Carole writes:
How much time should we allow from our arrival at Barajas to get to the train station in Madrid?
We intend to take the AVE to Sevilla upon arrival from SFO (is this a little crazy or what?) Do we depart from Atocha? Is there Metro service from Barajas to Atocha? (We'll be traveling fairly light.)
Not crazy! That's the way I like to travel: Your arrival day is a 'wash' anyhow (jet-lag). so you might as well try to get where you are going.
You are leaving out some very significant processes: How long is it going to take to clear Passport Control & Customs? And before you can do the latter, how long will it take you to get your checked luggage? Once, I had to wait 45-minutes for my flight's baggage to begin to arrive at the carousel. Another time, our flight's baggage went to a different arrivals area (a different room from the one where we were routed) - It may have been the 'wrong' arrivals area
or we may have been routed incorrectly. Whatever, it took some time to get the Customs Agent to allow us to enter the other arrivals area (from outside)to retrieve our checked baggage.
After you have cleared Passport Control and Customs, I think the first thing you should do before rushing to Atocha by Metro or however would be to stop at the Renfe Office in Barajas airport and ask if there are seats available on the AVE you are 'targeting' in the class you want and in the smoking or non-smoking carriage. You can buy your AVE tickets & reservations there. It will save you having to wait in a queue at Atocha. Then and only then will you know how much time you have and you are ready to decide how to get to
Puerta de Atocha.
The AVE runs hourly and is going to cost about $55 each
(Turista - Llano) and you're worryied about saving nickles & dimes taking
MetroMadrid to
Puerta de Atocha instead of taking a taxi...
I, for one would spend the few extra bucks if only to finish my travel and maybe to have time for a short nap in Sevilla.