Pilgrim introduction

[rlt]

My name is Lou, and live in Australia. With my husband we are first time walkers to santiago De Compostela.
We are doing the Via De La Plata (due to reports of crowding on the French route) and starting in Salamanca on the 16th April 2010. Our return flight to Australia leaves Madrid on 19th May and Paris on 20th May.
We booked hotels for our first two nights in Spain and then plan to be staying in Alburges along the route. We have allowed about 5 weeks for the walk. Not sure how long it will take us.
We are trying to decide when we will arrive in Santiago so we can book a hotel. We have been advised to do this due to the fact that this is a Holy Year and accommodation may be scarce.
What is the best way to get to Madrid at the end of rhe camino- express coach or train? Do we need to book in advance or just buy it at the time of departure.
Any information is welcome,
Lou

 

[Alan Pearce]

Hola Lou

My companion and I bought tickets for the overnight train from Compostela to Madrid about 3 PM, and left on the train that evening. We went 2nd class which was a good bit cheaper than 1st class, and got in to Madrid about 7.30 AM. Perhaps it might be busier this year, but the train was not crowded in 2008 on our trip. My companion had taken a bus from Compostela to Madrid on an earlier camino, and much preferred the train.

I hope to follow in your footsteps on the Via de la Plata in April/May next year.

Buen camino

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Steady - It might be my failing memory but weren't there report of pilgrims who hadn't booked in advance having to wait for a day or so for a seat on that train...Sil???

Forgive me if this isn't the case, a senior moment

 

[rlt]

Thanks for your answers to my questions.
I am new to all this. I am amazed at the information and help that is available from people!
Lou

 

[Sagalouts]

What is the best way to get to Madrid at the end of rhe camino

another option is flying Ryanair ( 10 kilo hand luggage limit) from Santiago to Madrid if booked in advance the cost can be as little as 9 euro's each (plus taxes) and takes 1 hour, plus maybe a chance of a connection with your Paris flight if you are pushed for time and don't want to stay in Madrid.
Ian

 

[peregrina2000]

Just a note on buying train tickets. I have in the past been able to buy a ticket from Santiago to Madrid the day before departure, but once had quite a mess when all trains were booked for several days -- which would have gotten me into Madrid three days after my plane left from Madrid. So I had to fly from Santiago to Madrid and that ticket was not cheap. And this was not a Holy Year, but it was June.

That's a long way of saying that I think you should buy your train tickets as early as possible. The RENFE website has recently been improved to make it somewhat less impossible to buy a ticket from them online. In fact, I got a ticket on the AVE from Madrid to Sevilla for this May for 32 euros, a huge discount off the standard rate of 80-plus. To get this good rate, though, you have to buy ahead of time because there's a limited number of super-cheap tickets and they sell out fast.

Laurie

 

[ramble-on]

I agree with Laurie and Johnnie W. We're training it from Santiago to Madrid in mid-May and I was surprised to discover there are few or no seats on some trains (especially those departing during the day). We ended up booking the overnight train as a result, or my Spanish being what it is, we hoped we did! We thought about Ryanair but figured our packs, after a couple of days in Santiago, might be over-weight and expensive to get onto the plane. The total cost, booking on the internet and in turista, was just under E20 per person.

Dick