Hey everyone...I have some train questions that I'm sure you'll be able to answer :-))
I want to travel by train (cheapest?)
Madrid - Granada - Malaga - Seville ..I think I read somewhere that there is a cheaper senior rail fare...I then want to fly to Lisbon and back to Barcelona and onto Madrid where I head home to Oz...is that do-able and would it be cheaper than air?..last question..are there any senior fares for bus too? I hope my questions are not too much but I'm going to make sure I have all the facts with me when I leave Queensland on November 13th...mucho gracias regards Elly on the stunning Gold Coast in Oz..

Ok what's your time frame .. That's an awfully big schedule ( Maybe not by OZ standards haha ) . As mentioned in a previous post , I would recommend trains over flying because you're delivered straight into the heart of the city you're visiting . The fares can be expensive .. my recent trip to Malaga and back to Madrid was €125 .... but it was worth it !! The trains are superb . Seville -Lisboa is definitely a flight option as is Lisboa-Barcelona .
The high speed rail links ( 290kph ! ) connect Madrid with Granada , Sevilla , Malaga , BArcelona , Cordoba etc..... The state rail company "Renfe" has a website in English ....
http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html ... problem is ( if you don't speak Spanish ) that the booking on-line is all in Spanish .
Anymore info and I'll pass it on . Steve

How much time do you have to do all this travel?

I'm flying from Brisbane into Madrid on 13/11/08 and I fly out of Madrid on 13/12/08 into Brisbane..and the plan is to travel through Spain and Portugal (by bus/train/horse and cart or anything else that will take me somewhere!!). I leave Brisbane on 12/11/08 via Korea overnight to Madrid..then this is a tentative itinerary..
Madrid - 5 days (arrive 1925 hrs 13/11/08)
Granada -2 days
Malaga - 1 day
Seville - 4 days
Portugal- 8 days including travelling
Then I have another 4 days before I fly out of Madrid on 13/12/08 (maybe I should spend 3 of those in Barcelona?)
I'm open to any suggestions about how to best utilise my time...thanks everyone..I really do appreciate any thoughts or assistance ..regards Elly in Oz...