D Day Approaches

[Thomas77]

As D Day approaches starting tomorrow so does anxiety creep in. Has anyone recently made the trip from Santiago SDC airport to the ALSA bus stand taken the bus to Valenca do Minho and from there crossed over to Tui to commence the Camino?

From previous threads taxis are available to the ALSA bus stand. We have bus bookings from Santiago to Valenca do Minho. When one reaches there does one walk across to Tui ? Well both Spain and Portugal have their world cup games on at the same time tomorrow! Feedback from recent travellers will be appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Hello @Thomas77 haven't made the trip from the airport but did make the short (approx. 15 minutes, less if you are departing from the Fortaleza) walk from Valenca do Minho over the bridge to Tui, having stayed the previous night at the excellent and cheap Residencial Portas do Sol in the old part of Valenca. I am sure that taking a taxi would be a needless expense and it would deprive you of what was for me and my fellow pilgrim's child-like thrill of standing at the halfway point of the bridge with one foot in Portugal and the other in Spain Bom Caminho/Buen Camino!

 

[poogeyejr]

standing at the halfway point of the bridge with one foot in Portugal and the other in Spain Bom Caminho/Buen Camino!

I did this in Hendaye/Irun and it was spectacular, having one foot in two countries is a mind bending experience.

Enjoy!

 

[Mark McCarthy]

The matches are both scheduled to start 19:00 Portuguese time (20:00 Spanish time). The walk thru Valença to Tui is lovely. Make sure you you try a pastel de nata while still in Valença.

 

[jsalt]

We have bus bookings from Santiago to Valenca do Minho. When one reaches there does one walk across to Tui ?

Hi, if you are getting the bus FROM Santiago TO Valenca, you can get off in Tui (spelt Tuy on the Alsa website). It is a scheduled bus stop on that route. The bus stops on the main road, at the end of the road that leads to the Parador, before the bus then continues to cross the bridge into Valenca.
Jill

 

[jsalt]

Santiago SDC airport to the ALSA bus stand taken the bus to Valenca do Minho

The bus from Santiago to Valenca starts at the bus station in Santiago. It does not go anywhere near the airport. There is an airport bus every half hour from the airport to the bus station. There is no need to get a taxi.
Jill

 

[Thomas77]

The bus from Santiago to Valenca starts at the bus station in Santiago. It does not go anywhere near the airport. There is an airport bus every half hour from the airport to the bus station. There is no need to get a taxi.
Jill

Thank you Jill Much appreciated.

 

[Thomas77]

Hello @Thomas77 haven't made the trip from the airport but did make the short (approx. 15 minutes, less if you are departing from the Fortaleza) walk from Valenca do Minho over the bridge to Tui, having stayed the previous night at the excellent and cheap Residencial Portas do Sol in the old part of Valenca. I am sure that taking a taxi would be a needless expense and it would deprive you of what was for me and my fellow pilgrim's child-like thrill of standing at the halfway point of the bridge with one foot in Portugal and the other in Spain Bom Caminho/Buen Camino!

 

[Thomas77]

SEB thoroughly enjoyed having a foot in each country at the same time whilst on the bridge. Nothing childish about it. Thank you for the recommendation.

 

[Thomas77]

Thank you Jill Much appreciated.

 

[Thomas77]

Jill the bus from the airport @ EUR3 per head was very efficient worked like magic. Thank you for the recommendation took the bus service back to the airport too.
On the ALSA bus from SDC to Valenca do Minho the driver said that though he passed through Tui as per company regulations he could not drop us off in Tui (Spain) but only in VdM (Portugal). We were resigned to a slightly longer walk from VdM as we were determined to cross the bridge on foot. When we reached Tui three other gentlemen also wanted to alight at Tui so he dropped all five of us off. The next morning we walked to the bridge for a foot in each country experience.

 

[Thomas77]

The matches are both scheduled to start 19:00 Portuguese time (20:00 Spanish time). The walk thru Valença to Tui is lovely. Make sure you you try a pastel de nata while still in Valença.

 

[Thomas77]

Mark was able to watch the Spanish match in a Spanish restaurant !! Thank you.