RENFE website

[hillybilly]

Is there some trick to getting the RENFE website to work properly?!
I tried to purchase rail tickets (AVE) online a couple of days ago and every time ended up with an error message after I'd gone through the whole booking, detail entering etc procedure.
I tried from the Spanish site, the English site, with a Spanish debit card and a UK card but nothing worked. In the end I gave up and went to the station to buy the tickets.
Fortunately I persuaded them to sell me the "estrella" offer tickets which the website told me that morning were still available but the guy in the ticket office denied were still available...
However, I need to buy another ticket for next Jan and there is a cheap web fare which of course I won't get (I assume) if I go to the station.
Has anybody successfully bought tickets online? If so, is there a knack?!
I've now registered as a user (which I hadn't before) so maybe this will make a difference?

[Kathy]

I had a similar experience and in the end took the plane to Madrid.

[hillybilly]

LOL

[masterob]

You can´t buy on line without registering as a user.

[JAKE M]

Could be a glitch in their web site. We booked back in June for our holiday in sept. with no problems
I think you have to pay by visa not a current account card. Also tick the "offertas" button on the top r.h. corner and sellect the "web price" against which train you want to get the best price.
Is your card over your credit limit Hilly?

[hillybilly]

No, card is fine! I used the same card at the station to pay for the last lot of tickets in person.
You mean you have to use a credit card not a debit card?! That's me stuffed then as I don't have one...it doesn't mention that anywhere on the website which would help!

[JAKE M]

We only used the renfe site once and to the best of my recollection, we used visa (credit card).
Likewise it is always a visa card for car hire at the airport they ask for. Maybe that's the problem
with your booking. Can't remember but when it comes to the payment details on the renfe site, does it ask for card type ie visa/maestro etc?

[hillybilly]

I can't remember now if it asks for the card type either! I have registered as a user now, masterob (it doesn't say you have to do this to be able to buy online!) so I'll see what happens when I attempt it again...is it me or is the RENFE webiste one of the most user UNfriendly sites there is?!

[country boy]

Yep! They really hate it if you can buy a ticket