patticake5
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Planning to walk September 2019
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Hi, patticake,
I also fly through Chicago every year (I am downstate). What I have found is that for me the absolute easiest way to get to and from the camino is to fly on Iberia to Madrid, then take a second flight to the Spanish city closest to my starting point (last year Almeria, this year Irun, etc). For you that would likely be Pamplona. Then my return ticket is Santiago-Madrid-Chicago-Champaign. Booking it this way is usually not that much more than the round trip from home to Madrid would be. And it saves a lot of time. Having it on one ticket also means I don't worry about connections -- if my flight from Santiago to Madrid is late and I miss my connection on the Iberia flight, they will have to rebook me, not at my expense. That is why I always recommend to people that they not buy separate tickets and hope they have enough time to connect. I was once in Madrid when this happened to a young traveler, and not only did she lose the money she spent on her ticket, she had to buy another ticket, last minute one way to Chicago, and it was NOT cheap.
Anway, back to your question about SJPP. One of the disadvantages is that by flying into Pamplona, you then have to take a bus to SJPP that sort of takes away the surprise of the next day's walk since you will have seen some of the beautiful scenery from the bus. But I have done that and I have enjoyed arriving in Pamplona in early afternoon, taking some time to walk around Pamplona, get over jet lag, sleep in Pamplona. The next day I took a bus up to SJPP, stayed in a great albergue, and then started walking the next day. Arriving in SJPP with time to walk around is both a nice way to deal with jet lag and a chance to visit this very picturesque place.
This is just one option of several, but it has worked well for me for years. Buen camino, Laurie.
I have always booked my own flights. I have had good luck with hotwire and priceline. Sometimes I spot a good deal on them and then go directly to the airline website and they have the same price for the same flight and then I book directly with airline because it allows you to choose seats, and if any problems occur, change or cancel flights.Thank you for the info. Did you book all your flights on your own or go through a travel agent? If on your own did you go through the airline directly or another party? I'm not having much luck with google flights.
I have always booked my own flights. I have had good luck with hotwire and priceline. Sometimes I spot a good deal on them and then go directly to the airline website and they have the same price for the same flight and then I book directly with airline because it allows you to choose seats, and if any problems occur, change or cancel flights.
I did not know they would do that, but not surprised. Like the old saying goes, "everything's negotiable". I will be sure to remember that.Nowadays I choose to book thru the airlines themselves; and I always try to get the best deal from the agent I talk to. I am surprised at how often the airlines will match a third-party travel site's price.
I did not know they would do that, but not surprised. Like the old saying goes, "everything's negotiable". I will be sure to remember that.
Probably the best deal I ever had on a flight was through priceline I believe, although a couple of the other travel sites do it as well, I booked a roundtrip flight at a discount of about 60%. The only catch was I did not know the exact departure, arrival times and layovers etc until I actually booked the flight and there was no refund. Definitely was a gamble, but I had a very flexible travel schedule. As it turned out the itinerary was quite good and I got what was about a 1300 euro round trip for about 500 euro. Not bad.
Nowadays I choose to book thru the airlines themselves; and I always try to get the best deal from the agent I talk to. I am surprised at how often the airlines will match a third-party travel site's price.
This is exactly what I did when I flew from NYC and it was quick and seamless. Highly recommend Express Bouricott.Hi, Patti and welcome to the Forum.
- Having flown both into Paris and Madrid, I prefer Paris.
- From Paris, I catch a quick and inexpensive flight to Biarritz.
- At Biarritz, I take a 45 minute shuttle ride to SJPdP. (Express Bouricott)
It doesn't have to be direct. We once saved a bundle by a Boston - Detroit - Amsterdam ticket.I'm so jealous of those of your who live near major airports.
I can only dream of direct flights. The problem is getting from East Podunk to a major airportIt doesn't have to be direct. We once saved a bundle by a Boston - Detroit - Amsterdam ticket.
It doesn't have to be direct. We once saved a bundle by a Boston - Detroit - Amsterdam ticket.
I can only dream of direct flights. The problem is getting from East Podunk to a major airport
What I meant was that once you reach the first major airport you could pay a little to go to another major airport out of the way which may have a special deal going to your final destination (which may save you a lot). For example, East Wenatchee (or East Podunk) to Seattle to Vancouver (or San Francisco) to Madrid. I think that more people check out destination alternatives than the the source alternatives. By this I mean, for example, comparing leaving Seattle to land in Dublin to go to Madrid (or elsewhere) with leaving Seattle to land in London to go to Madrid (or elsewhere.)I have to hop a 35 minute flight from East Wenatchee to Seattle.
What I meant was that once you reach the first major airport you could pay a little to go to another major airport out of the way which may have a special deal going to your final destination (which may save you a lot). For example, East Wenatchee (or East Podunk) to Seattle to Vancouver (or San Francisco) to Madrid. I think that more people check out destination alternatives than the the source alternatives. By this I mean, for example, comparing leaving Seattle to land in Dublin to go to Madrid (or elsewhere) with leaving Seattle to land in London to go to Madrid (or elsewhere.)
Either way you do it, it isnt likely to be a short list of connections from the U.S. to there.Forgive me if this is a redundant post. I have searched old threads and did not find what I was looking for. I am flying out of Chicago/US to start the Camino in SJPDP this September. In terms of getting to SJDPD, which would make more sense-flying to Paris and making connections or flying to Madrid? Seems like with either there are several additional legs of the journey. Are there any recommendations regarding bus, train or additional flight to get to the final destination of SJPDP? I've thought about splitting up the travel so I'm not trying to make all connections within the same day (if that's even a possibility). Thanks for your advice!!
I flew from Minneapolis to Paris and then caught the TGV train right at CDG to Bayonne, where I then caught the city train to SJPDP.Forgive me if this is a redundant post. I have searched old threads and did not find what I was looking for. I am flying out of Chicago/US to start the Camino in SJPDP this September. In terms of getting to SJDPD, which would make more sense-flying to Paris and making connections or flying to Madrid? Seems like with either there are several additional legs of the journey. Are there any recommendations regarding bus, train or additional flight to get to the final destination of SJPDP? I've thought about splitting up the travel so I'm not trying to make all connections within the same day (if that's even a possibility). Thanks for your advice!!
I do exactly the same from Houston, my last trip landed in Paris around 8:20 am and I had to hurry through gates and passport security to arrive at final boarding gate to Biarritz by 10 am (final check in time). Made It, Stress gone.Hi, Patti and welcome to the Forum.
- Having flown both into Paris and Madrid, I prefer Paris.
- From Paris, I catch a quick and inexpensive flight to Biarritz.
- At Biarritz, I take a 45 minute shuttle ride to SJPdP. (Express Bouricott)
Please dont do what i did...made a reservation to madrid, then tried to figure out the rest...instead, study all of the transportation carefully before you make any reservations that are set in stone.
I agree.I would add to that very good advice just a little — also make sure you know how you will get home from Santiago or your final destination before booking a ticket. That’s why Madrid as point of entry always works best for me. I fly into Madrid, on an internal flight on Iberia to someplace close to my starting city, and then back from Santiago to Madrid and onto the plane again. These extra add-on in-Spain flights rarely add a lot to the cost of my ticket and are cheaper and quicker than lots of the options of booking separate tickets on plane, train, or bus, especially since it eliminates the need for a night in a hotel en route.
Buen camino,Laurie
Nowadays I choose to book thru the airlines themselves; and I always try to get the best deal from the agent I talk to.
Dave you must be quite a charmer, because I have never heard of that. I do know that American charges you $40 if you have them book your flight for you, so it must not be American! What airlines has this worked for you on?
Do you know if these buses run daily? I've been looking online and the dates seem to be on the weekend for SEptember.Most interesting way to Saint Jean is to fly in to Paris and take the train.
Easiest way is to fly into Madrid and bus to Pamplona (from the airport terminal 4) and from there take the bus (or taxi but more expensive if no shared ride) to Saint Jean. That really is the easiest way.
Two other good options are to fly to Madrid or Dublin and take flights to Biarritz/Bayonne and take the train or bus from there to Saint Jean.
I have done them all.
The ALSA/Conda buses from Pamplona run daily. It may be too early for the September schedule to be shown online but roughly for the last few years September has had this schedule:Do you know if these buses run daily? I've been looking online and the dates seem to be on the weekend for SEptember.
@tomnorthI flew from Minneapolis to Paris and then caught the TGV train right at CDG to Bayonne, where I then caught the city train to SJPDP.
Yes, you transfer at Bordeaux. It is an easy transfer. When you get off at Bayonne you go to the ticket office to get your ticket to SJPDP.@tomnorth
Hi Tom
Following above I came up with this:
View attachment 56593
So... is there a transfer of trains involved or am I looking at something slightly different?
thanks very much- i am a first-timer and planning to fly into paris and take the train- seems like it ought to be pretty easy. any recommendations on places to stay in st jean the first night before starting?Most interesting way to Saint Jean is to fly in to Paris and take the train.
Easiest way is to fly into Madrid and bus to Pamplona (from the airport terminal 4) and from there take the bus (or taxi but more expensive if no shared ride) to Saint Jean. That really is the easiest way.
Two other good options are to fly to Madrid or Dublin and take flights to Biarritz/Bayonne and take the train or bus from there to Saint Jean.
I have done them all.
Forgive me if this is a redundant post. I have searched old threads and did not find what I was looking for. I am flying out of Chicago/US to start the Camino in SJPDP this September. In terms of getting to SJDPD, which would make more sense-flying to Paris and making connections or flying to Madrid? Seems like with either there are several additional legs of the journey. Are there any recommendations regarding bus, train or additional flight to get to the final destination of SJPDP? I've thought about splitting up the travel so I'm not trying to make all connections within the same day (if that's even a possibility). Thanks for your advice!!
thanks very much- i am a first-timer and planning to fly into paris and take the train- seems like it ought to be pretty easy. any recommendations on places to stay in st jean the first night before starting?
Definitely make reservations for that first night in Saint Jean. There are a fair number of albergues to choose from. I have stayed in four different private ones there, but do not recall their names. They were all nice. Clean and adequate. I booked them via booking.com. It is a good site to use and had photos and reviews.thanks very much- i am a first-timer and planning to fly into paris and take the train- seems like it ought to be pretty easy. any recommendations on places to stay in st jean the first night before starting?
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