from Spain and Portugal Investment in Europe??? For example, the Spain has investment of high speed rail (El Tren de Alta Velocidad/ El TAVe) project for: Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Equador (Ecuador), and Colombia. For Portugal is only investment of HSR project for Brazil (Brasil). Thanks
From sevila to zaragoza its the intermedit stop or the first and end journer Tony ? And how to see which company train i will use from our ticket , since i join erupamundo and they arrange our tickect
If it's a direct train from Seville to Zaragoza it can only be Renfe or Iryo. If you don't have the tickets, ask your travel agent to provide them to you. Seville is the starting point for the trip, Zaragoza is an intermediate stop.
Is there an easy way to find out whether a stop is an intermediate one on the route or the last stop? I think I've found timetables on the Renfe website, but even when I know the route number it's not very simple.
Hi Tony ! Once you book your train tickets, do you need to reconfirm the time of departure? Like for example a website ? Do train departures change ? I understand there can be delays but just want to make sure the times of departure don’t chang☺️. Thank you for all your helpful tips 😘
Hello, there is no need to reconfirm the time of departure. In more than 200 high-speed train trips in Spain only once we had the departure time changed, by 10 minutes, and the company let us know by email. All the best!
Thanks Tony for the helpful video. Do you know if there are baggage carts at the train stations? We are travelling with 2 toddlers and several suitcases. Thanks
Thanks a lot , i have a small question if you don’t mind ! Is there any service for big luggage on AVE ?! Or i am the one who take it inside the train and when I arrive ?? I have my 2 kids and i am worries who will help me with my big bags 😅
Hi Salma, you carry your own bags (be aware of the baggage limitations in all services). But mothers with babies can ask for help, we talk about the "acerca" service on this video th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html
Question Tony - my husband and I will be travelling all over Spain via high speed trains in Sep/Oct 2023. Two of our journeys cross-over the train zones and involve changing stations in Madrid from Atocha station to Chamartin station. Is there a metro/subway or commuter train that can easily accomplish that for us between stations? P.S. we will have 2 carry-on + one large suitcase. thank you
Hi Michelle, there are several local train lines (C1, C2, C7, C10) connecting both stations. As they are commuter trains they can be incredibly packed, we do not advise you to take them if you are traveling with luggage. Best thing would be a Bolt/Cabify/Uber.
Loving your videos thank you. We are travelling to Spain in Sept 23. Trying to book a train ticket from San Sebastian to Madrid and there seem to be no trains only buses ... am i doing something wrong? thank you
sorry got somewhat confused with the wordings of "luggage" ----. Hand carry, suitcase, large suitcase, carry on, bulky luggage.... what I've gathered is Arlo and Ouigo charge luggage fees and best prepaid. And Iryo and Ave do not charge luggage fees. 03:45 the last minute luggage fee/penalty can exceed the train ticket price.
You understood correctly. You always need to check the specific luggage rules of each ticket and company. And do check out this short video about Iryo th-cam.com/users/shortslvAooyT2pw8?si=sE4bl2-0WIA54VDs
It's in our agenda but we have delayed it because of numerous changes happened recently. Nothing important in terms of destinations reached, but a much greater number of companies operating the existing routes.
Hi Tony, Thank you for this video, it is very helpful. I booked 2 tickets for AVE from Barecelona to Madrid for myself and my wife but when I checked the tickets today I noticed that while each ticket has our correct document ids, both tickets are showing my name only. My wife's name is not on her ticket. Is this going to be a problem when accessing the train? I hope you can provide some advice. Thanks.
Hi John, we don't know where you purchased the tickets nor how you went about it - in the Trainline, the site where we recommend you buy your high-speed train tickets, you need to insert the name of all the passengers traveling with you. We've never seen a RENFE employee checking the names on the tickets. It shouldn't be a problem. But, like we said, we were not with you when you purchased the tickets to see what you did while completing the purchase.
Thanks for the prompt reply Tony, I used Trainline to book the tickets but I think that google autofill may have played a part in over-writing my name over my wife's, given that her document id is showing on the ticket. I've booked several other trains in Spain for the two of us with Trainline without encountering this issue.@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hi Tony, Thanks again for the advice you provided. We successfully completed that particular leg of the trip without any problems. Spanish high speed trains were great. In fact, all our 9 Renfe train trips in Spain were comfortable, on time and excellent value. Its a very efficient system apart from the Renfe website booking but Trainline fills that gap. Also, I want to highlight and thank the Madrid metro helpers at Atocha station. They helped us purchase a multi-trip metro card in about 20 seconds that could be shared by two of us. Very useful to have that personal help when you are in a new city.😊
@@JohnHayes-t5d delighted to hear of your positive experience. Yes, those helpers are incredibly good. If you need to reload the card, we explain how to do it here th-cam.com/video/dXaVX0Pag08/w-d-xo.html
Don’t waste your money on renfe “first class” tickets it’s not worth it. There is almost no service from the attendants and the food is terrible in which you pay for. Standard class is perfectly fine for travel.
Thank you very much for great videos about travel in Spain. I am trying to figure out what is the best way to reach Alicante from Malaga and is it a good stop for a few days? Traveling in March 2024 for a month . Thank you !
Hi, there are no direct trains, you will have to change trains in Madrid. As for Alicante, it all depends on the specific route you are following and the cities you will be visiting, in our opinion, it wouldn't be a priority for first-timers to Spain.
Mil gracias Tony! How did you know that we needed EXACTLY this video as we will be arriving in Madrid in 2 weeks?? 😊 You have just taken the last bit of stress away from the trip we'll have to Tarragona. THANK YOU for your videos! ❤
Thank You for this advise Hi please advise if I can embark on a trip from Barcelona to Lisbon please Is there an overnight train Advise is appreciated!
Question Tony - I plan to use it next week, but there are very strict restrictions on the size of suitcases or bags that can be brought on the train. Is it okay if the length is slightly over the limit? Or should I add more money even if it's a little more?
Hello, only the low-cost carriers (Avlo and Ouigo) control the size of luggage. We've never seen Renfe or Inyo doing so - but that doesn't mean it cannot happen.
Hello Tony, I am about to book train travel between Barcelona and Madrid . Two options at almost the same price Ave and Iryo. Since it’s a new company I am wondering what are the reviews in Spain for Iryo? Thank you for your help and insight.
Hi Bobby, hard to tell, some Ave trains are more comfortable than others, but for the layman is nearly impossible to tell which specific train model you are booking. Both companies are perfectly fine, we would choose the one offering the most convenient times. All the best!
Hola Tony....I have to travel from Sol to Madrid Chamartin to travel further to Segovia. Will the TargetaMulti be valid (Line1) for this journey....I mean does Charmatin fall in zone A ? Or a separate ticket will be required Thanks
Hi, Tarjeta Multi is valid for the metro and buses of the city. If you go from Sol to Chamartín by metro you can use the Tarjeta Multi. To ride the local trains you need a Renfe&Tú card.
Hi Tony, one of the AVE trips that I've booked includes a change of train (Sevilla to Granada, changing at Córdoba). When changing trains, does that mean I should already be in the security control area and just have to move to a different platform? The changeover time is given as 19 minutes.
Hi, we've never done that connection (there is a direct train, no change of trains involved) but assume you will have to leave the platform, reach the open area of the station, and go through the embarkation routine again. Don't worry, the station is not that big and you won't get lost. 19 minutes should be enough.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thanks. It seems that the direct train is going to stop happening soon, all of the timetables don't show it after this month (maybe some trackwork?) so I had to go with a change.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal the timetable page is available a very long way ahead, well before any tickets are being sold (I was using it for a lot of routes to get ideas of my possible schedule when I knew I couldn't buy any tickets yet). But the timetable for Sevilla-Granada changes on 1 April.
Yes, but you have to pay for it. See the details on our videos on Avlo and Ouigo. Nothing prevents thieves from taking your luggage. But that is a rare occurrence. You can't board the train unless you have a ticket and the train usually stops at very few stations (if any).
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hola 👋 we are watching your Barcelona vids ..right now.. tonight .. here in Auckland 🇳🇿… My Wife Papa is from Fayon.., we spread his ashes in 2019.., we hope to return in next 24 months.. Great vids…🙏🙏🙏
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal 🙏🙏 lol, I think I’ve already said my Wife is Spanish/ English.., father from Fayon/ Barcelona… & she has near zero Spanish…, so I might have to learn it… & Catalan..?😂
Hi, we tried to book the Iryo train from Madrid to Seville on Trainline and got a message that our tickets allow us to travel on Cercanías trains 4 hours before our train time. Do you know what this means?
Hi, we talk about the Combinado Cercanías here th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html and show you how to use it to leave Madrid airport here th-cam.com/video/QRjyWKX_HvU/w-d-xo.html
🚅OUR VIDEOS ON HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL IN SPAIN:
➡ how to buy your high-speed train tickets th-cam.com/video/MYqz41n5Qn4/w-d-xo.html
➡10 tips to make the most of the high-speed train in Spain th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html
➡ the Spanish high-speed network th-cam.com/video/n_M20gV04OY/w-d-xo.html
➡ AVLO th-cam.com/video/t7CQ2TFxppA/w-d-xo.html
➡ IRYO th-cam.com/video/t83SR1tkILM/w-d-xo.html
➡ OUIGO th-cam.com/video/XagP-k2kiDo/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much for producing this video! I'll be riding the train next month and feel much more knowledge.
Great to hear that. Hope you'll have a great trip!
After experiencing the high speed trains in Spain and Portugal, I often wonder why the U.S. has not yet adopted this incredible method of travel. Spain and Portugal are light years ahead of the U.S. on this system. It was SO easy to get every place we wanted to see.
That's because GOP doesn't believe in spending money on infrastructure including transportation because that would diminish the tax breaks to the wealthy. Take for instance Clearwater Florida, there is no way to get to the airport unless you hire a car to get there. We wish there was a train but in Florida, everything requires a study followed by another study. We enjoy public transportation. USA is behind the times. So unfortunate for a wealthy country. You don't see any corporations pushing for better transportation so employees have better access to their work. Florida is a perfect example.
@@mztango You're absolutely correct. The GOP hates spending money on anything that makes life better for the masses.
The contrast between Europe and the States in many areas of public investment can be shocking.
It's all about jobs and making money for the car industry, that's why the US will move at a snails pace.
Perhaps it's because of the vastness of the US when compared to smaller European countries. The thing to do in the US is for regions of states to band together to create smaller networks that intersect.
Traveled the HIGH-SPEED last week from Sevilla to Madrid for the first time! It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE! Thank you, TONY ♥
Great to hear that, Enrique!
Thank you for your video! We will be traveling next month for the first time to Spain and Portugal, your video was so informative!
Glad to hear that!
Appreciate the clear steps for the new travelers and good review for the experienced ones too.
Thank you, Dave, when preparing this video we had newbies in mind above all.
So excited to visit soon this May. Taking renfe from atocha to Barcelona.
👍
Your videos were so helpful on our trip! Since this was our first time in Spain, arriving an hour early at the station, especially at Atocha, was soooooo helpful. That is one huge station! Barcelona Sants station was not as big and it was easier to find where to go. The Seville Santa Justa station is small so getting there 20-30 minutes early is enough time in our experience at this station.
Thanks again, yes, Atocha is huge, and we also agree with Santa Justa, quite small. The critical stations are Atocha and Sants. All the best.
Thanks!
That's very kind of you!
Tony, thanks for this channel that I recently found. I'm planning on moving to Málaga in 2024 and plan on using the fantastic highspeed rail system of Spain and even more so now with the low cost trains(Avlo, Ouigo, Iryo). Would be nice to continue making videos of great train day or weekend trips that you can do without needing to drive. Another interesting video would be to discuss periodically any expansion of Spain's rail network as I understand there are multiple projects all around the country. Muchas gracias!
Thank you for your comment and be very welcome to the channel. We have a video on the Spanish rail network which we should be updating some time this summer: th-cam.com/video/n_M20gV04OY/w-d-xo.html All the best!
Perfect video, very useful and essential for anyone who wants to use high speed trains in Spain. I really liked!
Thanks so much, Yara.
This is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!
Great to hear that!
Fantastic video Tony. Extremely thorough and useful!
Thanks, Mike.
in spain right now love it love your videos
Great to hear that!
arrive an hour early, that will be me! 👀😂
👏👏👏
Really helpful ! Thank you sir
👍
Your videos are the most informative, most thoughtful! Gracias
Thank you, Evelyn.
Thank you so much!! Very helpful!!
Great to hear that, Kari.
tnx for this very clear video
Our pleasure!
Muchas gracias! No he viajado por tren en Espana durante mucho tiempo. Me ayudo mucho esta informacion.
Qué bien, tampoco te pierdas este vídeo th-cam.com/video/sSiIRby2RGU/w-d-xo.html
Very explanatory. Thank you😊
Great to hear that!
Thank you so much for your information it has made our trip so easy and we have love all your recommendations.
So happy to hear that, Kim!
Great video. I want to travel to Spain to experience your train service. I wish we had this in the US.
Hope you get that chance soon!
I am taking my 84 year old mother to Spain and we plan on travelling between Barcelona, Madrid and Seville by high speed train… She can walk a little but needs a wheelchair for distances… we will be travelling with our own wheelchair but we may need some assistance as I will have a suitcase to manage too… Do I need to pre-book assistance in the stations in Spain? Is there room for a collapsible wheelchair in the storage areas on the train? Thank you for all the fabulous videos. You’ve been so helpful in planning our trip!!
Hi, the assistance service we talk about on this video th-cam.com/video/a0_-PL3nLes/w-d-xo.html should be requested at the time of purchasing the ticket. When you get to the station, look for the ACERCA office where they will take care of you and your mother. There is room inside the train for a collapsible wheelchair. Book a disabled seat. All best!
Been watching your videos to help prepare me for my upcoming trip! They’re so helpful! How would you recommend a person traveling alone to take photos? I’m not sure if leaving a camera/phone on a tripod with a self timer would be the best idea…Any tips or advice would be appreciated!
This was very helpful - thank you
Glad to hear that!
useful for the train tmrw
👍
anymore tapas tips love those videos!
Plenty of food videos on the channel, check them out here: th-cam.com/play/PLWH9E2sQGItoTD_lgd0vzO_Ve3EdbDWCw.html
gracias!
Se acaba de abrir el AVE hacia Asturias, Murcia, nos queda muy poco para terminar desde Sevilla a Barcelona, el tramo de Granada- Murcia y Castellón- Tarragona 😊
De Sevilla a Barcelona se viaja en AVE directo desde hace muchos muchos años.
Hi Tony, thanks a lot for the detailed information in your 10-step guide to the High-Speed train in Spain. It is very helpful! You mentioned that for bigger train stations like the ones in Madrid, one need to arrive an hour before the scheduled departure time so as to allow sufficient time to go through security. I am planning a day trip from Madrid to Toledo. I checked that the travel time between the two cities is about 30 minutes by train and an hour by bus. If I take into account the additional one hour needed to go through security, it would take a total of 1.5 hours to travel from Madrid to Toledo; while it would only take about 45 minutes to get there by bus (considering I need to arrive at the bus station 15 minutes before scheduled departure time). Does it mean that it is faster to travel from Madrid to Toledo by bus than by train? or are there any other factors that I need to take into consideration?
Another question that I have is the locations of the bus stations. Are they close to the train station from Madrid to Toledo? Thanks a lot in advance for your advice.
Hi Judy, glad to hear our information was useful. One hour it's not just to go through security (it never takes than long), it's to find your way through a huge station. But if you visit Atocha beforehand and familiarize yourself with the location of the departure gates for Toledo, you could arrive 30 minutes before departure. Train will always be faster that the bus, it will take you longer to get to the bus terminal than to Atocha. Check the information about the stations in Toledo on this video th-cam.com/video/gLxpYH9m7HE/w-d-xo.html All the best!
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hi Tony, thanks a lot for your speedy reply. I really appreciate it! I'll check out the video that you sent me.
Hi, Tony. Thank you so much for all your helpful videos. I’ve been using them in preparation for my first time visiting Spain. I’ve run into a bit of a situation and would love your advice on what to do.
I’m looking at train tickets for my friends and me from Madrid-Chamartín to Leon in August, but there’s conflicting train information on Renfe and Trainline. On Renfe, there are only four trains, and only one late option is available for purchase. One is sold out, and the other two say Este tren no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Disculpe las molestias. On Trainline, only three options appear. Two are sold out, and only the late option is available. I’ve been checking the websites since April with little luck, and I’m confused, seeing as there are still many options for tomorrow’s travel from Madrid to Leon. My ideal train time shows up as unavailable for purchase at the moment on Refe and sold out on Trainline. I need to get to my destination before the late train option, so I’m in a bind here. Should I buy the late option now and change the time later, or should I wait longer to see if things change on either website?
Hi there, when that happens (plenty of services for a near date but hardly any for a more distant date) the usual explanation is that the tickets for the furthers away date haven't been introduced in the system yet. But with Renfe, you never know. You might want to purchase a ticket class that allows for changes, but there's a risk involved there. I'd wait.
Thank you for sharing. I am heading to Spain next week and am a little confused about this train and buses. For the train, can I take my backpack to the seat with me, or do I have to put it in the overhead compartment?
In trains you can take your backpack to the seat with you, but on the overhead compartment just above you will free space for you.
4PM 1600 hour
Thank you so much, Tony. I am trying to book a train from Madrid to Segovua on Apr 21, and trainline is saying it is sold out. How is if possible?
Hi Lilia, check out this short video th-cam.com/users/shortswmKDTtNRV8c
Dear Tony, just watched this video in preparation for my Oct trip. Great information & so very helpful, as always! Big thank you! I will be doing 4 high speed train journeys involving Bareclona, Madrid, Granada and Seville. I came across somewhere that wheelchairs are available at the train stations. Could you throw some light on this? Is this a free or paid for service? Can i book this in advance? How does it work? Once we board, do we just leave the wheelchair outside our carriage? Etc. Im hoping this service is easily available for the elderly and people with mobility issues. Many thanks. Monisha
Hi Monisha, we talk about help for passengers with mobility issues on this video here: th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html All the best!
Thank you so much Tony! I saw the video and it very clearly answered all my questions about wheelchair assistance! This is great news for me! That too was a superb video with 'practical information & insider tips'!!! Just as you always promise! ❤
@@monishachaudhari1028 👏👏👏 we've never used the service, but from what we've seen, it works quite well.
Have you done a video about travelling and using the assistance service. As a visually impaired traveller, I would be very interested to know how it works in Spain.
Hi John, we mention the service on this video: th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal great, I will take a look thank you
Hi Tony, your videos are very helpful and easy to follow.
We will be travelling from Australia to Barcelona in September. Can you please tell us when would be the earliest that we can book tickets.
We can’t seem to find any tickets yet.
Thank you
Hi Sally, we talk about advance purchase on this video: th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html It's impossible to tell, each company has its own criteria. Some have been selling tickets for dates until December for quite a good while now. It all depends on the specific route you want to do.
Why the Latin american doesn't biggest project of high speed rail network from Spain and Portugal Investment in Europe???
For example, the Spain has investment of high speed rail (El Tren de Alta Velocidad/ El TAVe) project for: Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Equador (Ecuador), and Colombia.
For Portugal is only investment of HSR project for Brazil (Brasil). Thanks
Is there a specific speed train pass or ticket that includes several travel tickets instead of buying one in each city to visit?
There is the Renfe Spain Pass, only valid for Renfe trains, which we don't think provides a good deal.
What does cercanías mean when travelling from Madrid to cordoba. What platform does the cordoba trains leave from.
Cercanías are suburban trains. There are no cercanías running from Madrid to Córdoba. The platform depends on the company and the time of the day.
From sevila to zaragoza its the intermedit stop or the first and end journer Tony ? And how to see which company train i will use from our ticket , since i join erupamundo and they arrange our tickect
If it's a direct train from Seville to Zaragoza it can only be Renfe or Iryo. If you don't have the tickets, ask your travel agent to provide them to you. Seville is the starting point for the trip, Zaragoza is an intermediate stop.
Is there an easy way to find out whether a stop is an intermediate one on the route or the last stop? I think I've found timetables on the Renfe website, but even when I know the route number it's not very simple.
Our network map will probably help on that regard th-cam.com/video/7QSmj6b_q5k/w-d-xo.html
Hi Tony ! Once you book your train tickets, do you need to reconfirm the time of departure? Like for example a website ? Do train departures change ? I understand there can be delays but just want to make sure the times of departure don’t chang☺️. Thank you for all your helpful tips 😘
Hello, there is no need to reconfirm the time of departure. In more than 200 high-speed train trips in Spain only once we had the departure time changed, by 10 minutes, and the company let us know by email. All the best!
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thank you 😊!
Thanks Tony for the helpful video.
Do you know if there are baggage carts at the train stations? We are travelling with 2 toddlers and several suitcases.
Thanks
Hello, there are no baggage carts at the stations.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
Thanks dear for the prompt reply much appreciated
Thanks a lot , i have a small question if you don’t mind ! Is there any service for big luggage on AVE ?! Or i am the one who take it inside the train and when I arrive ?? I have my 2 kids and i am worries who will help me with my big bags 😅
Hi Salma, you carry your own bags (be aware of the baggage limitations in all services). But mothers with babies can ask for help, we talk about the "acerca" service on this video th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thanks for that , but can you know if “acerca” can be found in alacant metro station
@@Salma-zx9cx Acerca is a service provided only in railway stations.
Question Tony - my husband and I will be travelling all over Spain via high speed trains in Sep/Oct 2023. Two of our journeys cross-over the train zones and involve changing stations in Madrid from Atocha station to Chamartin station. Is there a metro/subway or commuter train that can easily accomplish that for us between stations? P.S. we will have 2 carry-on + one large suitcase. thank you
Hi Michelle, there are several local train lines (C1, C2, C7, C10) connecting both stations. As they are commuter trains they can be incredibly packed, we do not advise you to take them if you are traveling with luggage. Best thing would be a Bolt/Cabify/Uber.
Loving your videos thank you. We are travelling to Spain in Sept 23. Trying to book a train ticket from San Sebastian to Madrid and there seem to be no trains only buses ... am i doing something wrong?
thank you
Hi Rose, see this video: th-cam.com/users/shortswmKDTtNRV8c Be also aware there are no high-speed trains between San Sebastián and Madrid.
sorry got somewhat confused with the wordings of "luggage" ----. Hand carry, suitcase, large suitcase, carry on, bulky luggage.... what I've gathered is Arlo and Ouigo charge luggage fees and best prepaid. And Iryo and Ave do not charge luggage fees. 03:45 the last minute luggage fee/penalty can exceed the train ticket price.
You understood correctly. You always need to check the specific luggage rules of each ticket and company. And do check out this short video about Iryo th-cam.com/users/shortslvAooyT2pw8?si=sE4bl2-0WIA54VDs
Can you do an updated HS network video? Your last one was about a year ago. Thank you
It's in our agenda but we have delayed it because of numerous changes happened recently. Nothing important in terms of destinations reached, but a much greater number of companies operating the existing routes.
Hi Tony, Thank you for this video, it is very helpful. I booked 2 tickets for AVE from Barecelona to Madrid for myself and my wife but when I checked the tickets today I noticed that while each ticket has our correct document ids, both tickets are showing my name only. My wife's name is not on her ticket. Is this going to be a problem when accessing the train? I hope you can provide some advice. Thanks.
Hi John, we don't know where you purchased the tickets nor how you went about it - in the Trainline, the site where we recommend you buy your high-speed train tickets, you need to insert the name of all the passengers traveling with you. We've never seen a RENFE employee checking the names on the tickets. It shouldn't be a problem. But, like we said, we were not with you when you purchased the tickets to see what you did while completing the purchase.
Thanks for the prompt reply Tony, I used Trainline to book the tickets but I think that google autofill may have played a part in over-writing my name over my wife's, given that her document id is showing on the ticket. I've booked several other trains in Spain for the two of us with Trainline without encountering this issue.@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
You should be ok but you might want to get in touch with the Trainline to double check.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal Hi Tony, Thanks again for the advice you provided. We successfully completed that particular leg of the trip without any problems. Spanish high speed trains were great. In fact, all our 9 Renfe train trips in Spain were comfortable, on time and excellent value. Its a very efficient system apart from the Renfe website booking but Trainline fills that gap. Also, I want to highlight and thank the Madrid metro helpers at Atocha station. They helped us purchase a multi-trip metro card in about 20 seconds that could be shared by two of us. Very useful to have that personal help when you are in a new city.😊
@@JohnHayes-t5d delighted to hear of your positive experience. Yes, those helpers are incredibly good. If you need to reload the card, we explain how to do it here th-cam.com/video/dXaVX0Pag08/w-d-xo.html
Don’t waste your money on renfe “first class” tickets it’s not worth it. There is almost no service from the attendants and the food is terrible in which you pay for. Standard class is perfectly fine for travel.
Thanks Tony and Cecilia!
Our pleasure!
Thank you very much for great videos about travel in Spain. I am trying to figure out what is the best way to reach Alicante from Malaga and is it a good stop for a few days? Traveling in March 2024 for a month . Thank you !
Hi, there are no direct trains, you will have to change trains in Madrid. As for Alicante, it all depends on the specific route you are following and the cities you will be visiting, in our opinion, it wouldn't be a priority for first-timers to Spain.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thank you so very much for your prompt reply. It is very much appreciated!
@@BobbyAltschuler 👍
Mil gracias Tony! How did you know that we needed EXACTLY this video as we will be arriving in Madrid in 2 weeks?? 😊 You have just taken the last bit of stress away from the trip we'll have to Tarragona. THANK YOU for your videos! ❤
¡De nada, Henry! If you still have any questions, do ask!
Thank You for this advise
Hi please advise if I can embark on a trip from Barcelona to Lisbon please
Is there an overnight train
Advise is appreciated!
There are no trains from Barcelona to Lisbon.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal - Thank You for your prompt response- much Appreciated!
how far in advance can you book tickets? 3 months? Thanks
It depends on the company and the route. Sometimes one year in advance, sometimes, just one month before.
Question Tony - I plan to use it next week, but there are very strict restrictions on the size of suitcases or bags that can be brought on the train. Is it okay if the length is slightly over the limit? Or should I add more money even if it's a little more?
Hello, only the low-cost carriers (Avlo and Ouigo) control the size of luggage. We've never seen Renfe or Inyo doing so - but that doesn't mean it cannot happen.
Do you have a video for Renfe Ave trains specifically?
th-cam.com/video/boVV8YQbRx0/w-d-xo.html
Hello Tony, I am about to book train travel between Barcelona and Madrid . Two options at almost the same price Ave and Iryo. Since it’s a new company I am wondering what are the reviews in Spain for Iryo? Thank you for your help and insight.
Hi Bobby, hard to tell, some Ave trains are more comfortable than others, but for the layman is nearly impossible to tell which specific train model you are booking. Both companies are perfectly fine, we would choose the one offering the most convenient times. All the best!
Thank you very much
Hola Tony....I have to travel from Sol to Madrid Chamartin to travel further to Segovia. Will the TargetaMulti be valid (Line1) for this journey....I mean does Charmatin fall in zone A ? Or a separate ticket will be required
Thanks
Hi, Tarjeta Multi is valid for the metro and buses of the city. If you go from Sol to Chamartín by metro you can use the Tarjeta Multi. To ride the local trains you need a Renfe&Tú card.
Hi Tony, one of the AVE trips that I've booked includes a change of train (Sevilla to Granada, changing at Córdoba). When changing trains, does that mean I should already be in the security control area and just have to move to a different platform? The changeover time is given as 19 minutes.
Hi, we've never done that connection (there is a direct train, no change of trains involved) but assume you will have to leave the platform, reach the open area of the station, and go through the embarkation routine again. Don't worry, the station is not that big and you won't get lost. 19 minutes should be enough.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal thanks. It seems that the direct train is going to stop happening soon, all of the timetables don't show it after this month (maybe some trackwork?) so I had to go with a change.
@@orfeocookie the timetables are released almost on a monthly basis.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal the timetable page is available a very long way ahead, well before any tickets are being sold (I was using it for a lot of routes to get ideas of my possible schedule when I knew I couldn't buy any tickets yet). But the timetable for Sevilla-Granada changes on 1 April.
Does avlo and ouigo support full sized luggage? Also what is preventing thieves from taking your luggage?
Yes, but you have to pay for it. See the details on our videos on Avlo and Ouigo. Nothing prevents thieves from taking your luggage. But that is a rare occurrence. You can't board the train unless you have a ticket and the train usually stops at very few stations (if any).
Tony, what train/trains can be taken from Barcelona to Valencia without going through Madrid?
There is a direct train, it's not a high-speed train, but you can check prices and times at the Trainline here: prf.hn/l/6b1N4Qa
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
👍👍👍
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
Hola 👋 we are watching your Barcelona vids ..right now.. tonight .. here in Auckland 🇳🇿…
My Wife Papa is from Fayon.., we spread his ashes in 2019.., we hope to return in next 24 months..
Great vids…🙏🙏🙏
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
Just subscribed 🙏🙏
@@tigertiger1699 be very welcome to the channel.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal
🙏🙏 lol, I think I’ve already said my Wife is Spanish/ English.., father from Fayon/ Barcelona… & she has near zero Spanish…, so I might have to learn it… & Catalan..?😂
Hi, we tried to book the Iryo train from Madrid to Seville on Trainline and got a message that our tickets allow us to travel on Cercanías trains 4 hours before our train time. Do you know what this means?
Hi, we talk about the Combinado Cercanías here th-cam.com/video/QYvUn-sJxZ4/w-d-xo.html and show you how to use it to leave Madrid airport here th-cam.com/video/QRjyWKX_HvU/w-d-xo.html
Hi Tony, can i check if renfe train, the baggage space on top of the seat can put in a size 28inch luggage?
Renfe operates many different types of trains but usually the baggage space fits up to middle-sized suitcases.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal i see, ok noted. Thank you. Which means my large suitcase might not be able to fit the overhead rack..😰
@@wenday6266 even if it fits, you are strongly discouraged to place your large suitcase on the overhead rack, there is a proper luggage rack for them.
@@ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal I see, because I am afraid might get lost if I leave then at the storage area..
@@wenday6266 the risk of something happening to your luggage on a flight is 100 times higher than on a high-speed train trip.
Thanks!
That's very kind of you, Marion.
Great videos! Hope you can do a video on San Sevastian and the how to reach it via train.
It will take a while. We have a video on San Sebastian on our Spanish channel here: th-cam.com/video/CJNG7QORyts/w-d-xo.html