1

Know nothing about the passes, but regarding your itinerary, you'll have to travel via Madrid to go to Toledo. You better see if it is not easier to visit Toledo as a daytrip from Madrid. The most important action for christmas in Spain is the diner on the evening of the 24th, which is a typical family-affair. There also may be a diner on the 25th at around 3 a'clock, also a family-affair. So basically you spend christmas in Sevilla. I would not worry, but consider reserving a place for the evening of the 24th, because most of the restaurantys will be closed.

2

"Barcelona - Ganada in the afternoon" is not possible by train. But you can go to Sevilla: Barcelona dp 15.50 - Sevilla ar 21.15 and visit Granada afterwards.
There is an evening train Granada dp 18.05 to Madrid.
But I suppose you want to visit Cordoba too. So you could do:
21st: Barcelona 15.50 - Cordoba 20.28
22nd: visit Cordoba, Cordoba - Granada by bus (about every 2 hrs, 2 1/2 hrs trip).
23rd: Granada dp 17.02 or 20.52 - Sevilla ar 20.05 or 23.59
25th: Sevilla dp 19.15 - Madrid ar 21.35 (trains about every 30 to 60 min)
26th: day trip to Toledo (1/2 hr journey; trains about every hr).
28th: I wouldn't visit 2 big museums the same day

Book the Alhambra at Granada in advance!

3

A few thoughts.

There is no indication where you are from. Will no one in your group be wasted with jet lag upon arrival in Barna?

I doubt you have time for small towns.

This RENFE pass is fairly new (perhaps six months) and little reported on so far but the terms are here - http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/viajes_internacionales/spainpass/index.html - there is no discount alliance with any another body.

I think you need to clarify with RENFE (1) and (3)
(1) - is this afternoon journey not eight+ hours via a change at Madrid, possibly therefore two journeys use from the pass? And that's a lot of dead time.
(2) - whilst the journey is MD and qualifies it is €28.15 - a poor use of the pass.
(3) - this again might be counted as two uses, i.e. a change at Madrid.
(4) - the journey is $12.10 - again poor use of the pass.

Obviously typing at the same time as above two respondents.

Hope this helps.

Edited by: annemariet

4

I'm afraid 1 day is not enough to see Gaudi's works in BCN. His works in/around BCN includes:
-Sagrada Familia
-Park Güell
-Casa Batlló
-Casa Vicens
-Güell Pavilions
-Palau Güell
-Colegio Teresiano
-Casa Calvet
-Casa Figueres
-La Pedrera/Casa Mila
-Church of Colònia Güell

With just 13 days I would cut the destination down from 5 to 3 to give yourself more time to appreciate what you see as opposed to spending lots of time looking out of the train. e.g BCN/Granada/Seville.

5

Agree with #4...5 sleeping stops in that time is too many.

You will spend more time on trains,in stations and checking in and out of hotels than doing anything interesting.....

6

Is staying in Toledo over Christmas advisable?

Nothing wrong with it. It isn't clear when you'll arrive to Toledo (i.e.: if in the Morning of Dec. 25 or at night) though.

We also plan to buy the Renfe Spain pass for 4 journey…Could we use that for item (1) to (4) for the spain train pass?

No, the pass is only valid for 4 journeys and there aren't direct trains from Sevilla to Toledo so that leg would mean 2 journeys: 1) Sevilla-Madrid 2) Madrid-Toledo and, therefore, the total journeys of your trip would be 5; i.e.: over the limit of the pass. However, you can use the pass for the first 4 journeys and pay for the tickets of the last one from Toledo to Madrid. BTW, be aware that in order to go from Barcelona to Granada, you would need to take the overnight train because, otherwise, the leg would probably mean 2 journeys (from the pass point of view) too (although you could ask if the enlace option is considered a single one). And be aware the pass is valid only for seats (i.e.: it isn't valid for berths, couchettes...).
Don't forget you have to get a ticket with your pass, you can't take the train with your pass only.
Once said all that, you have to do the maths to see if the pass would be a good idea in your case.

Is there any student discounts on top of the Renfe Spain pass and when we buy the tickets to the museums?

Usually, passes like that one of RENFE exclude other possible discounted fares the user could get. In any case, AFAIK, RENFE doesn't have student fares. They have youth card fares though but you should have one of the cards allowed to get them.
Regarding museums, each one has its own rules so take a look at their webs to look for the fares available at each one of them and the requirements you should meet to get them.

7

I sure hope you mean two compleat days in Seville. Should be 4.

My faaavorite day, here in Seville, is the day sfter Christmes. All the beeezaare nativity scenes will have no line.

Days bb4 that. hordes of families shuffle through the cathedrals. They don't have much time to enjoy.

8

Thanks for your reply, it is really helpful to know the culture of Spanish during Christmas.