Travel guide for your (work) trip to Spain

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Spain has been an extremely popular destination among Dutch and Belgian people for many years. More and more people are choosing to vacation or even work there.

If you are planning to work in Spain, you can choose to travel to the country by car, train, bus, or plane. In this article, we will tell you everything about the different modes of transportation and the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Traveling to Spain by plane

Flying is by far the fastest way to travel to Spain and, ironically, in many cases it is also the cheapest option. Sometimes it is even possible to find return tickets for as little as €50.00 – €100.00. During certain promotions, it is even possible to find tickets for around €30.00! Keep in mind that prices can vary greatly, depending on the travel time and the website/airline.

  • From Schiphol: from €57.00 (per person)
  • From Rotterdam Airport: from €95.00 (per person)
  • From Eindhoven Airport: from €51.00 (per person)
  • From Maastricht Airport: from €38.00 (per person)
  • From Brussels Airport: from €34.00 (per person)
 

The above flight prices are based on a flight to Barcelona Airport. However, it is also possible to fly to Madrid Airport, Mallorca Airport, Malaga Airport, Alicante Airport, and others. Spain has a total of 51 airports. Take a look at the top 10 cities in Spain for more inspiration!

The travel time for these flights is approximately 2 to 3 hours. Of course, you will also need to factor in extra travel time for the drive to the airport, checking in and waiting at the departure airport, waiting for your luggage at the arrival airport, and transportation to your final destination.

All in all, it can easily take 5 to 10 hours to reach your final destination. This depends, of course, on both your point of departure and your final destination.

Reserve a parking space at the airport of departure

If you choose to travel by plane, you may also be looking for a parking space at the airport of departure. This can easily be booked online prior to your trip.

If you are looking for Schiphol parking, for example, you can compare the options online via an online comparison and booking platform such as Vliegen en Parkeren. The desired parking space can be booked directly online.

You can usually save a lot of money by comparing and booking in advance. This will leave you with some extra spending money for your trip to Spain.

Traveling to Spain by car

Spain is not as far away as many people might think. From the Netherlands, departing from the centrally located city of Utrecht, it takes about 15 hours to reach the Spanish border. Keep in mind that this is the travel time without breaks, so the actual travel time can easily be up to 20 hours.

  • Departure and destination: Utrecht to Barcelona
  • Distance: +/- 1,500 kilometers
  • Travel time: 15 to 20 hours, not including any overnight stays
  • Additional information: You have to pay tolls on this route. You can easily pay by credit card.
 

It is still a long journey that you may have to split into several days, but it can certainly be worth the effort. One advantage of traveling by car is that you can stop at interesting places along the way. Most of the journey takes you through Belgium and France. Places such as Antwerp, Ghent, Lille, Paris, and Montpellier are on the route.

Another big advantage of a road trip is the freedom you have once you are there. Spain is a large country, which means that the sights can be quite far apart. With a car, you can easily make trips to Valencia or Madrid, for example.

Tip: Gas prices are lower in Belgium, France, and Spain. So try to fill up across the border as much as possible.

Traveling to Spain by bus

It is also possible to travel by bus. This is not the most obvious option, mainly because of the travel time.

You can travel with companies such as Flixbus, Omio, and BlaBlaBus. These buses depart from major cities such as Utrecht and Amsterdam. Keep in mind that prices can vary greatly depending on the travel time and the website/bus company.

  • To Barcelona: from €42.00 (per person)
  • To Madrid: from €58.00 (per person)
  • To Valencia: from €69.00 (per person)

Traveling by bus is the slowest method of travel, taking more than 23 hours and sometimes up to 30 hours. However, the journey itself makes up for it. You can relax and enjoy the views of the Belgian, French, and Spanish routes. Once there, the bus is also a great option for traveling inland.

Reisgids voor jouw werktrip naar Spanje

Traveling to Spain by train

Last but not least, it is also possible to book a train journey to Spain. Here too, Barcelona is the most obvious final destination. You can easily book tickets online via NS International.

A train journey is a fast and comfortable way to travel. A trip from Utrecht to Barcelona takes about 12.5 hours. However, the biggest drawback is the price of such a trip. A one-way ticket can easily cost more than €150.00 (per person), and a return ticket can easily cost €300.00 (per person).

Conclusion

Every mode of transport has its advantages and disadvantages, just as living and working in Barcelona has its advantages and disadvantages. All in all, flying is the best option when considering travel time and cost.

Traveling by train is also a fast way to travel, but it is particularly expensive compared to the other options.

A car journey is somewhere in between in terms of travel time and price. The advantage of this, however, is that you are immediately mobile at your destination.

Finally, a bus journey is a comfortable but time-consuming way to travel. On the other hand, the costs are lower.

Now that we have given you an overview, it is up to you to book your trip and choose your favorite way to travel!

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