Flying home changes - bus options?

[Paul Wilson]

My flight home has just been amended by Vueling and I now have to transit via Barcelona from SdC it adds time to my arrival in UK (plus I’m not sure of the covid requirements/testing for an internal Spanish flight are) and makes things a bit more difficult does anyone know how reliable the bus from SdC to Paris is, I don’t mind the long journey (20hrs) but I will take reliability over uncertainty every time, especially with so many flights seemingly being cancelled or amended last minute just now

 

[alexwalker]

Why not train?

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[Paul Wilson]

Why not train?

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I did look at the train but it involves so many changes, once I’m sat down I’m a lazy big bugger

 

[trecile]

No covid test required for internal flights in Spain.

 

[Paul Wilson]

No covid test required for internal flights in Spain.

Thank you that is very helpful

 

[trecile]

Thank you that is very helpful

I should have said currently there is not covid test required for internal flights, since the only thing that we know for sure is that things can change!

 

[naplesdon]

I took a Flix bus from Toulouse to Bilbao a few years ago. The bus originated in Rome and was 6 hours late getting to Toulouse. If the bus originates in SdC, I would say no worries; otherwise I would look into their track record for maintaining scheduled departure times. I agree with your concept of taking the bus over taking the train. The train to Irun from SdC requires lots of changes and is slower than a bus.

 

[trecile]

Would you have to buy a new ticket from Paris to the UK?

 

[Paul Wilson]

Would you have to buy a new ticket from Paris to the UK?

Yes but I travelled from the uk by train and always had Eurostar as my fall back plan, I despise all the extra charges with “cheap” flights now and would rather an honest, if you travel with us here’s the cost…airlines are like, what’s that you’re going to be breathing, sorry that’s extra. I saw a Ryanair flight the same day for £22 and though yeah that’s 90 quid for a start because I’m not in my underwear

 

[alexwalker]

Yes but I travelled from the uk by train and always had Eurostar as my fall back plan, I despise all the extra charges with “cheap” flights now and would rather an honest, if you travel with us here’s the cost…airlines are like, what’s that you’re going to be breathing, sorry that’s extra. I saw a Ryanair flight the same day for £22 and though yeah that’s 90 quid for a start because I’m not in my underwear

Agree completely. And yes, a bus looks like a cheap, direct option. Maybe a change in Irun? (French border).

I like trains in Spain: Fast, cheap, and with a restaurant coach for some food and beverage (Yes, you heard wine), while watching the landscape floating by.

Also, being over 60, I am entitled to a Carta Dorada, giving me 25% discount on all train travels in Spain for a whole year, at the cost of 6 Euros.

 

[David with new Kit!]

My flight home has just been amended by Vueling and I now have to transit via Barcelona from SdC it adds time to my arrival in UK (plus I’m not sure of the covid requirements/testing for an internal Spanish flight are) and makes things a bit more difficult does anyone know how reliable the bus from SdC to Paris is, I don’t mind the long journey (20hrs) but I will take reliability over uncertainty every time, especially with so many flights seemingly being cancelled or amended last minute just now

That happened to me on the way over to Spain. My direct flight to Bilbao was cancelled and instead I got rerouted to Bilbao via Barcelona. Out worked out fine, but yes, could have gone wrong

I don't have my return to UK with Vueling booked yet, but thanks for the heads up.

BTW - I was not asked for any proof of testing on my internal flight from Barcelona to Bilbao, so I would not expect anything different in reverse either

 

[Paul Wilson]

I took a Flix bus from Toulouse to Bilbao a few years ago. The bus originated in Rome and was 6 hours late getting to Toulouse. If the bus originates in SdC, I would say no worries; otherwise I would look into their track record for maintaining scheduled departure times. I agree with your concept of taking the bus over taking the train. The train to Irun from SdC requires lots of changes and is slower than a bus.

Thanks for the heads up. Jeez I've just gone through a lot of their reviews and I think I’ll give them a miss, it seems they’re the cheap flights of the bus world. I suppose at worst I’ll be changing trains, I’m thinking Madrid-Barcelona-Paris that was my original fall back anyway Who knows, I’ve got a few weeks to work on it thankfully

 

[DoughnutANZ]

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Santiago de Compostela to Paris

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Or by train, more expensive and longer.

 

[StephenChad]

I rather enjoyed the train back from SDC to Irun, a bit slow but passes by many places on the Camino Frances. The train from Hendaye to Paris is 300kph once past Bordeaux.

 

[naplesdon]

A funny aside about my Flix bus experience from Toulouse. The bus was 6 hours behind schedule and apparently they had a stop in Pau. They arrived there about 2am and I could hear the drivers discussing where to go to find the stop, after about 10 minutes of aimlessly driving around they headed back to the Autoroute. I know Pau fairly well and I am fairly certain they got off at the wrong exit and were only on the fringe of town nowhere near the center.

 

[Former member 91017]

I took a Flix bus from Toulouse to Bilbao a few years ago. The bus originated in Rome and was 6 hours late getting to Toulouse. If the bus originates in SdC, I would say no worries; otherwise I would look into their track record for maintaining scheduled departure times. I agree with your concept of taking the bus over taking the train. The train to Irun from SdC requires lots of changes and is slower than a bus.

Oh dear... has something changed on the train route since 2014? Is it COV specific? I rode the train directly -- it was 11 hours -- from SdC to Irun in October of 2014. I had to then get a different train from Hendaye to Bordeaux (something about track gauge changes), but that was the most easy and pleasant journey I've ever had by train.
The people in the train ticket office near to the *OLD* pilgrim office helped me with the ticketing arrangements. Very kind.

 

[naplesdon]

I have always taken the bus, it is shorter by a few hours and the switch from wide gauge tracks to narrow gauge tracks between San Sebastian and Hendaye is a bit of a hassle. There is a new combination bus and train station in San Sebastian, I haven't tried to do the suque there since it opened a few years ago.

 

[Caminogoat]

My flight home has just been amended by Vueling and I now have to transit via Barcelona from SdC it adds time to my arrival in UK (plus I’m not sure of the covid requirements/testing for an internal Spanish flight are) and makes things a bit more difficult does anyone know how reliable the bus from SdC to Paris is, I don’t mind the long journey (20hrs) but I will take reliability over uncertainty every time, especially with so many flights seemingly being cancelled or amended last minute just now

I always use this app to figure out transpiration options. It's a free app.

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[susanrunning]

Yes but I travelled from the uk by train and always had Eurostar as my fall back plan, I despise all the extra charges with “cheap” flights now and would rather an honest, if you travel with us here’s the cost…airlines are like, what’s that you’re going to be breathing, sorry that’s extra. I saw a Ryanair flight the same day for £22 and though yeah that’s 90 quid for a start because I’m not in my underwear

You funny.

 

[susanrunning]

Yes but I travelled from the uk by train and always had Eurostar as my fall back plan, I despise all the extra charges with “cheap” flights now and would rather an honest, if you travel with us here’s the cost…airlines are like, what’s that you’re going to be breathing, sorry that’s extra. I saw a Ryanair flight the same day for £22 and though yeah that’s 90 quid for a start because I’m not in my underwear

You funny.

 

[David]

I always travel by sea to and from Santander - plenty of buses (luxury coaches really) to Santander .... 24 hours sea cruise and there you are, home!

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/...ed&state=07eddfb8-497c-41ac-8c37-5a99d976d7df

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Agree completely. And yes, a bus looks like a cheap, direct option. Maybe a change in Irun? (French border).

I like trains in Spain: Fast, cheap, and with a restaurant coach for some food and beverage (Yes, you heard wine), while watching the landscape floating by.

Also, being over 60, I am entitled to a Carta Dorada, giving me 25% discount on all train travels in Spain for a whole year, at the cost of 6 Euros.

Hi alexwalker
I agree with yourself I do love train traveling through Spain, but I didn’t know about a discount for people over sixties. Do you just ask for the discount when purchasing a ticket and how do you obtain a carta Dora day. Cheers Tony

 

[trecile]

Hi alexwalker
I agree with yourself I do love train traveling through Spain, but I didn’t know about a discount for people over sixties. Do you just ask for the discount when purchasing a ticket and how do you obtain a carta Dora day. Cheers Tony

Here's the information page for the Carta Dorada

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However, you may be able to purchase a ticket at a lower promotional rate online than for the tarjeta dorada discount.

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Here's the information page for the Carta Dorada

Renfe | Train tickets AVE, Avlo Low Cost (with No Booking Fees)

Buy cheap train tickets AVE, Avlo high speed Low Cost ✓ Timetables, Fares and Discounts ✅ No Booking Fees! ▷ ( Renfe.com )

empresas.renfe.com

However, you may be able to purchase a ticket at a lower promotional rate online than for the tarjeta dorada discount.

Thanks for your help tercile;

 

[alexwalker]

Hi alexwalker
I agree with yourself I do love train traveling through Spain, but I didn’t know about a discount for people over sixties. Do you just ask for the discount when purchasing a ticket and how do you obtain a carta Dora day. Cheers Tony

You buy the Carta Dorada at the train station before you buy your ticket(s). 6 Euros, 25% discount on tickets. Valid 12 months.

 

[mspath]

Often in larger stations there is a special window to purchase the Carta Dorada. In the past you had to show your national passport in order to purchase the card.

 

[VNwalking]

The train to Irun from SdC requires lots of changes and is slower than a bus.

No actually it doesn't necessarily. In 2019 I took one train all the way. But yes - it took about 10 hours or so. I have to say I loved every minute, because I was getting a preview of many parts of my walk in the other direction.

 

[Tony Bobcat]

You buy the Carta Dorada at the train station before you buy your ticket(s). 6 Euros, 25% discount on tickets. Valid 12 months.

Thanks for your help alexwalker.

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Often in larger stations there is a special window to purchase the Carta Dorada. In the past you had to show your national passport in order to purchase the card.

Thanks for your help mspath.