On the 11th I'm arriving in Spain to study at the Universidad de Zaragoza. I fly into Madrid, and will need to get to a bus or train station so I can travel to Z. Which is better, train or bus? And since I've heard that taxis aren't the best or most honest way to navigate Madrid, how can I get from the airport to the bus or train station cheaply with my bacpack and unwieldy suitcase?
Any suggestions appreciated!
I love your messageboard and am looking forward to ditching my suitcase in Z. so I can explore Madrid later and with less baggage!
Beth

Well what you can do is...... take the metro to either Atoche Renfe stop, or Moncloa stop depending if you want to take the train or bus to Zaragoza. The Metro has been extended to Barajas Airport, so you just have to walk allllllllllllll the way to the metro which is located in the airport but is a pretty far to walk (just to prepare you) So when you get off the plane follow the signs to the metro, get a map of the metro when you purchase your ticket and get off on either Atocha Renfe if you want to take the Train to Zaragoza, or Moncloa if you take the bus. I don't know which is better or cheaper, but either way i am sure will be fine. If you are not sure if you want to take the bus or train, get off on Atocha Renfe and look at the schedules and see how much it is, then go to Moncloa and do the same with the bus top, but I think you'd be better off just taking the train, but either way you'll will be fine! Have fun!!

------------------
Spain Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/homepage.html?957296168010

Thanks for your help!
Beth

Hello Bethverde! You must be VERY excited about your upcoming trip. Who wouldn't??!! If you have more than 1 fullsized suitcase you might want to SERIOUSLY consider taking the Aerocity shuttle service to the train/bus station. Their rates are oftentimes better than that of a taxi and you'll have more space for your things.

I just checked the Alsa Buses website and found the Madrid-to-Zaragoza trip is ONLY about $11 or 10.7 Euros. WOW! How cheap can you get?

I also checked the RENFE train site and seems a one-way train ticket is an amazing 4000 pesetas or about $32.

For other information about transportation in Madrid and OUTBOUND from Madrid you might want to read over my MadridMan's Madrid Transportation page.

Have a wonderful time and good luck at the University de Zaragoza !!

Saludos, MadridMan

wow madridman I am sure bethverde will appreciate the information you have provided, you are on the case!!!!!!!!!!! you go boy!!!!!!!!!

------------------
Spain Page!! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/missmadrid98/homepage.html?957296168010

There is very good & frequent rail service between Madrid & Zaragoza. Check http://www.renfe.es for fares & schedules: You will be more comfortable on a Talgo or InterCity (reserved, of course). Most of them depart Madrid's Chamartin station. As to how to get to Chamartin from Aeropuerto de Madrid/Barajas - I have done it by Metro and, with luggage, it's no fun. Check my http://users.aol.com/EddiesMad/Spain-2000.html for a link to the Madrid Metro page. It will also tell you how to get between any two stations and how long it should take.
If I had to do it over again, I would take the Metro one stop to Campo de las Naciones (Madrid's new Convention Center) and catch a cab from there. It took me 50-minutes from Barajas to Chamartin with 3-changes of line on the Metro.
Luggage carts at Barajas airport don't cost anything and you can get almost all the way to the Metro (between Terminals 2 & 3) with an airport luggage cart.
There is a little store inside Chamartin station (west end) where you can buy snacks or drinks to take on the train with you. That's why I always carry one of those 'cooler' bags. They don't weigh anything and can be very handy.

Hi Bethverde!
We can offer you a shared door to door ride from Barajas Airport to Chamartin Rail Station or any bus station for only 1.700 pesetas.
Buses are the cheapest public transportation to Zaragoza and they are pretty comfortable. However, some people rather use train because they can stand up, go to the bar, etc... during the trip.
Regards.

Eddie,

You won't save much by taking the taxi at Campo de las Naciones. They have a surcharge for every trip starting / ending there.

----

Bethverde,

In my opinion, the best choice if you plan to travel between Madrid and Zaragoza would be to buy a 4 trips ticket. It's only 7200 pesetas. Check the info here .

Regards,

Antonio



------------------
The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

Sorry people if 'm not in the gen. chatter room, but I must say to Eddie that your website is great! Thanks for all the great info!
Jen

Thanks so much for all your help! I ended up having the same flight to Spain as another guy from my unversity, so we decided to travel together. Since we had so much luggage (he had like three suitcases!) we decided to take a taxi to Chamartin and take a train to Z. The driver tried to charge us for not speaking spanish, and for carrying our luggage into the station and everything. I got him to go down a little in price, since I can haul my own luggage, but we still ended up paying 3,500ptas---more than for the train ride!
And to top it off, my friend left his whole CD collection in the taxi.
So that day was an adventure.
When we got to Zaragoza, we found that the taxis here are too small to fit all of our luggage into one car. We got two taxis, and ony paid 500 ptas each. What a difference!
Thanks for the suggestion about the four trip ticket, I´ll look into it once I decide how much free time I´ll have.
Hasta luego!
Beth