Glasgow to Barcelona - worth using Interrail?

[SammyJ]

As the title suggests, I'm looking at doing a summer Holiday and terrified of flying so looking at doing the train (I am playing around with the idea of seeing if Benidorm or Salou are in reach without taking too much time when in Barcelona).

Is there any advice if I should just plan ahead and get advanced fares for each leg or worth seeing if its better in the long run to get a 4-day Interrail Pass?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

 

[mad_rich]

You have to do the maths really.

The pass gives good value in the UK, where fares are high and no reservations are needed. But you'd need reservation fees on Eurostar and the TGV or AVE to and within Spain, and these can be quite pricey. Even regional trains in Spain need reservations.

I would guess if you book far enough ahead, then advance fares will probably be cheaper. If you want to stay flexible, or prices are high for your dates, then pass will work well.

Seat61 gives you guidance on the cost of reservations and the route page for London-Spain will give ball-park figures for cash fares.

Trainline or Raileurope are great for checking fares on all these routes - even if they're not necessarily the best place to buy. Don't check too far in advance for Spain, they release tickets quite late.

 

[dutchflyer]

There are most of times like 2 or 3 ´sales´ for InterRails in the year-in whatever form, and there is no real need to order these monthes advance. But quite a few times-to dampen the spirit-they came with like ´only in low season´= not summer restrictions.
Also: the really low advance fares will not be offered by the railways on such days with heavy demand= that makes a IR-pass quicker pay off.
Benidorm is on a ´private==regional/local govt ´rail´way=rebuild as tram/light rail, from Alacant that means extra pay-just a few €. Salou is a halt on trains south from Bcn-but not for all trains. And its a PITA (pain in..) that RENFE is indeed about the most difficult major railway to get those pesky REServaciones-esp as they also often are fully booked on days of heavy demand.
Such a pass would also give you the chance to make some out of the ordinary train routings, like the so often beloved overnite SNCF/NO sleeper-just seat or CC=couchette from Paris via Toulouse to the inland Spanish border. An early start from Gls would still bring you om time in Paris to catch that one-and thats all just 1 ´passday´. So you could also-if so adventurous, combine the beach stays: 1 in ESpana and another along the Mediterranee somewhere in South-France.

 

[Andover]

Salou is a halt on trains south from Bcn-but not for all trains. And its a PITA (pain in..) that RENFE is indeed about the most difficult major railway to get those pesky REServaciones-esp as they also often are fully booked on days of heavy demand.

It's in fact the terminus of a branch line, and while true that's not relevant on this occasion because all trains to there are non-reservation.

 

[MicroLithium]

As the title suggests, I'm looking at doing a summer Holiday and terrified of flying so looking at doing the train (I am playing around with the idea of seeing if Benidorm or Salou are in reach without taking too much time when in Barcelona).

One thing I've noticed planning trips from the North (of England, never mind Scotland), is that the first day is a pain - you've got 3-4 hours on the train to London, then you need to leave time to check in at St Pancras, then a couple of hours Eurostar to Paris. If you're OK with boats as well as trains, you might look at the ferry Newcastle - Amsterdam to get to Europe, then Eurostar Amsterdam - Paris, then the TGV. You'd need to stay a night in Amsterdam or Paris, but realistically I think you'd need that anyway, doing Glasgow - Barcelona in one day doesn't seem possible.

 

[Andover]

doing Glasgow - Barcelona in one day doesn't seem possible.

It looks to be just about possible in theory (even Glasgow - Salou, in fact!), but would mean a 0428 departure, not much room for error, and paying the extortionate 'reservation-style supplement' for the international TGV. And of course, there's no such thing as a two-day Interrail anyway...

Obvious next comment is obvious: I'd be tempted to go via Latour-de-Carol.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Alicante is over 5 hours from Barcelona plus another hour to Benidorm on the tram so a bit of a trek for an excursion.You can cut the corner off by taking a coach direct from Valencia to Benidorm, but note that the coach and rail stations in Valencia are nowhere near each other - of course - but they are connected by metro.

Salou used to be on the main line with a station right in the centre of town, but this has closed with the opening of the high-speed line and services have been chopped back to Port Adventura right out on the outskirts.

 

[MicroLithium]

It looks to be just about possible in theory (even Glasgow - Salou, in fact!), but would mean a 0428 departure, not much room for error

You're right of course, I had forgotten about the existence of trains before 7am! Nothing that early from my local station. Doesn't sound like a fun start to a holiday though, adding a break in Paris would be less stressful and a nice addition to a Barcelona city break

 

[30907]

The advantage of Interrail is that it covers you from anywhere in GB - definite bonus from Scotland! Without that crack-of-dawn start, Lyon is easily doable, and Avignon/Nimes/Montpellier possible (which gets you on to the morning AVE Marseille-Barcelona-Madrid). Or overnight in Paris for a crack-of-dawn start - or use the overnight couchettes.
Cost-wise, I suspect Interrail wins even when you add in the supplements.

 

[otter11]

I did a similar journey last year and worked out that interrail would be cheaper, even booking in advance. And that was coming from London.

To help with your cost estimates, assuming just going to Barcelona and all your travel on a 4 day interrail pass:

Adult Pass cost = £241
UK trains = free
Eurostar = 2 x €30 = ~£50
TGV Paris to Barca = 2 x €35 = ~£58
Total = £349

Or via the couchettes:
Adult Pass cost = £241
UK trains = free
Eurostar = 2 x €30 = ~£50
Intercites nuits to Latour = 2 x €21 = ~£35
Latour to Barcelona = free

Total = £326 (plus you get 2 nights accommodation included)

As others have said, even booking in advance I think you'd struggle to beat these prices - especially given how high Eurostar prices have been lately. The Paris to Barcelona trains also see high fares in my experience. Given you are taking many trains, getting the cheapest 'advance' fares on all of them is next to impossible

 

[MarcVD]

If you have got time, and are ready to cross the Channel via ferry to the Netherlands, it is perfectly possible to reach your destination without taking any TGV at all.

 

[nwales58]

If you have got time, and are ready to cross the Channel via ferry to the Netherlands, it is perfectly possible to reach your destination without taking any TGV at all.

Hmm
Calais-Lyon about 11hours
Lyon-Barcelona in 12 hours
Better than I would have guessed

 

[SammyJ]

Thanks all, this helps massively. I think I’ll definitely go for the InterRail pass and either break in Paris on Montpellier then.

350 would of been my top budget so glad to see its achievable.

There is some beaches to the north east of Barcelona so could even hop on the tram to maximise the time.

 

[otter11]

Thanks all, this helps massively. I think I’ll definitely go for the InterRail pass and either break in Paris on Montpellier then.

350 would of been my top budget so glad to see its achievable.

There is some beaches to the north east of Barcelona so could even hop on the tram to maximise the time.

Worth noting that your pass will cover you on the suburban Rodiales trains within Barcelona with no reservations - two of those lines (R1 and R2) hug the coast to the north and south of the city so you might be able to use that to your advantage also!

 

[30907]

Worth noting that your pass will cover you on the suburban Rodiales trains within Barcelona with no reservations - two of those lines (R1 and R2) hug the coast to the north and south of the city so you might be able to use that to your advantage also!

But you'd need extra days for that - almost certainly not worth it.