Getting to SJPDP

[ChefJen]

Hello all
Any advice getting to SJPDP, I will be traveling from California, and also the best airprt to return from Santiago?
Many thanks! Jennifer

 

[whariwharangi]

Most people arrive in Europe at one of several major airports, usually Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, or London.

There are transportation links to SJPdP from Bayonne, Pamplona (the Conda bus is seasonal only), and Pau. These three centers are connected to the rest of Europe by plane, train, and bus.

The closest airport to SJPdP is Biarritz (BIQ) (Biarritz/Anglet/Bayonne) with connections to London, Paris, but not Madrid. There is a train and bus service from Bayonne to SJPdP.

San Sebastian (EAS) airport, located in Irun, has flights to Madrid. There is train and bus service from Irun to Bayonne.

Santiago Labacolla Airport (SCQ) is connected to many centers in Europe including Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, and London. Santiago is well connected by high speed rail and bus services.

Airports

AENA manages airports in Spain. See each airport for destination and airline information.
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/HomeAenaAeropuertos/en/Home.html

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY):
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-gb/passagers/home/

London Heathrow (LHR)
http://www.heathrowairport.com/

London Gatwick (LGW)
http://www.gatwickairport.com/

London Stansted (STN)
http://www.stanstedairport.com/

London Luton (LTN)
http://www.london-luton.co.uk/

London City (LCY)
http://www.londoncityairport.com/

Trains

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

I traveled from Vancouver to London Heathrow with Air Canada, transferred by National Express Bus to London Stansted, flew with Ryan Air to Biarritz, took the #14 Chronoplus Bus to Gare Bayonne, and the SNCF TER 62 train to SJPdP.

I went by Monbus from Fisterra to Santiago, Renfe train from Santiago to Madrid, flew with Easy Jet to London Gatwick, transferred by bus to London Heathrow, and onward to Vancouver. I could have flown to London from Santiago.

I stayed overnight in London both ways.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

the best airprt to return from Santiago?

The Santiago airport. It is about a 20E taxi ride from downtown, or you can get a bus about every half hour from several stops downtown for a couple of Euro.

 

[Al the optimist]

Note that the London flight to Biarritz is with Ryanair from London Stanstead.

 

[peregrina2000]

It's complicated scoping out the best deals and the best combinations, but I personally always find that flying in and out of Spain is easiest. Getting to SJPP in "season" from Madrid is just as easy as getting there from Paris. Both involve getting first to a transfer point (Bayonne or Pamplona, both served by train from Paris or Madrid) and then a short ride to SJPP from either place.

Santiago to Madrid is easier and quicker than Santiago to Paris. Some people add on cheap European flights to their international ticket, but I think you have to be careful with that. If you get a cheap flight to Madrid and that flight is late and you miss your flight to the US, it's not their problem, it's your problem and you may be out a big chunk of change.

But if you book your ticket, say US to Madrid to Pamplona and then Santiago to Madrid to US (this is called an open jaw ticket and you can see prices by clicking on the "multi city" option on most travel websites), you remove a bunch of hassle and may find that the cost is actually no more than would be involved by changing to trains, especially if you factor in your overnight in Madrid the night before you leave, etc.

Good luck with this, I always find it so frustrating that my European friends can just wait till they are close to Santiago to book a trip home, while I have to have it all set in stone before I even take my first step, but that's just one of many things on the Camino that I have no control over. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Al the optimist]

You long distance walkers have my sympathy over the constraints and costs of getting to and from your Caminos.

 

[Sancho]

My wife and I are on the Camino at the moment and we also started from California. (We just hiked into Portomarin.) One of the things I realized too late was that I could have booked my non-stop flight from Los Angeles-Paris and included a flight to Biarritz from the CDG airport in Paris. If you don't book it at the same time then Air France hits you with a ridiculous extra charge. Ordinarily people seem to fly to Biarritz from the other Paris airport, Orly. There are many more flights to choose from if you take the bus from CDG to Orly, but it is one more worry. For the record I am still upset with Air France for the way they handled the strike, but that is another post.

 

[ChefJen]

It's complicated scoping out the best deals and the best combinations, but I personally always find that flying in and out of Spain is easiest. Getting to SJPP in "season" from Madrid is just as easy as getting there from Paris. Both involve getting first to a transfer point (Bayonne or Pamplona, both served by train from Paris or Madrid) and then a short ride to SJPP from either place.

Santiago to Madrid is easier and quicker than Santiago to Paris. Some people add on cheap European flights to their international ticket, but I think you have to be careful with that. If you get a cheap flight to Madrid and that flight is late and you miss your flight to the US, it's not their problem, it's your problem and you may be out a big chunk of change.

But if you book your ticket, say US to Madrid to Pamplona and then Santiago to Madrid to US (this is called an open jaw ticket and you can see prices by clicking on the "multi city" option on most travel websites), you remove a bunch of hassle and may find that the cost is actually no more than would be involved by changing to trains, especially if you factor in your overnight in Madrid the night before you leave, etc.

Good luck with this, I always find it so frustrating that my European friends can just wait till they are close to Santiago to book a trip home, while I have to have it all set in stone before I even take my first step, but that's just one of many things on the Camino that I have no control over. Buen camino, Laurie

This great information.....thank you!

 

[ChefJen]

Great info, thank you! Bueno Camino!

 

[ChefJen]

Most people arrive in Europe at one of several major airports, usually Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, or London.

There are transportation links to SJPdP from Bayonne, Pamplona (the Conda bus is seasonal only), and Pau. These three centers are connected to the rest of Europe by plane, train, and bus.

The closest airport to SJPdP is Biarritz (BIQ) (Biarritz/Anglet/Bayonne) with connections to London, Paris, but not Madrid. There is a train and bus service from Bayonne to SJPdP.

San Sebastian (EAS) airport, located in Irun, has flights to Madrid. There is train and bus service from Irun to Bayonne.

Santiago Labacolla Airport (SCQ) is connected to many centers in Europe including Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, and London. Santiago is well connected by high speed rail and bus services.

Airports

AENA manages airports in Spain. See each airport for destination and airline information.
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/HomeAenaAeropuertos/en/Home.html

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY):
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-gb/passagers/home/

London Heathrow (LHR)
http://www.heathrowairport.com/

London Gatwick (LGW)
http://www.gatwickairport.com/

London Stansted (STN)
http://www.stanstedairport.com/

London Luton (LTN)
http://www.london-luton.co.uk/

London City (LCY)
http://www.londoncityairport.com/

Trains

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

I traveled from Vancouver to London Heathrow with Air Canada, transferred by National Express Bus to London Stansted, flew with Ryan Air to Biarritz, took the #14 Chronoplus Bus to Gare Bayonne, and the SNCF TER 62 train to SJPdP.

I went by Monbus from Fisterra to Santiago, Renfe train from Santiago to Madrid, flew with Easy Jet to London Gatwick, transferred by bus to London Heathrow, and onward to Vancouver. I could have flown to London from Santiago.

I stayed overnight in London both ways.

Wow, great info, a lot to think about! Thank you!

 

[Al the optimist]

Great input Sancho. Just the sort of detail people need.

 

[naplesdon]

If you can find an inexpensive flight from Paris to Biarritz that would be golden. The biggest problem doing this route is getting from CDG to Orly, however there are negotiations with AF to start flights from CDG in 2016.
I live in Biarritz and pick and choose between flight to the US from Bordeaux and Bilbao when I return to Florida every winter. Doing the trip from Paris adds hundreds of dollars to the price. A train from Biarritz to Bordeaux usually works depending on the flight schedules and the bus from Biarritz to Bilbao almost certainly requires an overnight stay.

 

[joe g texas aggies]

Hello all
Any advice getting to SJPDP, I will be traveling from California, and also the best airprt to return from Santiago?
Many thanks! Jennifer

Hi Jen,

I am planning to walk the CF beginning next April. I live in SoCal. I have found an Air France Flight that leaves LAX and arrives at CDG. It is on the new Airbus A-380. I will meet my son at CDG, who is flying from Tokyo. That afternoon we plan to take an Easyjet flight from CDG to Biarritz and spend the night there. I just met a two women who walked part of the Camino and one of them told me not to count on taking the train from Biarritz to SJPdP, as the tracks may never be repaired. Anyway, I think we could always hire a cab to get to SJPdP from Biarritz. Also look at Express Bouricot to transport you to SJPdP.

I haven't scoped out the route back to LAX, except that I know that I will be flying out of CDG.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

When the train is not operating, buses from the train station are substituted on the same schedule.

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi Jen,

I am planning to walk the CF beginning next April. I live in SoCal. I have found an Air France Flight that leaves LAX and arrives at CDG. It is on the new Airbus A-380. I will meet my son at CDG, who is flying from Tokyo. That afternoon we plan to take an Easyjet flight from CDG to Biarritz and spend the night there. I just met a two women who walked part of the Camino and one of them told me not to count on taking the train from Biarritz to SJPdP, as the tracks may never be repaired. Anyway, I think we could always hire a cab to get to SJPdP from Biarritz. Also look at Express Bouricot to transport you to SJPdP.

I haven't scoped out the route back to LAX, except that I know that I will be flying out of CDG.

The current situation is tracks between Cambo les Bains and SJPdP are washed out. The current SNCF TER 62 schedule involves taking the train from Bayonne to Cambo les Bains. Passengers transfer from the train to an SNCF operated bus that goes from Cambo les Bains to SJPdP. At time of writing the SNCF train/autocar service is operating 4 or 5 times daily all year.

 

[Al the optimist]

I have used Express Bouricott twice. Caroline speaks good English and provides a good service. She shares seats so the cost comes down. I booked the taxi the first time and there were 6 others in it. I joined someone else's taxi last time and again it was nearly full. Both times it cost 14/16 euros each.

 

[sjhannes]

Hello all
Any advice getting to SJPDP, I will be traveling from California, and also the best airprt to return from Santiago?
Many thanks! Jennifer

If you fly into Paris you can make a train reservation ahead of time online (cheaper) for the fast train to Bayonne. (Montparnasse station). It leaves around 7 AM as I recall. Then after a short (less than an hour) wait in Bayonne you take the small train to SJPP and arrive around 5:00ish. Easy. Same station in Bayonne

 

[Saramago]

Hello all
Any advice getting to SJPDP, I will be traveling from California, and also the best airprt to return from Santiago?
Many thanks! Jennifer

Well, if you have never seen Ireland and want to combine it with your trip (and have the time) it's a short flight from Santiago to Dublin (couple hours). Aer Lingus runs several days a week out of Santiago (I am remembering it's Tues, Thurs and Sat but check). I live in the NYC burbs so I fly JFK-Dublin-Paris or JFK-Iceland-Paris -etc etc. it's so easy to fly from JFK , I really do have sympathies for anyone coming from the west. :-/

 

[Siom]

I have used Express Bouricott twice. Caroline speaks good English and provides a good service. She shares seats so the cost comes down. I booked the taxi the first time and there were 6 others in it. I joined someone else's taxi last time and again it was nearly full. Both times it cost 14/16 euros each.

Hi Al, how long in advanced did you have to book Express Bouricott? I planned to do CF in Sep 15. Checked the SNCF site for train schedule but there was no schedule for Sep (I hope the schedule is not out yet rather than fully booked) Was wondering if I have to make reservations for Express Bouricott service now?

Thanks

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi Al, how long in advanced did you have to book Express Bouricott? I planned to do CF in Sep 15. Checked the SNCF site for train schedule but there was no schedule for Sep (I hope the schedule is not out yet rather than fully booked) Was wondering if I have to make reservations for Express Bouricott service now?

Thanks

SNCF TER Aquitaine - tab Horaires - tab Fiche Horaires - under *ligne select TER 62 - under the word 'Venir' find a link to a pdf document schedule. If there is more than one select the one for your dates of interest.
http://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine/

This is current schedule for TER 62 bus/train service from Bayonne to SJPdP. Its good till 4 July 2015.
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/aquitaine/62-AFFICHE-2015_tcm50-35352_tcm50-9053.pdf

You cannot book a seat on SNCF TER trains and buses. Sometimes its standing room only. You can buy a ticket in advance and its good for several weeks for any train on the route.

Its also way too early to book with Express Bouricott now. You might want to contact Express Bouricott in March when they start up again to determine their operating procedure. My guess is they won't book a ride more than 30 days in advance.

Express Bouricott
http://www.expressbourricot.com/

 

[Siom]

SNCF TER Aquitaine - tab Horaires - tab Fiche Horaires - under *ligne select TER 62 - under the word 'Venir' find a link to a pdf document schedule. If there is more than one select the one for your dates of interest.
http://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine/

This is current schedule for TER 62 bus/train service from Bayonne to SJPdP. Its good till 4 July 2015.
http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/aquitaine/62-AFFICHE-2015_tcm50-35352_tcm50-9053.pdf

You cannot book a seat on SNCF TER trains and buses. Sometimes its standing room only. You can buy a ticket in advance and its good for several weeks for any train on the route.

Its also way too early to book with Express Bouricott now. You might want to contact Express Bouricott in March when they start up again to determine their operating procedure. My guess is they won't book a ride more than 30 days in advance.

Express Bouricott
http://www.expressbourricot.com/

Ahh....thanks for the information, Whariwharangi. Just doing up a spreadsheet estimating all the costs and start saving for it.

 

[Al the optimist]

whariwharangi has already answered for me. For the last couple of years the price has remained constant at 72 euros so even if there is an increase next year it is unlikely to be significant. This is divided by the number of people and if 5 is 16 euros. Yes it is a little cheaper by bus/train but a lot quicker at about an hour. In 2013 I booked the taxi but she filled it. Last year I joined one booked by others. Both times it met the Ryanair flight from London Stanstead.

 

[CaminoCruiser]

If you can find an inexpensive flight from Paris to Biarritz that would be golden. The biggest problem doing this route is getting from CDG to Orly, however there are negotiations with AF to start flights from CDG in 2016.

I believe Air France runs a bus service between CDG and Orly, costs approximately 19 Euros one way. The buses run every thirty minutes starting at 5.55am.

 

[whariwharangi]

I believe Air France runs a bus service between CDG and Orly, costs approximately 19 Euros one way. The buses run every thirty minutes starting at 5.55am.

Getting from CDG to Orly is not the problem. In addition to the bus there is the RER and OrlyVal trains. The problem is the time requirement. The bus as you say runs every 30 minutes; however if you just miss it you now need to add 29 minutes to the 1:30 travel time ... So its two hours plus airport check-in time at Orly ... a 4 - 5 hour evolution.

 

[naplesdon]

An additional problem for this connections is the Paris traffic. If you hit the peak hour traffic, early morning or late afternoon, you are likely to find yourself sitting on the bus about the time your plane is departing.

 

[whariwharangi]

An additional problem for this connections is the Paris traffic. If you hit the peak hour traffic, early morning or late afternoon, you are likely to find yourself sitting on the bus about the time your plane is departing.

Which is why I think the RER and OrlyVal trains option is better than the Air France bus option.

 

[CaminoCruiser]

Getting from CDG to Orly is not the problem. In addition to the bus there is the RER and OrlyVal trains. The problem is the time requirement. The bus as you say runs every 30 minutes; however if you just miss it you now need to add 29 minutes to the 1:30 travel time ... So its two hours plus airport check-in time at Orly ... a 4 - 5 hour evolution.

Oh wow. Good thing I've got six hours between planes then! I'm going to need it just to get from one airport to another! No wonder the train is a popular option.

 

[Siom]

Oh wow. Good thing I've got six hours between planes then! I'm going to need it just to get from one airport to another! No wonder the train is a popular option.

I think there's direct flight from CDG to Biarritz via EasyJet.

 

[CaminoCruiser]

I think there's direct flight from CDG to Biarritz via EasyJet.

Thank you for that, I shall investigate my options