transportation from Santiago back to Madrid

[karenmillion]

Hi folks...I need help. I mistakenly made a plane reservation to return to states leaving Madrid at 9:40 a.m. which if I understand correctly the train and the buses from Santiago don't arrive until 8:00 a.m. Do I have enough time to get the metro over to the airport and leave. My boyfriend who is meeting me half way through does not want to spend the night in Madrid but I am not paying $400 to change my plane ticket. I already have metro map and will be negotiating the metro from the Madrid airport to the Madric Atocha train station which I understand is a 42 minute trip which theoretically puts me at the airport at 8:45 or so. any experiences with this?thanks

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Karen ~
The easiest solution would be for your boyfriend to fix this since he's the one who's stuck on not staying overnight in Madrid. :-) However, having been a boyfriend myself I know how hard it is to work with these guys, which means that maybe you should consider the 21:30 Alsa bus that arrives right at Madrid Barajas Airport at 7:30 a.m. the next day. Assuming it's offered on the day you're traveling, that could be just the ticket. You can find it at www.alsa.es

If that doesn't work for you, tell your boyfriend about the cool hotel called Chic and Basic Atocha Chic & Basic Atocha Madrid Hotel in downtown Madrid which is way less than the $400 cost of changing your ticket and is very close to the Atocha train station. From there you can catch the Metro in the morning and get onto your flight fully rested. That is, if your boyfriend will listen to reason!

Buen camino ~

[karenmillion]

ah...that works....even if he decides not to come you have helped me out with my plans...I thought I would have to spend the day in Madrid.....thanks so much for your help....looking forward to my first Camino!!!!!!yeah!

[John Hussey]

Or, you can consider the late train TRENHOTEL, leaving Santiago at 22,33, arriving Madrid 0755, cutting it close but you can get a bed and sleep while it chugs along to Madrid.
Check tickets at Renfe: Viajeros - Horarios

[sean]

Hi John,

I came back to Madrid on the Trenhotel two weeks ago today and it was a great experience. A cross between 'Rock a bye Baby and The Runaway Train'. It is reasonable, clean and arrived on time. Next time, I would like to do the journey in daylight, just to see the country side.

Regards,

Sean
Dublin

[John Hussey]

Sean, Thanks for the info.
I have about decided to do the same. First of all because I never have been on a train sleeper and thought the experience would be interesting. Second of all, when I read the fine print of the cost of extras on the cheap airfares (Ryan Air, Spanair, etc) from Santiago to Madrid i discovered there was a rather high extra fee to check my Pacerpole hiking poles. Add that fee to the cheap airfare and the train ticket becomes more appealing. Plus, Those airlines apparently even charge an extra exorbitant fee for a boarding pass if I could not print one from someplace along the Camino whenever I decided which day to return.

I'll consider your "daylight" recommendation, though, when the time comes. Thanks again

John Hussey
Florida

[peregrina2000]

This is a bit off topic, but could be very important information for people who arrive in Madrid by train from Santiago (Chamartin station) and need to get out to the airport.

RENFE has just inaugurated a new service on the Cercanias line (commuter trains) that offers direct service between T4 at the airport and the city of Madrid. Note that if you arrive in T1, T2, or T3, you'll have to get over to T4 to get this train, but that's not too complicated and there is a free bus you can use. The route has stops at Chamartín station, Nuevos Ministerios, Paseo del Prado (near Cibeles), Atocha station, Estación Sur de Autobuses and Intercambiador Príncipe Pío.

The train goes every half hour, costs are comparable to metro, and the time between the airport and Chamartin is said to be 11 minutes! And if you have a ticket on an AVE train, you don't have to pay any fare; otherwise it's 2.15 euros. This is a pretty great option, especially for people connecting between the airport and Chamartin.

Buen camino!

[John Hussey]

Its not off topic for me, thanks. I'll need it! Most likely many others, too. I am copying it into my notes so I dont forget.