Bus Travel in Spain
If you are planning on travelling economically, then going by bus will meet your needs. The network of roads in Spain allows buses to travel between places efficiently and there are regular and frequent schedules between most areas. The buses are modern and comfortable with the touring buses usually air-conditioned and fully equipped with washroom facilities. The routes will provide rest stops, a chance to stretch your legs and even purchase food and beverages. This is an all round great way to travel as long as you are not in a rush. The bus drivers must allow for road conditions plus stops and starts, which does make the travel a bit more time consuming than by car or train.
The main bus companies are ALSA and Continental Auto. The basic fare is 8 Euros per 100 kilometers, however some rates do vary. There are bus stations in most cities and towns, both large and small. The inner city buses provide a slightly different service, with different fares and type of tickets than the touring buses. As there are many different companies operating bus services throughout Spain, you should check their connections for best service. The private bus lines allow you to buy your ticket on board the bus. The city buses require a pre-purchased ticket that you get from a machine or newsstand and it needs to be stamped on board the bus. Tourist offices have the necessary bus schedules and other important bus travel information. (more…)
Tags: bus travel spain, getting-around-spain, spain-transportation
September 28, 2007
Getting Around Spain
Getting around Spain quickly and comfortably has been quite difficult until very recently. Transportation has had to overcome many obstacles: above all distances are great (from Barcelona to Cadiz, for example, it is 1,152 kilometers) and Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe, after Switzerland.
Now, however, it is quite easy to travel in Spain, and there is a varied selection of modes of transport to choose from.
Take your Pick
For those in a hurry, there are now many more airports throughout the country, and the national carrier Iberia, plus other domestic airlines, such as Air Europa, Spanair, and even international low-cost carriers such as Easyjet, connect most of the major cities.
Train travel in Spain has also improved beyond recognition in the past few years. The high-speed AVE trains are among the fastest and most comfortable in Europe. They can compete with airlines because journey times are surprisingly not much longer. The stations are usually in the middle of the cities, unlike the airports, and passengers don’t have to check in so long before their journey – or wait for their luggage afterwards.
(more…)
Tags: getting-around-spain, spain-transportation, travel-in-spain