My train from Madrid to Seville leaves at 5:00 pm. However, I do not get to Madrid’s Atochè station until 5:15. Panic surges inside me; what am I going to do? The cost of a train ticket is €147. This unexpected cost is definitely not in the budget.
Putting on my most pathetic face I tentatively approach the lady at the ticket window. I show her my ticket. She tells me I’ve missed my train. I nod in agreement, show her my Eurail Pass, and I asked in my best broken Spanish if I can get on another train.
The ticket agent’s face lights up like a Christmas. With my Eurail Pass I’m good to go. Relief floods through me. I’ve booked a hostel in Seville; and I don’t have a place to sleep in Madrid.
Mishaps happen on the road, and to be honest this isn’t the first time I’ve missed my train, or gotten on the wrong train during this journey.
Despite these little hiccups traveling by train through Spain has been a complete pleasure.
The ticket agents are rarely cranky and are extremely helpful, especially with someone like me whose travel karma has gone awry from time to time. The trains are super clean. The attendants are friendly and welcoming. It is like they actually want the customers to have a good time traveling on the train.
At the beginning of my journey I also traveled through France by train. To be completely honest and comparatively speaking, traveling through Spain has been a much more comfortable endeavor. Like I said before, in Spain they want the customer to complete his or her trip with a smile.
Quick Train Travel Tips:
- Be polite, having an attitude will get you nowhere.
- When possible, book a seat in advance. Even a couple days ahead can almost guarantee a seat when using a Eurail Pass.
- Take the mishaps in stride. Enjoy the journey where ever it takes you.
