Best airport to get to from any point along the Camino

[Determined lass]

Hello fellow pilgrims,

I need your help - please!

I am intending to start the camino (French route) at the beginning of July. I have one major problem however; I don't know, if and when, along the camino, I'll need to go home (for job interviews).

It is probable that I will not have interviews 'til August, but I cannot leave it to chance. If I stay at
home, the chances are that I will not be called for an interview. If I go, it will be just be my luck, that I will have an interview.

I've been trying to figure which is the best airport - Madrid, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Pamplona, that is the most easily accessed from any point along the camino, so I can book a flexbile ticket home. Any help would be appreciated - thank you.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You don't hint at your point of origin, but from the U.S., virtually all flights to Spain go to Madrid first. Madrid can be reached by bus, train, or plane from almost everywhere in Spain, so I think that flights to and from Madrid would be your best choices. If you travel Ryan Air, then several other airports may be direct flights.

 

[sun is shining]

If you are from Europe have a look at Santander - Ryanair has quite a big hub there with flights to the UK and most mainland European countries.

Good luck with your job hunting!

 

[Determined lass]

Thank you. This is exactly what I needed to know: Madrid can be reached by bus, train, or plane from almost everywhere in Spain.

I'm flying from Ireland. I think my best option is to book a flexible ticket for a flight from Madrid, so I can change the date. This way I can budget for the flight and hopefully, be guaranteed a seat.
Otherwise, I will worry about how much a flight will cost and if they are sold out.

Thank you again!

 

[Determined lass]

Thank you sun is shining!

It is really surpising, but almost all Ryanair flights from Spain are more than €120 - even two months aways from my start date. For another €150, I can book a flexible ticket, where I can change the dates. If the flights, were cheaper, I'd block book (3 years ago it cost me €40 euros, incl. taxes, for 4 flights - I used all 4 flights)

 

[sun is shining]

Thats really expensive for Ryanair! I got quite lucky, my flights from Frankfurt to Santander were only 10£ but I booked 6 months in advance.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I found flying directly into Santiago was very inexpensive. I then took a bus to my starting place, Sevilla.

 

[William Marques]

There is an airport at Leon too.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The airport at Leon is fantastic. It is just 1.3 km from the Camino, or a fast city bus ride from downtown Leon (or the train station there). If you are ready to begin walking, just head up the hill, stop in La Virgen del Camino at an ATM for some Euros, get provisions at a supermarket, and head for Villadanga or Mazarife, which are about three hours up the route. There is an inexpensive Hostal Central and a fantastic albergue in La Virgen del Camino if you are not ready to walk, or want to recover from jet lag.

Unfortunately, there are only three flights a day into the airport, which is getting a new terminal despite the low traffic. Two are from Barcelona (starting in Madrid) and one is directly from Madrid.

 

[Javier]

It depen where are you.-
There are airports in : Pamplona, Biarritz (France), Bilbao, Santander, Valladolid, León, Burgos, Logroño,and of course in Santiago de Compostela.-

Most of them are small airports.-
Buen Camino.-

 

[Determined lass]

Thanks for all your replies!

My main problem, is that I could be anywhere along the camino, when I get a call for an interview. It looks like the best option is Madrid airport, as it seems to be most accessible from most points along the camino. Also, there are daily flights home! I'd prefer to book a flexible ticket, as it is refundable (minus admin fee), as I'm worried, that the flight would be really, really expensive, if I only had a few days to book!

 

[skilsaw]

From my experience, Madrid is a good choice. Lots of bus and train connections as well as a big subway in the city.

I hope you enjoy the Camino, undisturbed, and then have successful interviews in August.

David, Victoria, Canada.