Spain By Train

You can either buy a railpass, which allows you unlimited travel within a particular region for a given period of time, or rely on buying individual point-to-point tickets as you go. Almost all countries give students or youths (usually defined as anyone under 26) direct discounts on regular domestic rail tickets, and many also sell a student or youth card that provides 20-50% off of fares.

Should You Buy A Railpass? Railpasses were conceived to allow you to jump on any train in Europe, go wherever you want whenever you want, and change your plans at will. In practice, it’s not so simple. You still must stand in line to validate your pass, pay for supplements, and fork over cash for seat and couchette reservations. More importantly, railpasses don’t always pay off. If you plan to spend extensive time on trains hopping between big cities, a railpass will probably be worth it. But in many cases, especially if you are under 26, point-to-point tickets may prove a cheaper option. It may be tough to make your railpass pay for itself in Spain and Portugal, where train fares are reasonable, distances short, and buses often preferable.

Eurail Passes. Eurail is valid in much of Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, The Republic of Ireland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is not valid in the UK. Eurail Global Passes, valid for a given number of consecutive days, are best for those planning on spending extensive time on trains every few days. Global passes valid for any 10 or 15 (not necessarily consecutive) days within a two-month period are more cost-effective for those traveling longer distances less frequently. Eurail Pass Saver provides first-class travel for travelers in groups of two to five (prices are per person). Eurail Pass Youth provides parallel second-class perks for those under 26. Passholders receive a timetable for major routes and a map with details on possible bike rental, car rental, hotel, and museum discounts. Passholders often also receive reduced fares or free passage on many boat, bus, and private railroad lines. The Eurail Select Pass is a slimmed-down version of the Eurail Pass: it allows five, six, eight, 10, or 15 days of unlimited travel in any two-month period within three, four, or five bordering countries of 23 European nations.

Shopping Around For A Eurail. Eurail Passes are designed by the EU itself and can be bought only by non-Europeans almost exclusively from non-European distributors. These passes must be sold at uniform prices determined by the EU. However, some travel agents tack on a handling fee, and others offer certain bonuses with purchase, so shop around. Also, keep in mind that pass prices usually go up each year, so save cash by purchasing before January 1 (you have 6 months from the purchase date to validate your pass in Europe). Because only a few places in major European cities sell them, and at a marked-up price, it is best to buy your pass before leaving. You can get a replacement for a lost pass only if you have purchased insurance under the Pass Security Plan (€10). Eurail Passes are available through travel agents, student travel agencies like STA , as well as Rail Europe (www.raileurope.com) or directly from Eurail’s website, www.eurail.com.

Other Multinational Passes. If your travels will be limited to one area, regional passes are often the best value. Visit www.raileurope.com and www.eurail.com for Portugal-Spain Pass options. If you have lived for at least six months in one of the European countries where InterRail Passes are valid, they prove an economical option. The InterRail Pass allows travel within 30 European countries excluding the passholder’s country of residence. The Global Pass is valid for a given number of days (not necessarily consecutive) within a 10-day to one-month period. The One Country Pass limits travel to one European country. Passholders receive free admission to many museums as well as discounts on accommodations, food, and ferries. Passes are available at www.interrailnet.com as well as from travel agents, at major train stations throughout Europe, and through online vendors (like www.railpassdirect.co.uk).