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Reservations for four travelling together south of Barcelona / Madrid, only ever two available?

Michelle L

Hi all,

I have adventured without flying with my family for many years but this is my first time planning a trip using an Interrail pass. We’re planning a trip to Morocco next summer. If I can combine outward / inward train travel in the UK with the Eurostar it should come out as more economical then buying advanced tickets, but only if I can work out the reservations in Southern Spain!

And this is where I am coming unstuck...

I want to travel Barcelona - Málaga outwards, then either return the same way or go Málaga - Madrid - Avignon in July / August next year (yes, I really like advanced planning!!). 

I am using Rail Europe to check reservation prices and to get an idea of likely availabilty of reservations. Trouble is, if I request three or four reservations at once there are none available no matter how far in advance I ask to book. But if I ask for two, reservations are possible on many trains with only a week or two notice. Are there really only two pass holder reservations available on Barcelona - Málaga / Málaga - Madrid trains? Or is this a funny quirk of the system? A lot of my reading suggests making Interrail work is trickier in Spain…

Many thanks in advace for any advice offered.

 

Best answer by rvdborgt

Happyrail will show availability without filling in pass numbers or even any details. Just select "Reservations” instead of "Tickets”. If you then see a price, then there should be availability.

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3 replies

Marvin Heer
Engin-ius
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​@Michelle L Seems like this is more a problem with raileurope.com as i tried it myself and for more then 2 people raileurop.com results in no reservations. But for the same train happyrail.com (another place which sells spanish reservations) gives results for 4 people. 

But yes reservations can be a bit of a hassle. (One of the reasons ihave not yet made my way to portugal as it would mean crossing france and spain)

 

I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french
Michelle L
  • Michelle L
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • August 29, 2026

Thanks ​@Marvin Heer. Yes, it’s a shame that the pass is so much less straightforward in Spain! I looked at happyrail.com but I haven’t bought our passes yet and as far as I can tell I can’t get info on reservations available and costs without adding pass numbers.

But since you suggested you have found only two reservations on raileurope.com but four on happyrail.com I went back to raileurope again for another go. If I add two reservations for a train to the basket, then go back and add another two reservations to the basket as a seperate request then I can add four for the same train! I guess that means the seats might not be together but it gives me more confidence that I will be able to make the reservations I need when I have passes and they open up bookings on the trains I want to travel on 😊

Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • August 29, 2026

Happyrail will show availability without filling in pass numbers or even any details. Just select "Reservations” instead of "Tickets”. If you then see a price, then there should be availability.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
Michelle L
  • Michelle L
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • August 29, 2026

Ah great, thanks I’ll try that

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