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Staff travel in Spain

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158801

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Can any reccommend a place to buy FIP tickets for travel in Spain and cross border journeys from France.

I've tried Deutsche Bahn but they can't do it.

Thank you
 
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RailUK Forums

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Can any reccommend a place to buy FIP tickets for travel in Spain and cross border journeys from France.

I've tried Deutsche Bahn but they can't do it.

Thank you

When I was in Spain a couple of years ago I bought tickets as and when at the ticket office. It seemed that there was a flat rate of 22 Euros for each AVE ride - or was that 22 Euros for the two of us, I can't remember now.
 

33056

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Strange, I have certainly had FIP tickets off DB in Surbiton before. When do you want to travel? Bearing in mind all long-distance services in Spain are compusory reservation it is not possible to book until the trains are released for sale (something like 3 months / 90 days IIRC). As you are going into France as well try Rail Europe , but I have never tried buying FIP over the phone from them, only in person.

I would not recommend waiting to buy tickets until you get out there as trains can (and often do) get fully booked and, if that is the case, then you will not be able to buy a ticket or even get on the train.

PS. If you only want to travel on local or suburban trains then they are not compulsory reservation (or very comfortable to go long distances in!) and you would be better off getting tickets locally. Did Valladolid to Santander and back to Palencia (300 miles) on a "Cercanias" unit a few years ago for the huge sum of €8 (FIP fare) and got a square backside for my trouble :lol:
 

158801

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26 Sep 2011
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I'm going in September. I've since been told from a few sources that Spanish trains open 60 days beforehand.

However, I can buy them direct from Renfe for the public price at the moment !
 

Alfie1014

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FIPs can be problematic to obtain for travel in Spain partly due to the booking horizons. However I found http://www.rail-canterbury.co.uk/index.html very helpful in arranging tickets for me for a trip last year. They are happy to deal with queries over the phone, but will charge a modest booking fee.
 

185

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Greetings from Barcelona!

Probably better booked over the counter as DB may sell a fare related to the (extortionate) public tariff.

Over the counter, I have often been charged fares like €9.50 for Barcelona to Malaga! Turned up at the AVE and some little tinker on the desk had only gone and given me 1st Class too.

Amazing what politeness and my (poor) attempt at Spanish payed off with :)
 

158801

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26 Sep 2011
Messages
304
Thanks for all of the replies.

It would appear that the person at DB was confused and the reason why they couldn't book the train was because it wasn't open for reservations. It only opns 60 days beforehand.

Rail Canterbury offered to do it for me (when it opens) for a £10 booking fee.
 
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