cclala
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June/July 2015
I am wanting to book a flight soon for June 2015 to walk the Camino Frances. Any advice about where to fly into from California would be great. Madrid? Paris? Portugal? Thanks!
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I am wanting to book a flight soon for June 2015 to walk the Camino Frances. Any advice about where to fly into from California would be great. Madrid? Paris? Portugal? Thanks!
I am wanting to book a flight soon for June 2015 to walk the Camino Frances. Any advice about where to fly into from California would be great. Madrid? Paris? Portugal? Thanks!
I am wanting to book a flight soon for June 2015 to walk the Camino Frances. Any advice about where to fly into from California would be great. Madrid? Paris? Portugal? Thanks!
Hi. I too am traveling from California for my first Camino in May of 2015. Actually I'll be arriving late April and returning early June. I haven't reserved any flights yet. It sounds like LAX to Paris to SJPdP may be the simplest route but I've been to Paris several times and would like to consider Bilbao. Anyone traveled from CA by way of Bilbao?
Cheers.
Hi. I too am traveling from California for my first Camino in May of 2015. Actually I'll be arriving late April and returning early June. I haven't reserved any flights yet. It sounds like LAX to Paris to SJPdP may be the simplest route but I've been to Paris several times and would like to consider Bilbao. Anyone traveled from CA by way of Bilbao?
Cheers.
I've been to the Camino every year since 2011 and always traveled into Spain (Madrid or Barcelona). I have made comparisons every time and flying into Spain has always been the most convenient itineraries, cheapest, easiest logistics. From the airport at Barajas (Terminal 4) you can hop on a bus straight to Pamplona or a train that will connect you very easily. From Barcelona I have taken the bus to Pamplona (4 hrs) and then a shared van ride from the bus station in Pamplona to SJPDP. Seriously, it could not have been easier. Buen Camino!
I am wanting to book a flight soon for June 2015 to walk the Camino Frances. Any advice about where to fly into from California would be great. Madrid? Paris? Portugal? Thanks!
Thanks so much for all your replies. It does sound a bit complicated so more research is necessary before I book my flights. It may be too complicated to tack on other stops for sightseeing prior to my Camino this time.
Is it easier to fly into Barcelona or Madrid before traveling on to SJdPP?
Cheers.
Thanks so much for all your replies. It does sound a bit complicated so more research is necessary before I book my flights. It may be too complicated to tack on other stops for sightseeing prior to my Camino this time.
Is it easier to fly into Barcelona or Madrid before traveling on to SJdPP?
Cheers.
Thanks so much for all your replies. It does sound a bit complicated so more research is necessary before I book my flights. It may be too complicated to tack on other stops for sightseeing prior to my Camino this time.
Is it easier to fly into Barcelona or Madrid before traveling on to SJdPP?
Cheers.
That's what I used on my second Camino. Flew to Madrid, bus to Pamplona from the Madrid airport and they picked me up at the Pamplona bus station and dropped me off in SJPDP (very close to the Pilgrim's office) the next morning. Worked out perfect for me. Very cool couple that runs that pension house.Madrid is the easiest for going to the start and for going home from the Camino.
www.rome2rio.com is a great travel tool, here is an example from LAX to Pamplona leaving LAX on 27APR and returning from Madrid on 1JUN:
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Los-Angeles-Airport-LAX-USA/Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port?dates=2015-4-27
You can also use http://www.corazonpuro.es/AlbergueEng.html instead of the €20 bus or €100 taxi, and they will pick you up from Pamplona airport and put you up for the night, feed you dinner, breakfast, and then a ride to SJPDP the next morning for €43.
For traveling back from Santiago, take the train to Madrid and fly home to LAX, https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid/Los-Angeles?dates=2015-6-1
You're getting lots of advise here, but you haven't identified your departure point. LAX San Diego San Francisco? Might make a difference.
There are buses or trains 4 or 5 times per day from Bayonne to SJPdP.
The closest airport to SJPdP is Biarritz (BIQ). Biarritz is close to Bayonne. Biarritz airport is well connected to many European cities including London, Dublin, and Paris though not including Madrid.
There are good train connections to Paris, Madrid via the border crossing at Irun, and the rest of Europe meaning you can get a flight from California to anywhere Europe and take the train to Bayonne.
San Sebastian airport is located in Irun and has limited connections to Barcelona and Madrid (and is probably the reason there are no flights from Madrid to Biarritz).
There is seasonal bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP. By June there will likely be at least 2 buses daily.
There are good bus and train connections to Pamplona from Madrid and Barcelona.
There is an airport in Pamplona with limited connections to Madrid.
A key factor in travel planning is getting home from where you plan to finish. A lot of people plan to finish in Santiago.
Santiago has flights to Paris, London, Barcelona, and Madrid. There are good train connections to Madrid, Lisboa and the rest of Spain and Portugal.
There is an overnight train from Lisboa to Irun where there are transfers to France's train system.
Let us know when you decide and more detail will be provided.
400 Airports
401 Airports in Spain
402 Airports in France
403 Airports in Portugal
404 Airports in London UK
401 Airports in Spain
AENA manages airports in Spain
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/HomeAenaAeropuertos/en/Home.html
402 Airports in France
Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/
Bordeaux Airport
http://www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr/en
Lyon Airport (LYS)
http://www.lyonaeroports.com/eng
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY):
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-gb/passagers/home/
Pau Airport
http://www.pau.aeroport.fr/
403 Airports in Portugal
ANA manages airports in Portugal
http://www.ana.pt/en-US/Pages/Homepage.aspx
404 Airports in London UK
London Heathrow (LHR)
http://www.heathrowairport.com/
London Gatwick (LGW)
http://www.gatwickairport.com/
London Stansted (STN)
http://www.stanstedairport.com/
London Luton (LTN)
http://www.london-luton.co.uk/
London City (LCY)
http://www.londoncityairport.com/
500 Trains
501 Trains in Spain
502 Trains in France
503 Trains in Portugal
504 Trains in UK
501 Trains in Spain
Schedules for Renfe Trains are usually changed for summer and Christmas. The long distance fast trains are updated months in advance while the slower runs sometimes aren't updated until a month in advance. We recently saw Trenhotel trains updated 23 May 2014 for 15 June ... only 3 weeks in advance.
Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/
Renfe Cercanius (light rail commuter services to major cities in Spain)
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/index.html
Euskotren connects from Bilbao to Hendaye France
http://www.euskotren.es/
FEVE was a state-owned Spanish narrow gauge railway company. The company was absorbed by Renfe in 2012. The FEVE lines continue to operate as a separate entity with several short lines mainly in Northern Spain.
Renfe FEVE Trains
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/feve/index.html
FEVE
http://www.feve.es/es/
Renfe connects with SNCF at Irun/Hendaye and Port Bou/Cerbère border crossings where there is break of gauge.
SNCF and Renfe operate a high-speed train that connects Paris Gare de Lyon direct to Barcelona Sants. This is a new service as of 15 December 2013.
Renfe connects with CP via trains from Vigo to Valenca.
502 Trains in France
SNCF is France's train system.
SNCF TGV trains provide high-speed service across France. You must have a reserved seat on TGV trains (you can reserve at the station just prior to boarding).
SNCF TER is a regional train system. You can't reserve a seat on TER trains.
SNCF Intercites trains are trains that cover areas without TGV service.
SNCF and Renfe operate a high-speed train that connects Paris Gare de Lyon direct to Barcelona Sants. This is a new service as of 15 December 2013.
SNCF connects with Renfe at Irun/Hendaye and Port Bou/Cerbère border crossings where there is break of gauge.
SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers
SNCF TER (France regional train service)
http://www.ter-sncf.com/
SNCF - train schedule and tickets:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/billet-train/horaires
SNCF Railway Map France
http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-map/sncf-map-large.htm
SNCF TGV Map
http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-trains/tgv-map.htm
Eurostar train connects London St Pancras International with Paris Gare du Nord.
http://www.eurostar.com/
503 Trains in Portugal
Comboios de Portugal (urban, regional, national, and international train services)
http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=87cbd5abe2a74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD
CP operates overnight trains from Lisboa and Porto Portugal terminating in Madrid Spain and in Hendaye France.
CP operates Celta trains between Vigo and Porto Portugal - Estaçao de Campanha.
504 Trains in UK
UK National Rail
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
Eurostar train connects London St Pancras International with Paris Gare du Nord.
http://www.eurostar.com/
whariwharangi,
You are a Camino star my friend. I have lost count of the times you have selflessly taken the time to post info like this for the benefit of others.
Considering there is a thread elsewhere about pilgrims taking the time to answer the questions posed by so-called "newcomers", I truly believe you are one those pilgrims who epitomise the spirit of this forum. Thank you my friend, thank you.
Buen Camino
It will be working, or at least there will be service. Even when the track washes out, they maintain service.Not sure how we will get from Biarritz to SJPdP, because the train will probably not be working.
Duration: 13h: 45m
I did not emphasize the total time expended. I am retired, so time is no longer money, but I cannot develop enthusiasm for moving between airports, moving between airlines, moving between airports and stations, and waiting for connections that rarely match. I get on the plane, then get off the plane and walk. When I am done, I get on the plane, and get off the plane to drive home. The love that many have for Paris should not be confused with the convenience of transiting that city to get somewhere else. Fly where you are going, in this case, Spain. Virtually all flights go through Madrid with just a few that go to Barcelona without going through Madrid. Pamplona is a great starting point, but it also is a great city to shake jet lag before taking the two hour bus to SJPdP or Roncesvalles, if you insist on starting there. Corazon Puro has created an option that solves accommodation, food, and transportation problems for a fraction of the time and money of transiting Paris. I prefer walking in France to walking in Spain, so I am not a francophobe; but I have transited Paris several times to get to Le-Puy-en-Velay and Vezelay, and the experience is barely better than the third-world experience of Heathrow.16h: 15m
I did not emphasize the total time expended. I am retired, so time is no longer money, but I cannot develop enthusiasm for moving between airports, moving between airlines, moving between airports and stations, and waiting for connections that rarely match. I get on the plane, then get off the plane and walk. When I am done, I get on the plane, and get off the plane to drive home. The love that many have for Paris should not be confused with the convenience of transiting that city to get somewhere else. Fly where you are going, in this case, Spain. Virtually all flights go through Madrid with just a few that go to Barcelona without going through Madrid. Pamplona is a great starting point, but it also is a great city to shake jet lag before taking the two hour bus to SJPdP or Roncesvalles, if you insist on starting there. Corazon Puro has created an option that solves accommodation, food, and transportation problems for a fraction of the time and money of transiting Paris. I prefer walking in France to walking in Spain, so I am not a francophobe; but I have transited Paris several times to get to Le-Puy-en-Velay and Vezelay, and the experience is barely better than the third-world experience of Heathrow.
http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html
Here is a route I would never have considered until a friend of mine did it last month. There is a direct flight from Toulouse to Vancouver. SNCF trains connect Toulouse to Bayonne. Just an idea.
Shouldn't you be ccsf, then?I think SFO to Madrid makes the most sense for me.
I would add one thought about flying to Madrid and/or Barcelona. One of the major airlines that you will consider is Iberia. We flew on Iberia from MAD to LAX. While the experience was not terrible, overall I was not impressed. I was forewarned by our guide, who lives in Portugal and often commutes to South America, that he does not like to fly on Iberia. Please take that for what its worth.WOW!! I have been in and out of internet service for the past few days. Just seeing these posts. Thank you all so much for the wealth of knowledge you have shared. I think SFO to Madrid makes the most sense for me. I already feel the warmth and fellowship that the Camino promises. Thanks again.
I am making final ticket plans. I will be flying in on September 3, 2015. The choices are Paris or Madrid. Both flights arrive at 7:00 AM. I would like to get to SJPDP that day, get a good night’s rest and head out in the morning. I am leaning towards Paris since it is only $18 more and I still depart later from Madrid.
Am I right in thinking a train from Paris SJPDP will be faster than from Madrid since I have all day?
My first Camino I flew in to Paris CDG and took the train from the CDG station down to SJPDP. I had to change trains in Bourdeaux and Bayonne. Don't remember the exact times, but it did take all day. Got to SJPDP at night.I am making final ticket plans. I will be flying in on September 3, 2015. The choices are Paris or Madrid. Both flights arrive at 7:00 AM. I would like to get to SJPDP that day, get a good night’s rest and head out in the morning. I am leaning towards Paris since it is only $18 more and I still depart later from Madrid.
Am I right in thinking a train from Paris SJPDP will be faster than from Madrid since I have all day?
I am making final ticket plans. I will be flying in on September 3, 2015. The choices are Paris or Madrid. Both flights arrive at 7:00 AM. I would like to get to SJPDP that day, get a good night’s rest and head out in the morning. I am leaning towards Paris since it is only $18 more and I still depart later from Madrid.
Am I right in thinking a train from Paris SJPDP will be faster than from Madrid since I have all day?
We're about in the same "boat" I think, trying to plan for a short June Camino. Our prior international flights have been out of LAX, and have involved a 4-5 hr. drive just to get there--necessitating an overnight stay in some airport area hotel with fly/park options. So another layer of travel arrangements to consider...Either LAX or SFO. I live half way between the two in a smallish town with a small airport. I always have to fly to one or the other to connect. I'll check both.
Cheers.