Connect with us

Funding & Investment in Travel

The little-known way to travel across Spain by train for FREE this summer

Published

on


FOR anyone travelling across Spain, there is a clever hack to get train journeys for free.

Trainline has revealed a handy tip on how to travel through parts of Spain for absolutely nothing this summer.

4

You can get a free ticket if you make a long-distance train journey in SpainCredit: Alamy
Aerial view of Madrid city center.

4

Use the commuter routes to head out of the cities for freeCredit: Alamy

To get journeys for free, visitors can buy a combined Cercanías ticket, which is called the Combinado Cercanías in Spanish.

The ticket essentially is included free of charge with tickets for some long-distance trains – these are run by Renfe and include AVE trains.

Travellers who have already bought a long-distance ticket won’t need to buy another one to take a connecting local train as it is free with the combined Cercanías ticket.

The only condition is that you travel within four hours of when the booked train departs or leaves.

So if you’re heading into the likes of Madrid or Barcelona by train, you will need to buy an actual ticket.

But from there, if you want to head out of the city to see mountains, lakes and other more tourist-free areas, you can do so by using the secondary and free ticket.

Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at Trainline, added: “This nifty feature means that in many cities you can get to the train station where your journey starts, or onto another location when you’ve reached your final stop, completely free of charge.

“For those keen to explore Spain, it means you can go beyond the main tourist hubs without the need to spend more.”

You don’t have to faff around with printed tickets either as you can get a PDF on your phone – which you can do on the Trainline app.

If you want to buy a physical ticket, you can input the 5-digit code on the ticket into a ticket machine on the Cercanías train station platform.

Huge new train station to open in world’s most popular city
Plaza de España in Seville, Spain.

4

Head out of Seville to see beautiful hill townsCredit: Alamy

This will print out the Combinado Cercanías ticket so you don’t have to worry about your phone running out of charge.

Here are some of the best ways to see Spain via train, according to Trainline.

You can reach Madrid on high-speed trains from the cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga and Toleda.

One Sun Travel writer visited Madrid last year where they discovered amazing art galleries, swanky bars and £22 flights.

To then explore out of the city, hop on the Madrid Cercanías train network where you can go out into the Guadarrama Mountains.

Up there, there’s a medieval monastery and traditional restaurants.

From Seville, you can pick up a commuter Cercanias train from Santa Justa station.

That will take you out to the hill towns of the Sierra Norte, Aljarafe, Dos Hermanos and Utrera.

Have a look before you travel at train routes and where a free ticket out of the city can get you for your next holiday.

Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world

Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.

Davos to Geneva, Switzerland

“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire

Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen

“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey

London to Paris by Eurostar

“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski

Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail

“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton

Beijing to Ulaanbatar

“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray

Before you go, check all the travel rules in Spain, from where to wear bikinis to beach games.

And from someone who visits Spain at least 8 times a year – here’s how to avoid the common tourist mistakes that cost you money.

Passengers waiting for a train at a station.

4

You can get a free train ticket out of the cities in SpainCredit: Alamy



Source link

Funding & Investment in Travel

Tourists warned ‘never wear’ these two items at the airport or face delays

Published

on


Travel experts have shared that there are two items that you should never wear at the airport as they can lead to delays. Here’s everything you need to know.

Holidaymakers should be careful about travelling in certain garments which could cause delay(Image: Getty Images)

Many of us are right in the swing of booking exciting getaways as the season is underway. Tourists are flocking to airports in droves at some of the busiest months for some much needed sun and R&R.

However holidaymakers who are preparing to jet off soon have been warned that certain items may cause unnecessary hold-ups when in the airport, which could be an oversight. Many of us choose comfort when travelling, but you also want to ensure it’s hassle free.

Jetpac‘s travel specialist Pearlyn Yeo, boasting a substantial Instagram following of over 20,000 on the company platform, has shared tips on what to avoid wearing at the airport.

Following the expert guidance, as outlined in the Mirror, could dramatically enhance your jet-setting this year.

The specialist revealed: “Keeping sunglasses on or wearing headphones through passport control can cause unnecessary delays and stress. These accessories can make it harder for border agents and automated systems to confirm your identity or get your attention.

Multiracial group of passengers passing by airport security check.
There are two items you may want to avoid wearing(Image: izusek via Getty Images)

“Both facial recognition gates and human officers rely on clear eye contact and unobstructed facial features. Sunglasses can interfere with the technology and an officer’s ability to assess your behaviour and demeanour.”

He noted: “Headphones, on the other hand, can distract you and mean you miss important instructions – both of which can slow down the process. As well as removing the above accessories before heading through security and passport control, it’s important that travellers are prepared.

“At Jetpac, we advise all travellers to keep their documents digitally and ensure they are easy to access. eSIMs can help to organise everything you need. But it’s also wise to know when to put your devices and any other distractions away.

“For example, when going through immigration. Removing accessories and putting devices away shows that you’re ready and also that you respect certain protocols.”

The expert continued: “Most security staff will ask you to remove these items or stop using devices, so it will only add to your journey time and stress if you’re not prepared.

“With this in mind, it’s best to remove headphones, pack away phones and tablets and pop your sunglasses safely away before you reach security, passport control or immigration.

“In doing so, you’re more likely to breeze through border control and you won’t have to worry about unnecessary delays or stress.”

When choosing travel clothes, there are several key rules that should always be followed. The main is choosing something which is practical, by wearing layered clothing and breathable materials, and of course comfortable footwear.

It’s also sensible to avoid tight-fitting garments, bulky items and anything with an excess of metal that could potentially delay security checks. By adhering to these guidelines, you’re likely to sail through security checks.

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.



Source link

Continue Reading

Funding & Investment in Travel

Bad roads, others fueling medical tourism, ABUAD hospital laments

Published

on


The management of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Multi-System Hospital has said that the lack of access roads and the incomplete commencement of operations at the Ekiti Airport are aiding medical tourism abroad.

This was just as the management disclosed that it has begun a formal collaboration with Marengo Asia Hospitals, a leading medical group based in India, with a view to deepen surgical excellence and expand the scope of specialized procedures available to patients in Nigeria.

Speaking with newsmen at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Akinola Akinmade, said that since the commencement of this collaboration, the Marengo Asia surgical team — working alongside the Multi-System Hospital’s Nigerian clinicians — has successfully completed nine kidney transplant procedures.

According to him, despite these strides in service delivery and global partnerships, the hospital continues to face significant infrastructural challenges that limit patient access and threaten the sustainability of its achievements, including the poor condition of the access roads leading to the hospital and the incomplete take-off of the Ekiti Airport project.

Dr. Akinmade said that these challenges remain a major barrier for patients, emergency transport, and visiting partners. “In addition, the Ekiti Airport project, which holds promise for expanding access and enabling faster referrals and medical tourism, is yet to take off fully.

“We therefore use this platform to appeal once again to all stakeholders to urgently intervene in improving the access routes and to fast-track the operationalization of the airport infrastructure in Ekiti State.”

He said: “Late last year, Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital (AMSH), under the visionary leadership of our Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, began a formal collaboration with Marengo Asia Hospitals, a leading medical group based in India. This partnership was established to deepen surgical excellence and expand the scope of specialized procedures available to patients right here in Nigeria.

“Since the commencement of this collaboration, the Marengo Asia surgical team — working alongside our dedicated Nigerian clinicians — has successfully completed nine (9) kidney transplant procedures here at AMSH. These procedures were carried out with the highest standards of safety and clinical quality, with excellent outcomes in all the cases carried out.

“In addition to transplant services, our Renal Centre is equipped with 17 modern dialysis machines, including dedicated machines for patients with infectious conditions such as hepatitis and similar ailments. The centre currently conducts an average of 400 dialysis treatment sessions each month, making it one of the busiest and most comprehensive dialysis programs in the country.”

The CMD added that, in recognition of their shared success and the enabling environment provided by ABUAD, the Marengo Asia team has also expressed strong interest in expanding their services into endourological surgeries and erectile dysfunction interventions — areas that are often underrepresented but critical to men’s health and quality of life.

“We see this as a vital step toward making AMSH not only a national reference point but a global destination for complex, patient-centered care.

“Beyond these surgical milestones, AMSH continues to uphold its social mandate through the Afe Abiye program, a charitable maternal and child health initiative launched late last year. I am pleased to report that under this program, we have already attended to over 500 pregnant women, providing them with completely free antenatal care, and conducted more than 150 deliveries at no cost to the patients or their families.”



Source link

Continue Reading

Funding & Investment in Travel

Barahatal in Bhakunde emerging as popular destination for domestic tourists « Khabarhub

Published

on


Barahatal, a scenic lake located in Bhakunde near Baglung Bazaar/RSS

BAGLUNG: Barahatal, a scenic lake located in Bhakunde near Baglung Bazaar, is fast becoming a favored destination for domestic tourists.

Nestled amid lush green farmlands, the tranquil setting is drawing increasing footfall, particularly from young visitors.

Bhakunde, often referred to as a tourist village in Baglung, has earned recognition for its homestays offering organic local cuisine. Located in Ward No. 10 of Baglung Municipality, Barahatal can be reached via a one-hour hike from Baglung Bazaar. The area has undergone significant transformation with the development of tourism infrastructure.

Local resident Som Bahadur Thapa Magar said Barahatal has become more attractive following the construction of retaining walls, protective fencing, and a footpath with railings around the lake.

“Tourist flow here remains steady year-round, but the lake becomes especially beautiful during the rainy season,” he said. “The reflection of Dhaulagiri Himal on the water and the panoramic view of Baglung Bazaar add to its charm.”

According to Thapa Magar, improvements were made with a total investment of around Rs 5 million, funded jointly by the former District Development Committee (now under the Federal Ministry of Tourism), the Provincial Ministry, and Baglung Municipality.

While tourist numbers dip slightly during the monsoon, the area sees a surge in visitors on holidays. “Domestic tourists, especially from nearby districts, come here to escape the heat and avoid the crowds of larger tourist markets,” Thapa said. “Now that the lake is well-organized and clean, it looks far more appealing compared to when it was overgrown with grass.”

Barahatal holds not only natural beauty but also historical and religious significance. A major fair is organized on the occasion of Baikuntha Purnima. Nar Bahadur Thapa, a Constituent Assembly member and local leader, shared that a traditional ram sacrifice takes place on the full moon days of Asoj and Jestha.

“It is believed that prayers offered at the Barahatal temple—located near the lake—fulfill one’s wishes,” he said. “The site is ideal for both nature lovers and those with religious beliefs.”

Thapa also mentioned that over Rs 5 million has been invested in lake-area infrastructure to support local income through tourism. Spanning 2,826 square meters and situated at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Barahatal is part of a broader tourist circuit that includes Bhakunde’s view tower and Bhairavathan in Balewa.

Renovation of the Barahatal temple, lake expansion, fencing, and wall construction are now complete. Additionally, the access road from Baglung Bazaar via Titiang is under upgrade, which is expected to further increase tourist arrivals.

Bhakunde, home to Baglung’s first homestay established in 2068 BS, continues to be a pioneer in community-based tourism. Yam Thapa, a local homestay owner, said that visitors often hike to Mulabari for sunrise and sunset views, snowcapped mountain panoramas, and stop at Barahatal along the way.

“Since it’s the closest natural getaway from Baglung Bazaar, the number of domestic visitors remains high,” he said, noting that the actual depth of the lake remains unknown.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 AISTORIZ. For enquiries email at prompt@travelstoriz.com