SandyLeone
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Spring 2015
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I did not think there were any direct flights from Vancouver to Madrid. All I have ever seen, gateway through Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt before arriving in Madrid. This means normally a late afternoon arrival in Madrid before catching either a connecting flight or bus to Bilbao.Hi, Sandy,
I would check out the option of flying into Bilbao (Vancouver-Madrid-Bilbao). I sing this song every time I post on threads involving airplane tickets, but I have frequently found that the cost of a multi-city or open jaw ticket from the US is no more expensive than flying round trip into Madrid. I've flown into Bilbao twice from Madrid, once for the Norte and once for the Olvidado and it worked great. I was in the center of Bilbao by shortly after noon or 1 pm, after arriving in Barajas in the morning, transferring to the domestic terminal for the Bilbao flight, and then getting the airport bus from the Bilbao airport to the center. It was a snap. For the Norte, I took a bus from Bilbao to Irun -- they are (or were at least in 2006) frequent.
If adding the Madrid-Bilbao segment adds too much to the airplane cost, getting to Irun from Madrid is not hard. There are four ALSA buses a day from the airport at T4. Trains from Atocha, which is easy to get to from Barajas.
The other thing to consider is how easy it till be to get to your point of departure from wherever you wind up on the Norte!
Buen camino, Laurie
I should never voice an opinion or give a suggestion about Canada, since I know nothing about flights there.I did not think there were any direct flights from Vancouver to Madrid. All I have ever seen, gateway through Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt before arriving in Madrid. This means normally a late afternoon arrival in Madrid before catching either a connecting flight or bus to Bilbao.
This maybe a good option too providing you have enough between the time you arrive in Gatwick and catch the connecting flight to Bilbao. Likewise you can catch an easyjet flight from Santiago to Gatwick and hopefully connect to s Westjet flight back to Vancouver.Hi Sandy,
Here's the dream itinerary, which I've been fortunate to fly once before (but from Portland): an open-jaws flight, going into San Sebastian airport and out of Santiago de Compostela. Only one airline partnership can do this--Iberia/BA/AA--but fortunately they operate out of Vancouver. The San Sebastian airport is actually located right between Irún and Hondarribia--it's possible to walk out the front door and start your Camino!
You're unlikely to have that route offer the lowest price, but the question is how much you value the convenience. This summer, I'll be doing something a bit clunkier, flying WestJet to London. (WestJet newly flies to London this summer and connects in Calgary, so you may find a very low airfare with them--mine was just $800 in late June!) From there, I purchased a one-way ticket between Gatwick and Bilbao. I'll travel back from Santiago or Madrid to London (TBD.)
Flying into London seems to be much cheaper than other European destinations, at least at this point in the summer fare-buying season from the western US. I used flights.google.com to run a bunch of different options to both get to London and then connect from there to Spain.
Dave
I should never voice an opinion or give a suggestion about Canada, since I know nothing about flights there.
Hi Sandy
Each time I have done the Camino, I gave flown from Vancouver to Paris arriving early in the morning, early enough to catch the fast TGV. I would recommend the same.
If you arrive late in Paris or you want to simply see Paris, I understand that there is a night train to Irun too.
It might be possible to catch a flight from Paris to say Bilbao but this requires backtracking and it also means you won't be in Irun any time sooner. Ditto with going to Mardrid or London first.
We will fly out June 30 and depending on flights should be walking by July 2nd. I am considering the EPW for 2017, heard of that one Maggie? I'll be sorry to miss you again, but wish you another buen caminoWhen are you planning to start @SandyLeone ? I shall walk el Norte this year, but perhaps a bit earlier than you - starting late April. I guess we are destined not to meet again.
Thank you Damien, another good suggestion!I personally would fly into Madrid (MAD) and then take the short Iberia flight to San Sebastián (EAS). It's on an ATR-72 which is a 50 person or so turboprop. Very fun for the adventurous flyer bored with those lame widebody jets!
This is super convenient and hassle free. The San Sebastián airport is actually closer to Irun than San Sebastián, and if I recall it was a quick $15 or so cab ride to the little hotel I stayed in my night in Irun.
Thank you for your suggestions. I must admit I've never been on "a real train". It's tempting!The airports available along the Norte (Bilbao, Santander) are very small and have limited flights. I have flown from Seattle to Frankfurt to Bilbao....but then walked the Primitivo..
We took a bus from Madrid when we walked the Norte. Not the best way unless the flights and prices route you that way.
The backtracking to Irun from Bilbao would be on the small narrow gage train that runs along the coast. More like a metro or subway train.
The train from Paris is very good and an experience for those of us on the Pacific Coast who do not get much chance to experience real train rides.
It could be an addition to your Camino adventure.
The schedules may be the best decision maker as to which is best.
While I am quite certain that you can't fly direct from Vancouver to Madrid, you can avoid the European hubs if Madrid is your destination of choice. We have utilized Air Canada (in August) twice now and have flown Victoria to Toronto and Toronto to Madrid. You end up arriving around noon in Madrid which is perfect for arranging connections onward.I did not think there were any direct flights from Vancouver to Madrid. All I have ever seen, gateway through Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt before arriving in Madrid. This means normally a late afternoon arrival in Madrid before catching either a connecting flight or bus to Bilbao.
San Sebastian airport is located in Irun .
And its airport codes are IATA: EAS
What, not enjoying the pissing contest?Sigh, I agree, but that are still the international airport codes in use. Buen Camino, SY
What, not enjoying the pissing contest?
Sandy I 've done this route twice and both times from Madrid to Irun by train. I am partial to Madrid and therefore the reason why my starting point. I did the same this year. I believe it's imperative to start from Irun the section along there once you reach the coast is breath taking enjoy.Hi Pilgrims that are and will be - My daughter-in-law and I will walking part of the Del Norte this summer. I'm wondering what is the best travel option to get to the start from Vancouver, Canada to Irun. So far I've heard travel to Paris and take the fast train to Irun (seems out of the way). I've also noticed there is an international airport in Santander but then would need to get back to Irun. Any other suggestions! Thank you in advance.
Castilian, who was tempted to explain how are given/made the IATA codes, shuts up to avoid making the thread even more off topic and to avoid pissing so much as to lose all his mineral salts. He also apologizes for the off-topic posts.
And, of course, he also apologizes once again to anyone who didn't like my two previous posts on this thread and/or who find them unnecessary, pedant or whatever other not good thing.
what ever happened to the "She-wee"? It allows us to play as wellI am not male ... *Runs, ducks, hides and hides again in a very hidden spot*. Buen Camino from the depth of my heart to everybody here, no matter who and where you are, SY
I have done it twice - the first time Vancouver to Paris return (2011) for C$850 the second time Vancouver to Bilbao return (2013) for C$1150. Either is good. ;-)Hi Pilgrims that are and will be - My daughter-in-law and I will walking part of the Del Norte this summer. I'm wondering what is the best travel option to get to the start from Vancouver, Canada to Irun. So far I've heard travel to Paris and take the fast train to Irun (seems out of the way). I've also noticed there is an international airport in Santander but then would need to get back to Irun. Any other suggestions! Thank you in advance.
You can fly YVR to EAS (San Sebastian) then SCQ (Santiago) to YVR on American Airlines for about $1200. They're not direct flights, but you'll get there without the hassle of trying to arrange ground transportation. Also, if you book it this way and one of the flights is delayed, they'll get you there without any additional costs.
what ever happened to the "She-wee"? It allows us to play as well
Hi Pilgrims that are and will be - My daughter-in-law and I will walking part of the Del Norte this summer. I'm wondering what is the best travel option to get to the start from Vancouver, Canada to Irun. So far I've heard travel to Paris and take the fast train to Irun (seems out of the way). I've also noticed there is an international airport in Santander but then would need to get back to Irun. Any other suggestions! Thank you in advance.
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