Meeting Your Trip in Monforte or Ourense

This page offers help (concrete or informational) on reaching your trip.  Topics include...

1. Where you Join Your Trip (see immediately below)
2. Our “Access Packages,” designed to help you to do so.
3. Suggestions on how to time your trip to the trip, whether you are having us arrange your travel, or doing it yourself.
4. Service information regarding train travel to your trip start location.
5. Suggested pre-trip visits, especially when these are not geographically obvious, but are rendered economical and convenient by direct rail connections.
6. Hopefully helpful hints for those setting up their own travel to the trip.

If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.


1. WHERE and WHEN Do You Join Your Trip?

You will meet your trip at our hotel in whichever city you choose as your meeting point (meeting in Monforte adds a riding day), in time for a late (Spanish) dinner.  The Monforte de Lemos meeting is on Sunday, the Ourense meeting on Monday. 

Both Monforte and Ourense are isolated places, and hard to reach.  Be sure to consider “Service Information” in deciding your arrival route, and before you buy your air ticket.  Most choose to arrive in the evening (Sunday evening in Monforte, or Monday evening in Orense), and the trip prices include accommodation in your selected city.  However, overnight sleeper trains from both Madrid and Barcelona allow for next-morning arrivals, and you may trade your bed-in-a-building for a bed-on-a-train if you wish to time things tightly.

We will send you details of meeting time and place with your final itinerary.

If you wish to make your own way to the trip (in other words, not to set up your travel arrangements through us), a couple of hints on getting there are offered at the bottom of this page.


2. Our ACCESS PACKAGES
as of January 14, 2011

Both packages, hereafter referred to as the “Monforte package” and the “Ourense package,” include daylight train tickets from Madrid or Bilbao to the appropriate meeting city (on Sunday to Monforte, on Monday to Orense).

The Monforte package then adds a beautiful riding day to the front of the trip.  In addition to the train to Monforte on Sunday, it includes Sunday night’s dinner and a hotel, the use of a bike on Monday, and our route guide for the ride to Ourense.  Luggage transfer is also included, even if you have not subscribed to it on your trip.

Alternate day trains are available from Barcelona, or from Lisbon, at modest additional cost.
The trip from Lisbon is a bit arduous:  3 trains and a taxi, with a long connection time at the Portuguese / Spanish border.

Overnight trains are available from Madrid, Barcelona or Paris (offering connections from London).


Base Access Package Price:
Ourense:  45€.  Monforte:  199€.
• Monforte without train (you reach Monforte on your own on Sunday evening):  159 €.
To see what this means in your currency, look here: http://www.bluemarble.org/CurrencyConv.html

Availability is fairly certain at the listed prices until 35 days prior tckets, some of which must actually be printed in Spain).  Some extra-cost options also have higher prices if ordered w/in 35 do trip start.  Within 35 days, availability must be confirmed, and costs may be higher (especially the costs of shipping rail tiays.

Included in both packages:

• 2nd class daylight train tickets to Monforte (Sunday) or Ourense (Monday) from Madrid or Bilbao.
  Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable once ordered.  For extra cost of modifiable / partially refundable tickets, see below.
  
• Seat reservations on trains which require them (local connecting services may not).
• A printed schedule / itinerary, highlighting any connections.
• Our “Route Sheet to the Trip,” helping you through your journey.

Alternate:  overnight train from Madrid (T-4 “Tourist” sleeper berth included, upgrades available) or Barcelona (reclining sleeper seat included, private cabin sleeping car upgrades available).  No additional cost, night on the train replaces arrival night hotel and dinner.

Included in the Monforte Package Only

• Dinner in Monforte on Sunday night.
• Hotel in Monforte on Sunday night (based on shared occupancy).
• Breakfast in Monforte on Monday morning.
• Bike and route guide for the ride from Monforte to Ourense on Monday.
• Transfer of a piece of luggage from Monforte to Ourense, regardless of Baggage Transfer service subscribed.

Alternate:  overnight train from Madrid (T-4 “Tourist” sleeper berth included, upgrades available) or Barcelona (reclining sleeper seat included, private cabin sleeping car upgrades available).  No additional cost, night on the train replaces arrival night hotel and dinner.

Options Offered at an Extra Cost (subject to availability)
Prices are in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price.
For a general discussion of train upgrades, see here.  Topics include the relative comfort of 1st versus 2nd class, and different types of accommodation available on overnight trains.

• Tickets from London.  Travel from London is via Paris.  In addition to Paris prices (see below), add 69€ if you are also purchasing tickets back to London, 99€ if not, or if you prefer a changeable return (in 1st cl., add 99€ or 145€; 1st class tickets include meal service).

• Tickets from Barcelona or Lisbon, via Sunday daylight train to Monforte (available from Barcelona only), or via Monday daylight train (from either to Ourense).  +42€ 2nd class, 79€ 1st class, 69€ 1st class discount rate.
These are long trips.  Think hard about 1st class.  None of our business, we’re just saying....  First class ticket includes a meal service.
Prices include required seat reservations.  Train from Lisbon involves two connections.

• Tickets from Paris via overnight train, departing Saturday night for Monforte, Sunday night for Ourense.  +79€ including a couchette.
See below for night train upgrade prices, if desired.

• Overnight train from Barcelona to Monforte or Ourense, to arrive the morning before your trip start (and thus have a full day in your arrival city):  +49€, including a sleeper seat.
This train does not carry couchettes, or any sort of shared-cabin sleeping car that a solo rider can book.  It only offers sleeper seats, and private deluxe (single or double) sleeper cabins.  See below for night train upgrade prices, if desired.

•Overnight train from Madrid to Monforte or Ourense, to arrive the morning before your trip start (and thus have a full day in your arrival city): +45€.  Includes a berth in 4-person sleeping car cabin.
This train does not operate to Monforte on Saturday nights, though you may take the Orense train instead, and connect there (at 5a — yuck) for a train to Monforte.  See below for night train upgrade prices, if desired.

• 1st class train tickets from Madrid (daylight train):  +27€ discount rate, +39€ if discount rate not available.
A meal service provided in first class on the train leaving Madrid (first 90 minutes of the run).  It's worth somewhat depends on which train you take:  the early one doesn't run during a meal hour.

• Night Train Upgrades

• “Comfort Couchette” (from Paris only):  +39€.  Discount rate sometimes available:  +19€.
• Private double sleeper cabin.
  Prices are per person, but only available if both beds in the cabin are booked (solo travellers cannot book single beds in double cabins).
  - +29€ from Madrid to Ourense (+65€ for a “deluxe” cabin including private shower and WC, and also dinner in the train’s restaurant car).
  - +62€ from Madrid to Monforte (“deluxe” cabins including private WC / shower).
  - +59€ from Barcelona to either destination (“deluxe” cabins including private WC / shower), or 85€ including dinner and breakfast in the train’s restaurant
  - +75€ from Lisbon to Bilbao (also available to solo travellers on this international train).
• Private single cabin:
  - +59€ from Madrid to Ourense (+89€ for a “deluxe” cabin including private shower and WC, and also dinner in the dining car on this route).
  - +79€ from Barcelona, or from Madrid to Monforte (“deluxe” cabins including private WC / shower on these routes).
  - +89€ from Lisbon to Bilbao.

• Modifiable / exchangeable / refundable tickets:  +26€ from anywhere in Spain or Portugal, +39€ from France. +65€ if you have upgraded to a sleeping car berth from Barcelona or Lisbon.

• Additional Bilbao hotel nights, if you are subscribing to our Bilbao package:  see “Suggested Pre-Trip Visits,” below.


Alternate Arrangements, in lieu of our usual packages
Prices are complete (in other words, they are not in addition to the “Base” Access Package Price).  Arrangements are subject to availability.

• Overnight train from Madrid or Barcelona, to Monforte on Sunday night (arrive for the start of the ride on Monday), or to Ourense on Monday night (arrive for the start of the ride on Tuesday):  no cost.  Night on the train replaces hotel night in arrival city.
Price includes sleeping accommodation as specified.  Upgrades to superior cabins are available as specified above (“Night Train Upgrades”).  But if you are coming from Madrid, arrival is early, and you won’t enjoy your additional comfort for long....
- Trains from Barcelona include a sleeper seat.  The Barcelona train does not carry any sort of shared-cabin sleeping car that a solo rider can book.  It only offers sleeper seats, and private deluxe (single or double) sleeper cabins.
- Trains from Madrid include a berth in a single-sex, 4-person sleeper cabin.


3. TIMING Your Trip

The optional ride from Monforte to Ourense is beautiful, and would be included in our base trip, but for the fact that it is a bit ambitious for a first day....

We still suggest that you take it on, even if you are not a strong cyclist, since it is a wonderful ride.  Only, steel yourself to shorten the day through judicious use of a local train, without feeling like it is a “cop-out.”

For the rest, your arrival will be dictated by train schedules.  These places are pretty isolated, and getting to them is not simple....

Like airplanes, Spanish trains require reservations.  Allow ample time to connect from a flight:  the railroad is not responsible for (chronically) late planes.  Moreover, it can take intercontinental travellers up to 90 minutes to clear customs, immigration and baggage claim upon arrival.  If you are attempting a tight connection, be prepared to pay for new arrangements should you miss your train.  And, note when that next train is!  On some lines, it will be the next day....


4. Service Information
Schedules are approximate – exact timetables can be consulted at
http://www.raileurope.com/index.html
Best trains are mentioned.  Others are slower or have multiple connections.

• From Madrid.
  - To Ourense:  depart Madrid 2:20p, arrive Ourense 7:40p.  Overnight: depart 10:30p, ar 5a (yuck).
  - To Monforte:  daylight, depart Madrid 11a (ar. 5p) or 1:30p (ar 8p).  One connection required.
  Overnight: depart Madrid 10:30p, ar Monforte 6a (Sunday night only:  does not operate Saturday nights).
• From Barcelona: depart 9:20a, ar Monforte 8p, Ourense 9p.
  Overnight:  depart Barcelona 8:30p, arrive Monforte 8a, arrive Ourense 9a.
• From Bilbao:  depart 9:15a, arrive Monforte 5p, Ourense 6p.
  
• From Lisbon.  Three possible schedules.
  - Depart 8a, arrive 7p (to Orense only), 2 train changes plus a short taxi ride to change stations at the border.
  - Depart 11a, arrive 8:30p (Orense) or 9:30p (Monforte):  3 train changes plus the same taxi ride.
  - Depart Lisbon 3p, arrive midnight (Orense only):  2 train changes, no taxi / station change required.
• From Paris or London. Dp Paris 11p on Sunday (to Ourense), arrive 6p the next day.
  Connecting train from London to Paris departs 7p, London time.
  Saturday overnight service to Monforte exists (dp Paris 3p, arrive Monforte 8a), but it is painful.  It involves a 2a connection, or (to avoid that connection) a 10a departure from Paris with the same arrival time.

5. Suggested PRE-TRIP VISITS

Bilbao.  We offer a packaged visit to Bilbao.... Travel to Bilbao by Friday train, from Madrid or Barcelona.  Spend Friday and Saturday nights in Bilbao (and, of course, all day Saturday).  Sunday train on to Monforte, with a lunch stop in Burgos if schedules permit.

Prices:  259€ single, 189€ / person double or twin.  Includes:

• Friday train to Bilbao from Madrid or Barcelona.
• Friday and Saturday night hotel rooms in Bilbao.
• Sunday breakfast.
• Sunday daylight train to Monforte.

Additional hotel nights in Bilbao:  98€ for a double or twin room, 74€ for a single room.
Includes tax and our booking charge, but not breakfast.

Alternate, extra cost options for reaching Bilbao:
- Friday overnight train from Lisbon:  no additional charge single, + 35€ / person double or twin.
You reach Bilbao on Saturday morning, in time for a full day there.  Sleeper berth in a shared, single-sex, 2-person cabin included in lieu of Friday night Bilbao hotel.  Add 59€ for a private, single cabin.
- Friday overnight train from Paris:  savings of 32€ single, +19€ double or twin.
You reach Bilbao Saturday late morning, in time for a full afternoon there.  Couchette included in lieu of Friday night Bilbao hotel. “Comfort couchette” available instead:  +29€ / person.
If you prefer, you may travel by Friday daylight train to Bilbao:  in this case, add 49€ regardless of single / double / twin occupancy.
- From London.  Service is via Paris.  Add the following to Paris prices.  +69€ if you are also purchasing tickets back to London, +99€ if not, or if you prefer a changeable return.  In 1st class, add 109€ or 149€.
1st class tickets include meal service on the Eurostar between London and Lille or Paris.
A Paris stop-over is available without additional cost.

6. Hints on TRAVELLING INDEPENDENTLY to the Trip
Guests subscribing to an “Access Package” need not read this section.

See also “Timing Your Trip” and “Service Information,” above, as either of these may additionally help.

We gladly provide travel consulting (schedule or routing information) concerning pre-trip individual travel. In particular, we have invested a great deal to become railway experts. Our service fees are reasonable:  a 20€ charge for all but the most complex projects – or the most simple (for instance, only a 10€ charge applies if the service is limited to the preparation of a routine rail ticket).  You will generally find them well-justified by the time they will save you in research, standing on line, overpaying for your tickets, or all three.

But, for some, this type of research is fun.  So, here are some hints, intended to start off hardened “do-it-yourselfers.”

Trains. Schedules for all routes can be consulted on this web site:
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm

Monforte and Ourense, though big enough towns (and both interesting places), are surprisingly isolated.  Neither has a commercially-served airport, and long distance rail and even bus services are sparce.  Part of their charm, we suppose, but a bit of a problem when you are trying to get to them.

• Ourense is a junction station between a north-south line which runs from Madrid to northwestern Spain, and an east-west line running from Barcelona to the west coast (this line offers connections from France and from the rest of Europe).  Each route is served by two daily express trains, one operating in daylight, and the other running overnight.
• Monforte is also on the east-west line, but north-south direct service is limited to an archaic overnight local from Madrid, which reaches Monforte early in the morning (service with a connection operates several times a day).  Regional services are available from the coastal cities with airports, discussed in the plane sections.
  
  

Planes.  In addition to the obvious airports (Madrid and Barcelona), four regional airports are close enough to be potentially of use:  Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, and Leon.  Vigo, A Coruña, and Leon have essentially domestic Iberian service.  Santiago offers limited intra-Europe service, including (at this writing) a daily flight from London (on Ryanair), and one from Paris.

Regardless of how you arrive, do not book any flights until you have made sure your plans take into account the ground trip from your arrival airport to Monforte or Ourense.  These rail lines have service gaps of up to 8 hours, which may make it impossible to continue from some flights.

A few hints on local train services:
- The line from A Coruña to Monforte only sees three trains a day, two of which run early in the morning (the third departs at 6p).  At other times, round-about routes with connections are available, and there may be bus service on this route.
- The trip from Santiago to Monforte generally involves a connection, in either Ourense, Vigo, or Redondela de Galicia (there is one daily direct train, at 9:30a).
- There are four daily trains direct from A Coruña to Ourense, but at other times, a connecting route via Santiago, Vigo, or Redondela de Galicia is available.

In the end, it is usually faster to fly to Madrid, and take the 6-hour train trip to Galicia, then to connect by plane to a regional airport and spend 6 hours waiting for the next train to your final destination.  Or than spending the next 8 hours starting from now trying to figure it out, even if you save 2 hours’ travel time once you do.

No good web site regroups this information.  But if you have a good rail map, and are armed with patience, you can figure out what you need from www.renfe.es.  Try the “regional” pages.

If you want to fly into a regional airport, and aren’t looking forward to the research, we will help you to figure out the schedules, and ticket purchase, for our usual fee.

In addition to Santiago, Ryanair serves Valladolid, 6 hours away by train with one connection (last departure of the day from Valladolid is at 2:30p, to either Monforte or Ourense).


If you wish to arrange some or all of your travel through us, please tell us what by means of this response questionnaire, designed to collect all the information we need to be able to book your travel.