If a bad website and "disappointing meal" are your biggest complaints, I don't think it's to be avoided. Sure, if you can get better value for money, always do that, but otherwise, this is perfectly reasonable, 61€ for 1st class is rather cheap

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

As you point out, the product renfe has is OK. The title is exaggerated but I don't think it's misleading as I will be avoiding traveling with them when a competitor is available

I am going to travel with AVE RENFE. I also used it a year before and I liked it

By me, it is a very nice,, clean, quiet and fast train. I prefer old trains with separate rooms and windows which can be manualy opened but for fast train standards, that train is very good. Greatings from Serbia.

Please do a review on Basico on AVE S102 from Madrid to Málaga

I liked the video, but I don’t like your negative headline. Reading your headline I expected a way worse experience 😉

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching :-) The title may be slighly dramatic, but I stand by it. I was left disappointed and knowing what the competition can offer I am not likely to be traveling with them again when competitors are available.

Have you travelled on Ouigo or Talgo between Barcelona and Madrid or Zaragoza?

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

No I haven't

Which fare did you buy: Premium or Elige Confort? I love your videos and I'm subscribed to your channel

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

I was in Premium! Thanks for watching :-)

@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo2656

10 ай бұрын

@@Simon-Andersen Ah, I asked you that because there wasn't a lot of food. IMO it's very disappointing.

I'm not sure. I know its popular to prefer Iryo these days, but the seats on these trains are better, especially in second class. Also, almost all seats are forward-facing and in airline-style composition, which is also benefit for me. Regarding the meal, as far as I know Renfe offers complimentary hot meals (arguably better than those Iryo offers) only on weekdays.

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

Seats will always come down to preference. I went in first so can't comment too much on second :-). Shame I was traveling on the weekend because that might have improved my overall expirence, but seems a bit silly to devalue your product on the weekend when your competitor isn't.

@uri23639

10 ай бұрын

@@Simon-Andersen That's probably because they devaluated it before Iryo was even a thing. Time ago, a nice complimentary meal in first class was the norm in premium services regardless of day of week. Tickets used to cost a lot more though.

I don't understand why you say that you're dissapointed

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

Renfe makes it hard to book a ticket (c'mon if you have the ability to run high speed trains, you can make a functional website in 2023) The onboard service is inferior to what I got on Iryo the same day, onboard comfort is similar and iryo's website is miles ahead of renfe. The title may be exaggerated, but after stepping off the renfe train I felt disappointed knowing what I could have got on a competitor for less. Not so much that the AVE in general is bad. :-)

Jeez man, time to reset your values if this is disappointing to you.

@micat1313

10 ай бұрын

It isn't that it's a bad experience, it's that the competition is better for less money (I don't know, I've never taken a Spanish train, that's just how I understood it from the video).

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

It's not that the AVE train itself is disappointing. The disappointment is knowing I could have gotten something better in almost every aspect on a competitor for less.

My last high speed renfe rides were both delayed to the point the ticket was free. It was actually great cause I'd have been way too early to the airport both times.

@Simon-Andersen

9 ай бұрын

That is one benefit i guess 😂

I don’t know what happen to you but I use Iryo to going to Valencia last weak and the meal it’s just a little tapas it was good but I come back from a valencia also in first class but with Renfe and meal in Renfe first class it’s bigger than the iryo’s one

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

That seems intresting! Maybe renfe is improving their meals on some routes.

I hv seen Noels 2 to 3 videos n he's pretty cool. His diet must b all cold items.

I agree with the others about your clickbait title. As you said yourself, it's a good quality service with a bit disappointing meal, in your opinion, and a higher fare. You can argue about the meal, it's a matter of opinion, but the fare is not. Personally I would take the cheaper option but there is a reason why Iryo is cheaper, Renfe is more popular with the full service passengers so you're less likely to find cheaper fares on Iryo. If, like me, that's what's important than you should take Iryo but that does not make them better. One thing you should add to your AVE/long distance and Iryo services is the free Cercanías/Rodalias/Feve/TRAM de Alicante service that is included with your ticket. This means that you can use those services (That are operated by Renfe) to get to/from the train station in both origin and destination (up to 4h before departure/after arrival). A code on your ticket allows you to get the free local train ticket from the machines. The low cost Avlo and OuiGo trains do not offer this option. As for the work at the entrance to the station, I believe it's part of the preparation for the renovation of Sants train station, that will start this year and should be finished in 2026 so expect more, not less, on the next few years. Also, in November the new Talgo will start the (very late) delivery of the Talgo Avril high speed trains to Renfe. This will allow Renfe to add more trains on different routs. This will happen together with the opening of the new high speed line connecting Asturias.

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info! I was not aware of the free Cercanias / local transport ticket, but that does improve the value aspect. Lots of exciting things happing on Spanish high speed rail. It's all a matter of preference and all I do on my channel is express my opinion. The title may be exaggerated, but I got off the train feeling disappointed having seen what the other operators offered that day (traveled Ouigo-Avlo-Iryo-Ave back to back) So I personally see no reason to go with renfe again over a competitor :-)

What was the ride quality like?

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

It's good, Siemens Velaros are high quality trains :-)

So the issue is more complicated than that. The real problem is their inconsistency, because depending on the time you travel you get one meal or another, but the specific trips for each meal are nowhere to be seen. In your ticket you will always get the meal service you will get (desayuno for breakfast, almuerzo for lunch, cena for dinner, all of which include a hot meal and are rather nice, and merienda during the rest of the day, which is your rather disappointing meal. If you see that you have merienda, you can reschedule the train as many times as you want for completely free. I get that you might be a little disappointing, and that it’s unfair if you haven’t done your research, but I believe that knowing this the Renfe offer comes on top, even if often 10€ more expensive than the iryo one, with Renfe you get far more flexibility, and good first class lounges at stations (which I believe you missed in this video). Overall not a bad review at all, because it’s your experience, and your impressions of it.

Your title is alarming, but not actual content. I was expecting something much worst than price and meals, but after watch your complete video I will actually sample Renfe between Barcelona and Madrid or Zaragoza in January.

@Simon-Andersen

10 ай бұрын

Have a fun trip! I stand by my title, having seen what the competition is like, I have no desire to book with Renfe, when everything from the booking process to onboard service is inferior to Iryo which often is cheaper anyway.

Y dont they Honk loudlyyyyyyyy. Railway means BIG Sounds. What is the point of travelling otherwise.

Using clickbait title can only hurt long term the growth of your channel, IMO

*Disappointing

I'm disappointed about this video and sure will avoid to watch another one. Your sentences are spoken very choppy and your reason for disappointment are minor issues to me. So who are you to give in the title such a dramatic advise which train to use or not to use, only to gain views.

It doesn’t go 310 km/h anymore in fact, now it’s restricted to 300

@Simon-Andersen

9 ай бұрын

Ah what a shame :(