Tag Info

Generally speaking, train travel on high speed trains is luxury travel. For budget travel in Europe, take the plane. Or the bus if you have time. Neither planes nor busses are as comfortable and convenient as modern high speed trains. The economic explanation is related to the following points: The price is determined by supply and demand. Turnover is ...

There are political reasons behind this and I believe that this isn't the appropriate website to discuss this. Anyway, you can find cheaper rail and air tickets for the BCN-MAD route. Try with Rumbo for instance. This website returns prices for airlines and Renfe trains. I've tested for you some dates and you can fly for less than 30 euros and go by train ...

I've travelled by train in many countries in Europe, and I can say that the Spanish AVE is the most luxurious train I've ever been on. It's very fast, the railway and the trains are very new, and travelling conditions are good. For example, at the AVE, you get a 100% refund if the train runs more than 5 minutes late. Try that at the TGV in France or the ICE ...

Two years ago I drove from Madrid to Barcelona. I didn't rent a car, but used my own. However, I can add some hints: As MastaBaba mentioned, the toll roads are sometimes quite expensive. On the other hand very often you can choose if you want to use the new and empty highway and pay the toll or if you want to use the old highway that is quite often next to ...

Barajas Airport is pretty good, it's nice and new, and efficient. I've been through many times and been impressed at its speed of processing. Assuming you need to check in at 4am, say, you'd probably have from 9.30pm till 4am outside the airport. I had a night in Madrid last year, and stayed in a hostel downtown as it was easy and quick to get there. ...

'Beautiful' is relative, but if you take the highway, well, it's a highway. Spain ain't, say, the Central African Republic, so, car hire is a pretty boring (and safe) business. All the regular players are available in Barcelona. I recommend booking through 3clickcarhire. They tend to give decent deals. This September, I also rented a car through ...

In general: Try to go to hotels where the whole building is occuppied by the hotel Try to avoid big streets or roads nearby Obviously, do not choose hotels near night life areas Trust in hotels chains like Hilton, Western, etc.. they usually have stronger criterias when they build a hotel New hotels better than ancient buildings Hotels with fitted carpet ...

The fastest way to get into town quickly (barring a taxi, which is expensive and whose speed depends on traffic conditions) is the commuter trains, Cercanías (journey planner, network map). These trains are also cheaper than the Metro when you're going from or to the airport (€1,75 for a 3-zone Cercanías ticket, vs €5 for a Metro ticket from the airport to ...

Without doubt, the best option is the subway. You have to jump into the Metro line number 8 (the only one at Barajas Airport), then change to line 4 (Argüelles) and wait more than one hour until you arrive to Alonso Martinez stop. Then change to line 5 (Aluche) and only two stops later you are in Gran Via stop. The ticket is between 4'50 and 5 euros (depends ...

A good place to start for me is the Interrail website list. Using the info there it is easy to google on and find more detailed information. A quick google also returned spain.info website with an events search ability for any given area of Spain, the link is for Madrid events in September.

When I visited Barcelona some years back, I came across Apartments Ramblas. It is a search engine primarily for apartments in Barcelona. If you change the city to Madrid though, you get suggestions as well. The options are self-catering btw.

If possible, check your baggage directly in to the final destination. This will allow you to save time as you won't have to take up your luggage in Madrid and check in again. If that's not feasible, as you are leaving early, you might be able to an evening check-in in Madrid. You will save precious time in the morning. In either case you could take the ...