booking flight from US to SJPP for early April 2020

[Deleted member 86885]

Am finally able to book a flight from Cleveland to SJPP to start Camino Francais- looking at 1st or 2nd week of April for travel. Any advice on best way to get there? Fly to Paris? Madrid? and then what- another flight, train? If there is already a thread on this please let me know. I want to pretty much get straight to St Jean and will visit other places later as desired after I have finished the full French Way. I have been wanting to do this for years and now the opportunity is here. The gear is ready, my mind is ready and my body will have to adjust Any advice would be so appreciated so I can go ahead and nail the tickets! Thanks very much! (any comments on getting RT ticket versus one way is also appreciated...)

 

[Deleted member 67185]

My preference has been to fly into Paris (CDG or ORY) and catch a connecting flight to Biarritz. Then at Biarritz, meet a pre-arranged Express Bouricott shuttle to St. Jean. My priority is getting to St Jean as quickly as possible. I usually arrive in St Jean by early afternoon or early evening, and then I start walking the next morning.

I tend to sleep well that night in St Jean, and wake up feeling fully refreshed and ready to walk.

If you wish to spend time in Paris or Madrid ahead of time, there are plenty of other options that are more leisurely.

 

[Deleted member 86885]

My preference has been to fly into Paris (CDG or ORY) and catch a connecting flight to Biarritz. Then at Biarritz, meet a pre-arranged Express Bouricott shuttle to St. Jean. My priority is getting to St Jean as quickly as possible. I usually arrive in St Jean by early afternoon or early evening, and then I start walking the next morning.

I tend to sleep well that night in St Jean, and wake up feeling fully refreshed and ready to walk.

If you wish to spend time in Paris or Madrid ahead of time, there are plenty of other options that are more leisurely.

thanks so much, Dave. I like what you say and want to do the same. what do you say about doing RT vs one way ticket? i want to just go at whatever pace I want and not be restricted, but the fare difference between one way and RT is incredible. again- any help appreciated..

 

[trecile]

If there is already a thread on this please let me know

Not just a thread, an entire subforum!

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/traveling-to-from-the-camino.19/

 

[Deleted member 86885]

Not just a thread, an entire subforum!

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/traveling-to-from-the-camino.19/

whoops! thanks so much will check it out

 

[trecile]

thanks so much, Dave. I like what you say and want to do the same. what do you say about doing RT vs one way ticket? i want to just go at whatever pace I want and not be restricted, but the fare difference between one way and RT is incredible. again- any help appreciated..

You can get a "multi city" ticket and fly into one airport and home from another. Look at flying to Paris, then home from Madrid, Porto or Lisbon.
Multi city tickets are often cheaper than two one way tickets.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

thanks so much, Dave. I like what you say and want to do the same. what do you say about doing RT vs one way ticket? i want to just go at whatever pace I want and not be restricted, but the fare difference between one way and RT is incredible. again- any help appreciated..

I do R/T. I will usually pay the 'flex fare' price for whatever class I fly so that I can change or cancel without additional fees. I do this in place of extra trip insurance.

 

[Donjek]

Am finally able to book a flight from Cleveland to SJPP to start Camino Francais- looking at 1st or 2nd week of April for travel. Any advice on best way to get there? Fly to Paris? Madrid? and then what- another flight, train? If there is already a thread on this please let me know. I want to pretty much get straight to St Jean and will visit other places later as desired after I have finished the full French Way. I have been wanting to do this for years and now the opportunity is here. The gear is ready, my mind is ready and my body will have to adjust Any advice would be so appreciated so I can go ahead and nail the tickets! Thanks very much! (any comments on getting RT ticket versus one way is also appreciated...)

SJPdP is connected by SNCF train to Bayonne. There are 4 or 5 trains daily.

SJPdP is connected by ALSA bus to Pamplona. Service is seasonal and does not operate in winter.

The closest airport to SJPdP is Biarritz BIQ. There is local Chronoplus bus connecting BIQ to gare Bayonne. BIQ is connected to several major European centers; check out their website for service providers.

The closest airport to SJPdP in Spain is San Sebastian EAS, with flights from Madrid and Barcelona. Its located about 3 km from Gare d'Hendaye. SNCF trains connect Hendaye to Bayonne.

Rail service in Spain is provided by Renfe.

CP provides rail service in Portugal including train/hotel service to Hendaye.

There is bus service from Madrid airport and Avenida de America; a by ALSA to San Sebastian; and b. ALSA and PLM Autocares provide service to Pamplona.

The border crossing at Hendaye/Irun is best done using Metro Donostealdea from Irun Colon to Gare d'Hendaye. Colon Metro station is across the tracks from Irun Renfe station.

Major airports with rail, bus, and air connections to Bayonne, via Irun/Hendaye if traveling from Spain, and Pamplona are Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon, Porto, London, Dublin. Secondary International with good bus and rail connections includes Bilbao and Bordeaux. Easy Jet and Ryan air are but two discount carriers with extensive networks with cheap flights.

Its important to consider how you will get home from Santiago before choosing your flights.