PippaB
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Hi, I'm about to start interrailing in France, and was hoping to make me way down through Spain. I have a valid interrail ticket, and just went to the train station to make some bookings.
When I arrived there, the lady told me that due to the fact that there is limited places, I had to pay full price for all the tickets I wanted to reserve.
Do I just turn up at the train station and get on the train with the tickets? If a train is fully booked and I get on, will that not cause problems?
I'm so confused.. but just refused to pay €160 for the trains so if any one can help me, it will be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
On some trains, making reservations is mandatory. In that case, you have to make the reservations on a train station (or online is also possible in some cases). Some of these trains also limit the number of seats for interrailers, which sounds like the situation you're in. There may be other (slower or less comfortable) trains that will get you to your destination without paying full fare.
In my experience, in the high season it feels safer to just make reservations even when it's not required, and doing it at least a day ahead when you can. It costs a little bit, but you won't be left at the station :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
[b]hni[/b] already described your situation - I assume you want to go with some TGV/Téoz/Lunéa trains which require a reservation but only have limited seats allocated to InterRail pass holders. :|
- Option 1: Look for another connection - either without trains requiring a reservation or a later connection; if you want I can have a look at possible alternatives
- Option 2: Get an online reservation as described here by [b]sidhamo2[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/tgv-sncf/42[/u]
@hni: I wouldnt make reservations for trains which are free for pass holders. I never experiences such crowded trains that you would have been refused to enter - and if that would have been the case, a reservation wouldnt guarantee a seat either (at least that's the case in Austria at certain times).
But is is of course possible to make reservations for most long-distance trains. :)
Flo 8)
PippaB
Traveller
2 comments
Thank you both for your help.
I can only guess that there was miscommunication at the station, as I was told that even if I waited a full week, and tried to book in advance, I'd still have to pay full price.
So just to clarify - I know the lists of trains where you should pay reservation.. If I wish to take one of these, should I ask at the desk for an interrail reservation and expect to pay no more than a maximum of €10?
Sorry for all the questions - this process is difficult to get my head around.
Aifric
PippaB
Traveller
2 comments
Also, thank you Flo, if you could give me a word of advice on this route, it would be great, I'm only trying to go from Perpignan to a town called Tarifa in the very southern tip of Spain. I think that the stations of Malaga or Cadiz are only a few hours away, and I'm hoping to find a way on interrail commuter-type trains to make it to Tarifa from there...
Thank you very much!
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
I never had problems with a limit for InterRail reservations in Spain - like it is the problem in France. When you start from Perpignan you wont need a TGV so that problem shouldnt occur. You should get your reservations at the prices mentioned in our supplement section (prices may alter only slightly).
Closest station to Tarifa is Algeciras. There is no through daytime option from Perpignan to Algeciras. You would then have different possibilities on how to get there.
- Go to Barcelona on day 1, stay there and go to to Algeciras the following day. With AVE to Madrid, then with Alta to Algeciras
- Go to Barcelona on day 1 and get the night train to Granada, on the following day with RE to Algeciras
I'll try to look for detailed timetables towmorrow.
Flo 8)