Travel agent recomendation please.

[Hoary Marmot]

I am thinking of using a travel agent to book a fast train from Madrid to Seville, rooms in Santiago de Compostela during Holy Week and then a fast train back to Madrid. I will be binging my bicycle on the train and will need secure bicycle storage in Santiago.

Please know I will be flying round trip from the USA to Madrid with my bicycle.

 

[Tincatinker]

I am thinking of using a travel agent to book a fast train from Madrid to Seville, rooms in Santiago de Compostela during Holy Week and then a fast train back to Madrid. I will be binging my bicycle on the train and will need secure bicycle storage in Santiago.

Please know I will be flying round trip from the USA to Madrid with my bicycle.

Why? What exactly are you planning to do with your bicycle? I’m guessing ride from Seville to Santiago?

Any competent Travel Agent should be able to meet your flight and accommodation needs depending on budget. Try your nearest local. They’ll appreciate the trade.

 

[alexwalker]

It is easy to do it yourself: Book a room in Madrid centre, and sleep off some jetlag first. Go to the Atosha train station (15 mins walk from Madrid centre) and buy a train ticket to Sevilla before you go to sleep. Have a room booked in Sevilla and start out next day.

You do not need a booking agency. Traveling in Spain is affordable, easy and accurate.

Here are two planning sites that will help you:

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Madrid/Seville#trips

www.booking.com

Buen Camino!
The VdlP is a great Camino!

 

[wisepilgrim]

It is easy to do it yourself: Book a room in Madrid centre, and sleep off some jetlag first. Go to the Atosha train station (15 mins walk from Madrid centre) and buy a train ticket to Sevilla before you go to sleep. Have a room booked in Sevilla and start out next day.

You do not need a booking agency. Traveling in Spain is affordable, easy and accurate.

Here are two planning sites that will help you:

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Madrid/Seville#trips

www.booking.com

Buen Camino!
The VdlP is a great Camino!

I would advise against any plan that involves buying an AVE ticket the day before travel. Especially to Sevilla. Especially during Holy Week.

Plenty of pilgrims here have stories about trying to get out of Santiago by train, only to take the bus when they discovered that it was booked out for months.

With regard to the bike on the train, do a search for the regulations (AVE Sevilla Bike) as I am pretty sure that you will need to break down the bike for the journey. Assembled bikes are limited to certain routes/trains.

 

[Corned Beef]

With regard to the bike on the train, do a search for the regulations (AVE Sevilla Bike) as I am pretty sure that you will need to break down the bike for the journey. Assembled bikes are limited to certain routes/trains

To get to Seville from Madrid, you'd be on the Media Distancia trains which are limited to about 3 bike holders. Even then you cannot board without the permission of the train manager (though some may do inadvertently!!) so best buy the ticket at the station who will phone the train to check.

MD is Madrid - Jaen and then Jaen - Seville. This second line goes to Cadiz if you want to start there.

Alternatives are to have your bike forwarded to Seville using Corroes Paq Bicicleta, and take the fast train without the bike.

Paq Bicicleta from Correos - Bike transport for the Camino.

If you want your Camino de Santiago experience to go smoothly, Correos will look after your bike for you. You can focus on cycling.

www.correos.es

Or fly Madrid to Seville with the bike.

 

[Kirkie]

I am thinking of using a travel agent to book a fast train from Madrid to Seville, rooms in Santiago de Compostela during Holy Week and then a fast train back to Madrid. I will be binging my bicycle on the train and will need secure bicycle storage in Santiago.

Please know I will be flying round trip from the USA to Madrid with my bicycle.

Have you heard of APOC? I imagine there is a 'Chapter' not too far from you. Plenty of local advice available, I am sure, as has been suggested by an above poster.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I have never been able to take my bike on the AVE (even dissembled and in a bag) because of the size regulation. I have travelled from Madrid to Sevilla by bus with no problem.

 

[hecate105]

Great suggestion Corned Beef - I never knew about this service -Corroes Paq Bicicleta
It would of been far cheaper and easier than our complicated journey by ferry, train, bus, hire van etc - just to get to the start!!

 

[Gerard Griffin]

Bikes can be brought on trains, but it can be complicated. Unless you use Media Distancia trains you'll need to break the bike down and either box it, tape it or use a bike bag. Decathlon sells them for about 50 euro. Then book online (RENFE app) but go to the station early, get a ticket for the bike (free) and then get permission from the conductor before boarding. It's worth it ... the VDP by bike is superb. Good luck