Overnight from Madrid to Sarria

[LZBF]

Hi! I have found the renfe website that has an overnight bus from Madrid to Sarria. But for both my friend's visa debit card and my credit card the transaction failed (we have enough money etc we checked). I was wondering how other people paid? Did they wait till they got to Spain? If so where can you get tickets for renfe buses in say Madrid or Barcelona? We thought maybe that was the issue, doing it from England.

If not I understand there are other options to getting to Sarria from Madrid? Going through Lugo somehow?

Thanks so much to anyone that can help!

[HuskyNerd]

Hi LZBF ~
Are you sure you are on a Renfe bus? Renfe is the Spanish train system and yes, you can get to Sarria from Madrid by the overnight train on the Madrid/Lugo route. Sarria is the last station before Lugo.

You didn't mention the dates you're planning, but sometimes the Renfe site won't accept payment if the departure is more than 60 days out. If that's not the problem you have the option of just showing up at the Madrid Chamartin station and purchasing your tickets that same day. The Renfe website is notoriously difficult to use. Another online alternative is www.raileurope.com which sometimes works for Spanish trains. You can't input Sarria as the final destination there, though, only Lugo.

[LZBF]

Thanks HuskyNerd!
I did mean train you're right! Whoops :s That all sounds great. I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one that finds the renfe site hard to use :-) We have decided to try and buy the tickets once we get to Spain. Do you know how quickly they book out? We will be in Barcelona and Tarragona before Madrid. Can we buy tickets for the Madrid to Sarria leg at any train station in Spain? If we do try using the raileurope site you mention and we say "to Lugo" does it cost the same as to Sarria? Or do we pay for the extra distance? And will it definitely stop at Sarria?

wow, I've really bombarded you with questions! Sorry! Thanks so much for any help.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi LZBF ~

All good questions.

Do you know how quickly [the trains from Madrid to Sarria] they book out? Nope, I'm sorry, I just don't know that. In general it seems to me that Spanish trains are not very full, so I would doubt you'd have any problem getting even as late as same day. But that might be different on weekends.
Can we buy tickets for the Madrid to Sarria leg at any train station in Spain? I'm pretty sure you can. The Renfe station agents are surly, so make sure you're in the right line.
If we do try using the raileurope site you mention and we say "to Lugo" does it cost the same as to Sarria? I'm afraid it would, but that problem's solved if you buy at the station.
Or do we pay for the extra distance? Yep, if you book online you'd need to pay for the correct destination. I suspect the difference would be quite small, though.
And will it definitely stop at Sarria? Yes, as a matter of fact, you inspired me to try to figure out the Renfe site. So, here are directions. Go to the Renfe.com website. Click on Compra de Billetes (purchase tickets). Go to "Origen" and click on "Madrid*." Go to "Destino" and go down through the first list of "Principal Estaciones" and keep going until you see the second list of "Todas las Estaciones" (All Stations). Sarria is on this second list. Click on this. Put in your date, then you'll see the Tren Hotel come up, along with tickets at the various prices. Cama Turista is my personal preference. Then purchase your tickets and you're set.

If you still have a hard time purchasing tickets this way you're left with no choice but to buy at the station when you get to Spain. Buen camino!
--Sandy