From Madrid to SJPP or Paris SJPP

I am also planning my trip for next year and flying in from the states. I, too, have spent a considerable amount of time considering how best to arrive and what would be the most convenient route. For me, however, I've decided that the most convenient and most meaningful way to arrive are two different things. It seems as though arriving to SJPP via Madrid would require a significant potential for travelling through areas of the Camino that will be crossed through later on the actual Camino walk. For me, this is a big deal as I do not wish to do so. However, travelling into Paris allows to take a fairly easy train to Bayonne and then another to SJPP...not passing through any areas of the Camino. For some reason, I like the idea of entering Spain for the first time on the Camino itself. Also, I lived in Madrid for a year when I was younger (what an incredible experience that was) and would feel sad to stop over just for a day on my way to SJPP...I would like to save my revisit for the end as a grand finale ...but that's just my own personal experience. It seems like the journey to the start of the Camino is a journey in and of itself that depends on personal preference. Buen Camino!

David(s) I too am planning for the Walk for next year and have been pondering the beginning of the trip....I have a similar mindset as the 2nd David, not traveling over the same ground. The logistics of Paris to SJPP seem to be easier and straight forward...I don't want to spend too much time and/or complications just getting there... Airfare to either Madrid or Paris isn't much different and the ground transport equals out...so it's a matter of preference.

One option if you fly to Madrid is to take a train or bus to San Sebastián. From there, you take a train to Hendaye, transfer to another to Bayonne, and then another to SJPP.

traveling-to-from-the-camino/topic12998.html

Here's a previous post re the same. I'll be flying into Madrid Sept 25 and starting my walk the next day at St.J.

if you are flying into Paris yoiu could look to fly to Biarritz [one hour 15 mins] rather than take the train. this is what i will be doing in september as after a 24 hour flight to paris another quick flight seems a better option than five plus hours on a train,,,,

Davidinaus - Thanks for the info - I will look into the flight...what airline and cost?

I am am doing my first camino in June. I, too, speak Spanish-but no French. My plan is to arrive in Madrid at about 8:30 AM. I'll catch a mid-morning train to Pamplona and an early-evening bus to Roncesvalles. From there I'll take (share?) a taxi to SJPdP. I've been assured that all of this is quite do-able.
So we'll see, eh? I'll post any clarifying failures on about June 20th.

hi easyjet seems to be about $90 and Air France can be from $130 and up depends on when you book the flights ,