Travel in Spain

It is impossible to reach some places in Spain by train, however there is a good network of bus services. Most bus companies with their lines and timetables can be found on the Internet. In Spain there is no specific national bus company, as the bus services are controlled by the regional bus companies. Autocares Julia is one of the largest. This company acts in Spain also as an agent for Eurolines. Tickets can usually be bought at the bus station.

Ferry

You can take a ferry from South of Spain to Morocco or Algeria and of course the famous islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The Canary Islands, Lanzerote, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Fuerteventura can be reached with a ferry. From Barcelona there is a ferry to Sardinia, Italy and Tunisia. In Bilbao, Northern Spain, you can find a ferry to England.

Rental car

All major Spanish cities and airports offer car-rental services. A car can be rented for more than one day. Besides renting a car on the spot, you have also the option of reserving it directly from your country through the service “fly & drive”. The rented car can be collected upon arrival. Some important things to know are:

• We recommend you to apply for the insurance. It is a minimal additional cost, but in this way you can prevent a lot of damages.
• If several people want to drive the car, the rental company must be informed about that. It usually costs a little more but in case of accident the cost would be incalculable.
• Often a minimum age to drive a rented car is 23. Please inquire.
• The deposit of the rental must normally be paid by credit card. Cash is generally not accepted.
• The rented car must be returned with a full tank or with a nearly empty tank. Please inquire and save on refueling.
• If you are travelling out of season, you would see that some rental companies offer discounts. You had better to compare the tariffs of different rental companies and to choose the one that suits you best.
• Check the rented vehicle for visible defects (both outside and inside) and if there are any flaws, it is better to immediately report it to the rental company.
• Be careful when returning the rented car, especially in high season. Catching your flight in the last moment, could be the end peak of the holiday stress.

Taxi

All Spanish cities and autonomous regions have their own taxi car design and taxi fare. If a taxi is available, you would see a green light on top of the car. Almost all taxis have a meter and the rates vary depending on the region and city. In Spain it is common and possible to negotiate the price with the driver. This prevents any misunderstanding.

Train

In Spain, travelling by train is absolutely common. There are various types of Spanish trains included in specific categories. On the one hand, you can use regional trains, that reach almost every Spanish station. On the other hand, you are offered the high speed train, AVE, which only connects some Spanish stations.

RENFE is the Spanish organization that manages the railway tracks in Spain, while IBERAIL is in charge of abroad transport connections.

The different types of trains used by RENFE are:

• AVE, tren de Alta Velocidad Española, the high-speed train that connects several major Spanish cities. If this train gets to its destination more than 5 minutes late, you will get the price of your ticket back.
• Tren diurno de largo recorrido, is a long distance train that travels during the day.
• Tren nocturno de largo recorrido, is a long distance train that travels at night.
• Intercity, daytime travelling train.
• Intercity Talgos, more luxurious version of the Intercity.
• Expresos, night train.
• Talgo cama, sleeper train.
• Regionales, regional trains which stops almost at every local station.

Al Andalus Expreso, it is compared to the Orient Express. The train consists of a number of carriages dating from the years 1900 to 1930. Packed with luxurious and fully equipped details, this train travels at a leisurely pace through the most beautiful regions of Andalucia / Andalusia.

The price of the ticket depends on the type of train, the chosen class and the number of available tickets.

• primera clase, first class
• segunda clase, second class
• tourist (valle, plano, punta), medium and low tariffs per compartment
• preference (valle, plano, punta)
• club (valle, plano, punta), business class with high, medium and low tariffs per compartment

Plane

Spain has a large number of airports. Some are only used for regional flights but there are also a large number of airports that offer international routes. Due to the increasing flow of tourists, each year more and more airports are built in the major cities.

Nowadays, flying is a good and affordable mode of transportation to and from your holiday destination. There is a wide offer of flights ranging from charter to scheduled, from and to all the world airports.

It is important to distinguish between charter and scheduled flights.

The scheduled flights can be booked in advance and are carried out at the planned time. A disadvantage of a scheduled service is that prices, usually, are higher than those of the charters. An advantage is that the planes normally travel full of passangers and less frecuently that charter flights as they fly at fixed times and have priority during takeoff at airports, reducing the risk of delay. Charter flights offer cheaper prices than the scheduled. Often these flights depart in less attractive times.

The so-called low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Easyjet usually fly to and from regional airports. The prices are often spectacularly low, however numerous things carry additional expenses. If you want a permanent seat on the plane or want to carry luggage, the same as to drink or eat on board, beware as it is possible you would have to pay more.