BEST WAY TO BARCA

What is the best way to travel between Madrid and Barcelona in March? Unless it is much cheaper to fly, we would prefer to travel by train, bus or car so that we can see some of the countryside. — Sam Whyte

Besides the national airline, Iberia, there are a

number of budget carriers serving this busy route. They include Air Europa and Vueling. The cheapest fare I could find in mid-March was à35 (R502) on Vueling, but it could cost you a lot more if you book at the last minute. For the best airfares, check

skyscanner.net.

Travel by train is a popular choice. The high-speed service (AVE) from Madrid’s Atocha station to Estacio-Sants in Barcelona takes less than three hours, but can be pretty pricey. One-way fares on

raileurope.co.za range from R736 to R1 490 in economy class, with a special fare of R480 for the late-night trains. You’ll pay a similar price of under R500 for the slow overnight service (known as the Costa Brava or Estrella), which runs from Chamartin station in Madrid and takes nine hours to reach Barcelona. Travel by bus is also a viable option. Most services start from Méndez Álvaro in Madrid to Barcelona Nord bus station.

There are three classes of travel, some of which include free mineral water, movies and wi-fi connectivity. Prices for the one-way trip range from à28-à41 (R401-R588). You will probably get to see most of the countryside if you drive between the two cities, a distance of 600km. The quickest route is on the A2 highway (also known as the Barcelona Road) via Zaragoza. However, if you want to view the coastline, you should opt for the longer route via Valencia. Roads designated “AP” are toll roads. Most international car-hire firms have offices in Spain and rates are reasonable. Personally, I would choose the express train during the day, but a luxury bus trip would be a close second.