Problems with booking Renfe trains

[scarpj]

hola,

I have been trying to book a train from Madrid to Sarria to meet with friends on the Camino. The process works until the payment page. It asks for an email address and a phone number. The problem is with the drop down menu for the phone number. By default the country code is “34”. But when I use the pull down menu it has a series of numbers, none of which match the country code for the US. When I put in my 10 digit number, it won’t accept it.

Does anyone know the proper code? What is frustrating is that early in the booking process, when it asks for your phone number, a list of codes by country name drops down.

Thanks,

 

[J Willhaus]

If you are from the US it is +1

I book through Trainline because I always have difficulty paying through the Renfe App. You could try that as a work around.

 

[SeñorJacques]

+1 for Trainline. I just booked several tickets for intra-Spain travel this spring and it was an easy, seamless process.

Trainline | Search, Compare & Buy Cheap Train & Bus Tickets

Trainline, your quick and easy way to book train and bus tickets across Europe. ✓ Save 61% on UK Rail ✓ Search train times ✓ Get the app ✓ 200+ operators

www.thetrainline.com

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Look for the USA under Estados Unidos, i.e. under E in the drop down, not under U.

You are on a Spanish website

 

[peregrina2000]

+1 for Trainline. I just booked several tickets for intra-Spain travel this spring and it was an easy, seamless process.

Trainline | Search, Compare & Buy Cheap Train & Bus Tickets

Trainline, your quick and easy way to book train and bus tickets across Europe. ✓ Save 61% on UK Rail ✓ Search train times ✓ Get the app ✓ 200+ operators

www.thetrainline.com

It may be easy and seamless, which is why I bought my ticket from them, but I paid 40% more than my walking partner, who has a higher tolerance for Renfe’s quirky website.

 

[SeñorJacques]

It may be easy and seamless, which is why I bought my ticket from them, but I paid 40% more than my walking partner, who has a higher tolerance for Renfe’s quirky website.

That is crazy! I knew there was a markup on some routes (none on the ones I purchased, which I cross-referenced with Renfe) but 40% is extortionate.

My main problem with Renfe isn't so much the quirkiness of the website, but the fact that I've never been able to get it to accept my payment details. (Then again, this was two years ago when I was planning my first Camino. Maybe things have gotten better since then.)

 

[J Willhaus]

Yea, I've never paid that much more. I think it depends on route ans timing...

 

[Anniesantiago]

hola,

I have been trying to book a train from Madrid to Sarria to meet with friends on the Camino. The process works until the payment page. It asks for an email address and a phone number. The problem is with the drop down menu for the phone number. By default the country code is “34”. But when I use the pull down menu it has a series of numbers, none of which match the country code for the US. When I put in my 10 digit number, it won’t accept it.

Does anyone know the proper code? What is frustrating is that early in the booking process, when it asks for your phone number, a list of codes by country name drops down.

Thanks,


View attachment 166501

I was told to just put in a Spanish number and so I put the number of a friend in there and I managed to buy my tickets but I’ll tell you what. I will never go through Renee again. I have the app and even though I paid for two tickets for four different train rides, it’s only showing one ticket and there’s nobody to get help from so I’m just gonna have to wait till I get to Madrid. If you have any other other option, I would not go through Renee again.

 

[Pepper_E]

hola,

I have been trying to book a train from Madrid to Sarria to meet with friends on the Camino. The process works until the payment page. It asks for an email address and a phone number. The problem is with the drop down menu for the phone number. By default the country code is “34”. But when I use the pull down menu it has a series of numbers, none of which match the country code for the US. When I put in my 10 digit number, it won’t accept it.

Does anyone know the proper code? What is frustrating is that early in the booking process, when it asks for your phone number, a list of codes by country name drops down.

Thanks,


View attachment 166501

The Renfee site is quirky at best. I’ve had this issue with the country code before and just ignored it. Purchased and printed tickets, no problem. I do have better luck paying with Amex on Renfee - always have problems paying with Visa.

 

[peregrina2000]

I know that my experience of a 40% markup is anecdotal. It would be great to have more examples. So the next time you book on trainline, why don’t you go to the Renfe website and see what the same ticket is pricing at? That part of the website seems pretty efficient, at least if you don’t want to make a journey that would involve more than one transfer.

 

[trecile]

My main problem with Renfe isn't so much the quirkiness of the website, but the fact that I've never been able to get it to accept my payment details.

I used to have trouble with my credit card being accepted on Renfe, so I used PayPal instead, but I recently bought a train ticket on the Renfe site, and my card was accepted with no problem.

 

[Gerard Griffin]

I gave up on the RENFE website and I now book in the station, using the wonderful Carta Dorada which you get when you're over 60 (65?). If I desperately need reservation, say to catch a flight, I use Trainline. Otherwise the station is probably the best.

 

[henrythedog]

I just tried an early afternoon basic ticket Madrid to Leon in a week’s time.

RENFE €59.50
Trainline £53.70 (I’m in the UK)

At current ‘perfect’ exchange rate that’s €62.83 on Trainline. 5.6% more. Not enough to sway me either way.

 

[peregrina2000]

thanks for that, maybe I was just an easy target!

 

[scarpj]

Thanks for the responses……my primary problem was the phone number, but I found that you keep the country code at 34 and in the phone drop down, just type 88888888

 

[BRSmith13]

hola,

I have been trying to book a train from Madrid to Sarria to meet with friends on the Camino. The process works until the payment page. It asks for an email address and a phone number. The problem is with the drop down menu for the phone number. By default the country code is “34”. But when I use the pull down menu it has a series of numbers, none of which match the country code for the US. When I put in my 10 digit number, it won’t accept it.

Does anyone know the proper code? What is frustrating is that early in the booking process, when it asks for your phone number, a list of codes by country name drops down.

Thanks,


View attachment 166501

I had trouble too. Ended up downloading the app. Got our tix from Porto - Vigo there. Now have our tickets in my virtual wallet! Did notice that their updates roll out slowly

 

[Lexicos]

Sounds like a nightmare. I wouldn’t even try.

It’s no better purchasing tickets over the counter. I was there in September last year and I had to wait almost two hours for my number to come up, just so I could buy a ticket from Madrid to Logrono. Their ticket machine was no better. Logrono wasn’t even listed because it is ‘en route’ to a final destination somewhere further on. Lucky I had a few days to play with. Good luck!

 

[peregrina2000]

but I paid 40% more than my walking partner, who has a higher tolerance for Renfe’s quirky website.

Just to utter a mea culpa. It is true that my Trainline ticket cost 40% more than @C clearly, and today I learned why. I must have
inadvertently clicked on a higher class of ticket, because I am sitting in a wider seat in a different class than she is. And I got some food on the AVE. So I was clearly not comparing apples to apples.

 

[J Willhaus]

Just to utter a mea culpa. It is true that my Trainline ticket cost 40% more than @C clearly, and today I learned why. I must have
inadvertently clicked on a higher class of ticket, because I am sitting in a wider seat in a different class than she is. And I got some food on the AVE. So I was clearly not comparing apples to apples.

I have had a first class seat with a hot meal served on the AVE between Madrid and Zaragoza. I think I clicked on the wrong button, too, but it was a nice change of pace and a pleasant surprise.

 

[El Cascayal]

Yes, the RENFE site/app is often maddening. I find that for a few € more you can get a changeable ticket which I could not do on Trainline and lost a full fare once. The app is a good thing to have. The tarjeta dorada IS golden. You can now easily pay with a credit card, if rejected it will accept PayPal. You can place them right into the wallet which is great!
PS: if going through Chamartin, brace yourself, extensive repairs are happening now and everything is in constant motion.

 

[cnissi102]

I gave up on the RENFE website and I now book in the station, using the wonderful Carta Dorada which you get when you're over 60 (65?). If I desperately need reservation, say to catch a flight, I use Trainline. Otherwise the station is probably the best.

So, if I wait until I arrive at the Madrid airport to book my train to Oviedo, I shouldn't have a problem getting a ticket for that afternoon? And what is the Carta Dorada card? I am definitely over 60!

 

[El Cascayal]

So, if I wait until I arrive at the Madrid airport to book my train to Oviedo, I shouldn't have a problem getting a ticket for that afternoon? And what is the Carta Dorada card? I am definitely over 60!

It is way better to reserve ahead of time. Trains often sell out. It is a big risk to wait until the last minute. Easy to download the RENFE app. Schedules are usually published no earlier than 60 days prior to travel for most trips.
Tarjeta dorada is bought at the counter in most large stations. Don’t know if they are initially available on the app, though they may be renewed on the app.
Pay with credit card. If foreign card gets rejected by app (a past common problem, that seems to have been corrected) use PayPal.
Buen Camino!

 

[cnissi102]

Thank you!