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I stayed in the San Juan albergue and it was fine...not a lot around it, but it was okay. It's huge, tons of beds and I've got to think you'll find a bed.
Good luck and buen camino
yes on the Camino passport...there's an office where it can be purchased and you get your first stamp (it's a really neat one too...you'll want it for sure)
I took train from Biarritz to Bayonne and then a train from Bayonne to SJPP...check out Rome2Rio website/app...it can often provide modes...
rome2rio is a great website that might be of help. I visited Lourdes and then took a train through Pau to Bayonne and then Bayonne to SJPP (I know that is counter to your plan, but it might be of help) Getting to Bayonne or Biarritz (and the appropriate train stations) is likely your best bet...
3 hours on the train...good
9 hours on the train...felt unnecessary, imo.
But you're right on and your opinion matters to you. I've always said, "you've got to hike your own Camino" (I'm a 40km per day guy myself and understand that's not for everybody...just like flying/train time)
Buen Camino
I guess, but the plane is going to fly as scheduled whether I'm on it or not (right?) so would take solace in buying a few more sangrias in Madrid and help out the Spanish economic system
I was in Burgos and thought, "why don't I purchase my train ticket from Santiago to Madrid" and the ticket manager talked me out of it. Big mistake. I arrived on a Saturday and thought I'd go buy my ticket (thank goodness I did this)...it was sold out. I was able to purchase a ticket from...
??? American here...when I got off the plane and went through passport control, the only thing they wanted was my passport. I don't believe there will be any kind of issue on this topic
from a train perspective, I was in Pamplona heading to Madrid and tried to get on an earlier train and the ticket scanner to get on the train caught the discrepancy and I was not allowed on to the train, fwiw. My experience with trains in Spain is that they are almost like airplane reservations...
I would check Rome2Rio for alternatives...In the summer, the train left Bayonne and arrived in SJPP around 3:30pm (ish) and I believe that is the last one. I'm unsure of the bus schedules so you might look into a taxi if you really need to get there that day...otherwise, I met up with a friend...
an idea I'll throw out there...it might be worth looking into a flight from Sanitago to Madrid...quick, and not expensive. I took the train and it was a LONG day and I'm not sure the flight wouldn't have been less cheaper. Additionally, I tried to book a train the day before and had to...
I'm quite confident that there is a train that will take you there. When I returned to Madrid, I took a train from Santiago to Leon...I'm sure it could continue to Burgos and the round trip would work.
Good luck
in 2017, I arrived at 5:50am, went through passport control and headed straight to the train station for the 9:15 to Pamplona...sold out. I did catch a later train (I think it was around 11:30).
So, I don't think it's a bad idea to buy tix ahead of time.
Coming back from Santiago to...
https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Biarritz/Pamplona
rome2rio is a fantastic service...looks like there is bus service, but I don't see (and am surprised) to not see a train
in Madrid...if you can time it right, the Mercado San Miguel is a very fun, entertaining, and tasty place to visit. It is a tapas marketplace. A tad pricey, but very good food and drinks. Not very far from Atocha train station. Best of luck
I find that one doubtful. Two great areas to try:
Rome2Rio
Rail Planner
both apps have proved extremely helpful to me over the years.
A quick search using Rail Planner shows that each route does indeed route through Madrid, fwiw.
good luck (I would love to be wrong)
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