Spain-train tickets and flamenco shows

[mastistyle]

We are going to Spain in a few weeks. I know it is off season, but do we need to book train tickets ahead of time or can we wait till we are there?

Also, we are going to Sevilla-want to see a flamenco show-but not a big tourist show with drinks/food. Do you have any specific recs for places? Thanks.

[neonpink]

DH and I took random day trips to Avila and El Escorial from Madrid. We just walked up and checked the times and went. If you are going a long distance or overnight you may want to look into it.

I didn't see a flamenco show so I am no help there. Have a great time I love traveling in Spain.

[vampsterdam]

Where will you be taking a train to? If it's something like doing a day trip from Madrid, you'll be fine.

However, if you're doing something like Madrid-Sevilla, I would definitely book in advance. Even if there are tickets available, prices can get very high for last minute purchases.

I have had issues when trying to purchase tickets with RENFE in the past, but after many tries, it finally did work (just in case you have issues)

[mastistyle]

thanks. madrid to sevilla and either cordoba to toledo or cordoba to madrid.

[librarygirl]

Nov 2, 2012 18:13:08 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

There's a good flamenco show in Seville but the name escapes me. If you go on TripAdvisor it is one of the top activities listed and people will comment about how you can only take photos the last 5 minutes of the show. I am
On vacay right now but when I get back home on Tues I will look at my notes and post it then if that's okay? It's a small venue and you need to get there early to get a good seat but it's only an hour-long show and no food/drink crap associated with it do I thought it was perfect.

I think the poster might be talking about Casa de la Memoria? While I got mildly flamed on another travel board for recommending it as an authentic flamenco experience years ago (those posters felt it was for the tourists too much) I highly enjoyed it as you simply go to watch/you don't go for tapas, sangria etc like how many of the tourist trap flamenco sites operate as. It's located right in the heart of the Barrio Santa Cruz. They also have Sefardi (the Jews of Spain) music concerts (at least they did when I studied abroad in Sevilla) which I found to be an extremely unique experience.

For a more authentic time (lots of locals, less tourists although word has gotten out) I'd recommend La Carbonaria, also in Santa Cruz. It's where performers go to play flamenco music/dance etc so there's no "set" show time, you can just go and watch.

[vampsterdam]

Nov 2, 2012 16:05:16 GMT -5 mastistyle said:

thanks. madrid to sevilla and either cordoba to toledo or cordoba to madrid.

For Madrid to Sevilla, I definitely would try to buy the tickets in advance.

I'm not sure if I'm reading it wrong, but I don't think there are any trains from Cordoba to Toledo that are direct (unless you mean a day trip from Madrid to Toledo and a day trip from Sevilla to Cordoba).

[anna7602]

Nov 2, 2012 19:56:15 GMT -5 librarygirl said:

Nov 2, 2012 18:13:08 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

There's a good flamenco show in Seville but the name escapes me. If you go on TripAdvisor it is one of the top activities listed and people will comment about how you can only take photos the last 5 minutes of the show. I am
On vacay right now but when I get back home on Tues I will look at my notes and post it then if that's okay? It's a small venue and you need to get there early to get a good seat but it's only an hour-long show and no food/drink crap associated with it do I thought it was perfect.

I think the poster might be talking about Casa de la Memoria? While I got mildly flamed on another travel board for recommending it as an authentic flamenco experience years ago (those posters felt it was for the tourists too much) I highly enjoyed it as you simply go to watch/you don't go for tapas, sangria etc like how many of the tourist trap flamenco sites operate as. It's located right in the heart of the Barrio Santa Cruz. They also have Sefardi (the Jews of Spain) music concerts (at least they did when I studied abroad in Sevilla) which I found to be an extremely unique experience.

For a more authentic time (lots of locals, less tourists although word has gotten out) I'd recommend La Carbonaria, also in Santa Cruz. It's where performers go to play flamenco music/dance etc so there's no "set" show time, you can just go and watch.

Ditto librarygirl. I danced flamenco for about 10 years, but I still thought the show at Casa de la Memoria that I just saw this past February was very good. I haven't been to La Carboneria since 1999, but I did see good flamenco there back in the day. Little bars here and there will also have flamenco performances, but it's hard to get your bearings if you're only in town for a few days and don't know any locals. I hesitate to even name a likely neighborhood as that kind of stuff has probably changed a lot since I lived in Seville.

You could also search "Guia del Ocio" (like the Spanish Time Out web site) and see if any of the big flamenco stars happen to have performances in Seville the week you're going.

And I would DEFINITELY make reservations for the Ave from Madrid to Seville. I think the Ave also stops in Cordoba these days, but I can't remember. The Renfe web site should be able to tell you.

[elenetxu]

I'm with Ana. Get your tickets ASAP because they discount (or at least they used to) purchases you make 2+ weeks in advance.