How to Book a Trip on Spanish Railways

Whether you are traveling through Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao, a trip on Spain's rail system is one of the best ways of seeing this beautiful, diverse country. Here's how to reserve tickets.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access for booking tickets
• Valid passport

Instructions

Take a Trip on the Spanish Railways

1. Book train reservations on Spanish Railways by calling Rail Europe at [phone], or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Before leaving the United States, purchase a Spain Flexi Pass for three to ten consecutive days for unlimited travel over two months.

3. Purchase a ticket for Spain's Renfe railways online at the company's Web site, but be prepared to register before browsing fares. Service is offered service in English, and it's fairly easy to navigate.

4. Take the high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Cordoba and Seville to experience the best in Spanish rail travel. Expect to pay a supplement if you are traveling on a rail pass.

5. Book a day trip to Portugal on Spanish railways. Limited routes offer service between Spain and its neighbor to the west.

6. Start most journeys by train through Spain in Madrid, the hub of rail transport for this country. Though not all small cities are connected by rail, the majority do have rail service, and most are linked through to Madrid, which is in the center of the country.

Know Your Destination

1. Find beautiful beaches, rolling meadows and even snowy peaks in Spain, as the country's diverse geography encompasses them all. The weather varies from one region to the next, so pack according to your specific destination.

2. Take part in one of the many local festivals of the towns and villages of Spain. Most of these are held in the spring or summer months, often around May.

3. Enjoy food from tapas to paella in Spain, a country known for its variety of flavors and styles of cooking. The Spanish culture of eating is different from the American one, so plan to eat lunch around 2:00 in the afternoon and a late supper from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice your lisp to properly speak Castilian, the official language of most of the autonomous regions of Spain. This version of Spanish varies in pronunciation and intonation from the version spoken in South and Central American countries.

• Cash in your travelers' checks or exchange your currency for euros in this European Community member nation.

• Pucker up and kiss on both cheeks; this is a common form of greeting shared by friends, family and general acquaintances in Spain.