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By Plane ...
By Car ...
By Train ...
By Bus ...
Taxis ...
Subways ...
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By Plane
Many airlines fly every day from America and Europe to the most
important international spanish airports (ex. Madrid, Barcelona,
Mallorca, Malaga, Seville, Canary Islands, ...). Iberia, the
largest spanish air company links Spain with many other places
around the world daily. You can reach them
here. In addition, charter
flights abound.
The cheapest way to fly from one city to another in Spain is to
use free stopovers if they are included in your transatlantic fare. Sufficient
free stopovers may permit you to fly without additional charge
within Spain. Check with your travel agent.
Some time ago Spain had only one domestic airline: Aviaco,
affiliated with Iberia Airlines. Today three others add competition
and have lowered prices that were already reasonable. They are:
Air Europa,
Air Nostrum, Air Binter.
By Car
The quality of a Spanish road and whether it is multi-laned are
indicated by its letter designation. "A" followed by a number, as in A-1,
means an Autopista, a well-paved four-lane highway. Some may charge
tolls (peajes) over most of its route. These roads will also have
an "E" designation; the major arteries in Europe are being systematically
numbered throughout the European Union. Toll roads are privately owned
in Spain and charge truly exorbitant rates, but they do not pass through
low-speed-limit villages, so save both time and gas.
"N" means a national road (carretera nacional) and is
followed by either a Roman or Arabic numeral. These are usually one
lane in each direction and pass through towns and villages where speeds
must be cut in half or more. "D" and "C" prefix lesser roads, acceptably
paved but even slower going, generally with more curves.
Speed limits are 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour on autopistas,
100 kilometers (62 miles) on national highways, 90 kilometers (55 miles)
on other roads, unless otherwise marked, and 50 kilometers (32 miles) in towns.
Gas is a major expense in Europe, costing three times what it does
in the Unites States. Gas prices are quoted by the liter, which is slightly
more than a quart (see measurements).
An international driving permit is required for foreigners driving
in Spain. Automobile Clubs can supply one. Bring along two passport-sized photos,
a valid driver's license, and a $10 fee. In Spain the emergency assistance
number for RACE, the most important automobile club, is 91-593-33-33.
Note that Spanish rentals will bill at 16 percent more than the price
charged, because of the VAT (spanish IVA) tax. Although the legal driving age
in Spain is 18, some rental companies refuse to rent to anyone under 21, or
even older. Check in advance. Estimate about $350 per week for a compact car,
manual-drive without air-conditioning.
Sometimes the least expensive rental will be through a Spanish company.
We are one of them. Nevertheless, we can provide some names for you.
By Train
Trains beat planes when the distance is 200 miles or less because train
stations are located downtown, while airports are not.
Trains go almost everywhere in Spain, though not always directly. RENFE
(Red Nacional de Ferrocarril de España) radiates from its hub
in Madrid to the corners of the country. Travel is convenient along any
continuous radius, but requires retracing tracks to reach cities on different
lines. RENFE ticket offices are centrally located in large cities.
The best trains for speed and service are international trains
(EC, IC, TER, Electrotren, Talgo Pendular) and special trains such as AVE. Intra-country expreso
and rápido come next. The price depends on the caliber of train
and in what class you'll travel. Better than standing in line at the train
station is to drop in to any travel agency in Spain that displays a
yellow and blue RENFE sign. AVE trains are high-speed trains that link
Seville with Madrid in 2.5 hours.
For train buffs, RENFE also offers special train tours. The most
famous is the Al Andalus Express, a train of beautifully reconditioned cars
from the 1920s and 1930s, which include shower rooms, a game room, and a
piano bar. The route varies, as does the number of days spent travelling
between one and four and service is offered only during May, June, and
September. Tickets are expensive (from US$1,700 per person for the four days,
to $140 for one day, meals included) but it is an unmatchable experience.
Information on this and other unique train tours is available through this
office.
By Bus
Bus is the cheapest form of travel, beating the cost of trains by about
a third. Each city, village, and hamlet contains one bus station or bus stop, big cities
more than one. The ticketing procedure is the same as at home:
Pay as you board for a short trip or purchase a ticket in the station for a
longer trip. Estimate about $5 per 100 kilometers (62 miles) of ride. Although
there is no provision for reservations, arriving early accomplishes the
same thing.
The monthly Horario Guía lists times and routes, not only
for all bus services, but also for trains and planes, and is available
at any newsstand.
Taxis
Fares are inching up to match fuel and other dollar-based inflation, but
are still a bargain compared to U.S. rates. Cars now have fancy digital
meters with four buttons: The driver presses 3 within the major city
limits, and then as soon as the city limits are passed, he presses 2
to up the rate; 1 is for Sundays and holidays only; 4 in the past has
been a dummy. This means that exactly the same distance could cost 25
percent more than it would based purely on distance.
Subways
In the capital, you can often avoid the hassle with hacks by opting
for this fast, clean, and efficient public transport. It will set you
back all of less than 100 pesetas per ride (a time-saver and a money-saver
in an increasingly traffic-choked metropolis).
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