Renfe Trenhotel?

[ebrandt]

We will be traveling from Guitiriz (between A Coruna and Lugo) to Madrid on the trenhotel this summer. It looks like we can book tickets in “tourista”, “cama tourista” or “cama g. clase”. I assume tourista is regular seating, possibly in a reclining chair, but no bed/cabin. Cama tourista clearly involves a bed, maybe in a shared cabin? And cama g. clase might be a private cabin?

Does anyone know how I can figure out the specifics of these bookings?

Thx, Liz

 

[Bradypus]

The different classes are explained on this page: https://raileurope.co.uk/en/trains/trenhotel
Also even more information from the excellent Man in Seat Sixty-One : https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/trainhotel-lusitania-from-madrid-to-lisbon.htm

 

[Mettetäti]

And cama g. clase might be a private cabin?
Does anyone know how I can figure out the specifics of these bookings?

Book cama g clase. Sleeping berth in English. And I say, it's really, really small
Nice but small.

 

[henrythedog]

Go for the cama tourista - shared cabin (4 berth) - great practice for albergues. Single sex, unless you book all 4 berths in which case you can fill it as you wish.

The G clase is the same cabin but with the top two berths folded up. If you book for two people then (obviously) it’s just for the two of you. If you book for one person (slightly, but not much, less expensive than for two) you get it to yourself.

If you book a G for one person it would be cheaper to get a chauffeur with a big black car and peaked cap to drive you. Not really the Camino experience!

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Bradypus and Hebert gave good replies.

Things may have improved with this tren.
But years ago it was not the best.

I now only use AVE runs.

now, some additional info.....

IMHO, I would use ALSA bus service instead.

In addition to their regular bus types, they also have a “deluxe “ bus service. Larger seats. Bar on board, etc.
and less stops.

Bad experience years hope has improved.

I rode the RENFE Trenhotel once from Lisbon to Madrid years ago. Seemed everyone in the compartment snored! Or, talked.
The train ran late. Not the best way to go via train in Spain! Was hot in the compartment. Bad news.
No rest at all.



Since then have either used AVE fast trains, ALSA or Comes bus service.
But don’t think you will have AVE service on your journey...trip you listed.

regular ALSA coaches are not that bad.

check on the bus options to instead.

I can guarantee you that on most runs Portugal/Spain the bus is a better option.

especially if going Lisboa to Seville! Bus is best hands down. Direct.
The train for same trip goes Lisboa>Madrid>Seville!
and most likely will be on the trenhotel out of Lisboa.

My Spanish friends, even today, are not impressed with this train.

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Go for the cama tourista - shared cabin (4 berth) - great practice for albergues. Single sex, unless you book all 4 berths in which case you can fill it as you wish.

The G clase is the same cabin but with the top two berths folded up. If you book for two people then (obviously) it’s just for the two of you. If you book for one person (slightly, but not much, less expensive than for two) you get it to yourself.

If you book a G for one person it would be cheaper to get a chauffeur with a big black car and peaked cap to drive you. Not really the Camino experience!

ditto on the “great practice for albergues.”

I will never ride that trenhotel again.

 

[jsalt]

My experience of the Trenhotel from Lisbon to Hendaye was absolutely fantastic. It left on time, arrived on time, and I shared a 4-berth female compartment with 3 lovely ladies. I was lulled to sleep by the roll of the train and the delightful clickety-click of the wheels. It was great waking up in the morning (I slept like a log) and gazing out of the window from my berth at the passing scenery. Loved it!

 

[ebrandt]

Thanks for all the advice. I’ve taken Renfe and ALSA lots and think there are pros and cons for each that have been mentioned. We are travelling from Guitiriz near Lugo to Madrid. We will be handing over hospitalero service earlier in the day. The appeal of the trenhotel is that we can get from Guitiriz to Madrid without waiting til the next day. We need to go on from Madrid north to Canfranc and walk the Camino Aragones.

Thanks especially @Bradypus for the link with pictures Of the different cabins — exactly what we needed to know!

Liz

 

[Eckart.S]

For travelling to Canfranc there is also a train from Lugo to Zaragossa (HOT 921) and then a another one to Canfranc.
Eckart

 

[Mettetäti]

Here is an excellent video showing trenhotel! Thanks to TheTravelingClatt

 

[marilyn van graan]

Oh

Here is an excellent video showing trenhotel! Thanks to TheTravelingClatt

Oh wow thanks for this - I will be travelling with my grandson later in the year and taking him on his first camino but first he wants to go to Barcelona. My thoughts were then to travel by train to Santiago or fly - but now I really want to do this with him - I haven't slept on a sleeper train since my daughters were tiny and now I am taking my grandson who will be nearly 14!!
Loved this clip - first class!!! A trip down memory lane.

 

[henrythedog]

Oh

Oh wow thanks for this - I will be travelling with my grandson later in the year and taking him on his first camino but first he wants to go to Barcelona. My thoughts were then to travel by train to Santiago or fly - but now I really want to do this with him - I haven't slept on a sleeper train since my daughters were tiny and now I am taking my grandson who will be nearly 14!!
Loved this clip - first class!!! A trip down memory lane.

If departing from Madrid Chamartin, the last three trains of the evening are trenhotels for different destinations and they depart at very similar times from adjacent platforms.

On my last trenhotel trip one of the four in our cabin had boarded the wrong train and was hoofed out at one of those ‘out of town’ remote fast line stations they built in Spain in the 90’s at about one in the morning. I confess to finding it hilarious, but then I never claim to be an especially nice person.

 

[Anamya]

I loved my trenhotel ride from Santiago to Madrid, back in 2015. My husband and I got the cama clase, and it was a bunk bed cabin with a shower! My top bunk felt like a rocking crib, I slept amazingly!

It is, however, VERY SMALL. I'm 1,52m tall (or short ) and very thin, and there was no space for both of us to stand in the cabin at the same time.

 

[Deleted member 43780]

I loved my trenhotel ride from Santiago to Madrid, back in 2015. My husband and I got the cama clase, and it was a bunk bed cabin with a shower! My top bunk felt like a rocking crib, I slept amazingly!

It is, however, VERY SMALL. I'm 1,52m tall (or short ) and very thin, and there was no space for both of us to stand in the cabin at the same time.

great! With a shower !

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Here is an excellent video showing trenhotel! Thanks to TheTravelingClatt

Thanks.

but I love ALSA deluxe buses.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I do not know if they have a night train out of Santiago anymore, but I took one in and, although I had a ticket for the shared 2-bunk grand class cabin, found I had it to myself. I found the shower such a novel idea I took one when I left, and another just before arriving in Madrid. Fortunately I was awash with the spiritual benefits of having venerated the Apostle's Tomb and was able to enjoy the comfortable accommodation in serenity and spiritual maturity.

While a fan of the alsa first-class buses, which make Canada's intercity buses resemble those of a ramshackle Bolivian bus line by comparison, my first overnight bus ride from Santiago to Madrid was steerage class. I was seated right beneath the light and in the adjoining seat had as co-passenger a Spanish teenager leaning her head on my shoulder and drooling from time to time. I cannot say that I enjoyed that ride overmuch.

 

[Mettetäti]

but I love ALSA deluxe buses.

No doubt they are great I actually thought about that option too.
But I can't sit over night, leg and back problems, you see. It will be better to lie down at night, though there will probably not be much of sleep anyway.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

In May/18, I restarted in SJPP only to re-injure my leg and had to stop. By the middle of the next day, I had bussed to Logrono and looked at the options to get to SdC, where I would fly home. The option provided was the TrenHotel, but not like described above.

I ended up on a Red Eye to SdC, leaving at 2:00 AM. I was escorted to a car, into the back half and brought to a large room with about a dozen reclining chairs, the really nice, expensive reclining chairs. All others were occupied so I was as quiet as possible rummaging thru a bag that was given to me. It had a blanket, eye cover, ear plugs and earphones, toothbrush and toothpaste. Nice gesture.

Next morning, I woke up, no one else in the car and we were pulling into SdC. Cost was 65 euro.