Santander airport to Astorga, possible stopover?

[Aideen0816]

Hi Travellers!
I'll be flying into Santander in 2 weeks but my flight does not land until 4pm... I'm starting my Camino from Astorga but according to the ALSA website the best I will do that day is get to Leon by bus at 10pm, so my question is this: would I be best to spend a night in Santander and head for Astorga first thing the next morning, or should I go to Leon to overnight there, and then make my way to Astorga the next morning?
Any experience/opinions welcome...it's my first Camino so I'm not sure what to expect!
Cheers
Aideen

 

[SabsP]

Hi Travellers!
I'll be flying into Santander in 2 weeks but my flight does not land until 4pm... I'm starting my Camino from Astorga but according to the ALSA website the best I will do that day is get to Leon by bus at 10pm, so my question is this: would I be best to spend a night in Santander and head for Astorga first thing the next morning, or should I go to Leon to overnight there, and then make my way to Astorga the next morning?
Any experience/opinions welcome...it's my first Camino so I'm not sure what to expect!
Cheers
Aideen

Hi Aideen and welcome!
Both are lovely cities but my preference is Santander. You will not have any trouble to keep yourself occupied there. If needed I can suggest you a nice hostal in Santander, close to the busstation.
Buen Camino!

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi Travellers!
I'll be flying into Santander in 2 weeks but my flight does not land until 4pm... I'm starting my Camino from Astorga but according to the ALSA website the best I will do that day is get to Leon by bus at 10pm, so my question is this: would I be best to spend a night in Santander and head for Astorga first thing the next morning, or should I go to Leon to overnight there, and then make my way to Astorga the next morning?
Any experience/opinions welcome...it's my first Camino so I'm not sure what to expect!
Cheers
Aideen

Hi, Aideen, welcome to the forum. Either decision is a doable plan. Here are the pluses and minuses as I see them.

Plan A allows you time in Santander, a nice city, and has all your travel concentrated into one day, which eliminates a couple of trips in and out of bus stations.

Plan B gets you into Leon just in time for the dinner hour, and hopefully gives you time the next morning to see some of Leon, which is also a great city. Its cathedral, IMO, tops any of the sights in Santander.

Either way you can get to Astorga the next day. I suppose one consideration would be if you were planning to walk as soon as you reach Astorga, but if you're going to spend the night there either plan works fine. Buen camino, Laurie.

 

[jsalt]

I'll be flying into Santander in 2 weeks but my flight does not land until 4pm

Hi, I would overnight in Santander in case my flight is delayed. I would also book a place to stay in Santander. If my check-in bag (if you do that) goes missing, I can give the airline an address of where I will be that night.
Jill

 

[SabsP]

Hospedaje Magellanes in Santander....

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hos...=0&no_rooms=1&sb_price_type=total&type=total&

 

[Aideen0816]

Hi Aideen and welcome!
Both are lovely cities but my preference is Santander. You will not have any trouble to keep yourself occupied there. If needed I can suggest you a nice hostal in Santander, close to the busstation.
Buen Camino!

Hi Sabine,
Many thanks for the suggestion, and for the link below to the hostel. All advice is welcome!

 

[Aideen0816]

Hi, Aideen, welcome to the forum. Either decision is a doable plan. Here are the pluses and minuses as I see them.

Plan A allows you time in Santander, a nice city, and has all your travel concentrated into one day, which eliminates a couple of trips in and out of bus stations.

Plan B gets you into Leon just in time for the dinner hour, and hopefully gives you time the next morning to see some of Leon, which is also a great city. Its cathedral, IMO, tops any of the sights in Santander.

Either way you can get to Astorga the next day. I suppose one consideration would be if you were planning to walk as soon as you reach Astorga, but if you're going to spend the night there either plan works fine. Buen camino, Laurie.

Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your weighing up of the pros and cons!
I'm not planning to begin walking until I have spent an overnight in Astorga, so I do have a little time to play around with. It does appeal to me to get some of the travel over with by getting to Leon my first night, however I was wondering if I would have trouble finding a bed there at that hour....I will look into reserving one to see if that is possible.

 

[Aideen0816]

Hi, I would overnight in Santander in case my flight is delayed. I would also book a place to stay in Santander. If my check-in bag (if you do that) goes missing, I can give the airline an address of where I will be that night.
Jill

Hi Jill,
That's a really useful consideration, I am checking my bag and have had that issue in the past!
Many thanks!

 

[SabsP]

Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your weighing up of the pros and cons!
I'm not planning to begin walking until I have spent an overnight in Astorga, so I do have a little time to play around with. It does appeal to me to get some of the travel over with by getting to Leon my first night, however I was wondering if I would have trouble finding a bed there at that hour....I will look into reserving one to see if that is possible.

Leon , close to busstation and a good low budget choice....Pension Orejas.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-orejas.es.html

 

[Aideen0816]

Leon , close to busstation and a good low budget choice....Pension Orejas.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-orejas.es.html

Leon , close to busstation and a good low budget choice....Pension Orejas.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hostal-orejas.es.html

Thanks Sabine, I ended up booking this one as it will allow me to reach Astorga early the next day, and therefore to get a bed in an albergue before they are all snapped up. I'm very grateful for your help!!
Cheers,
Aideen

 

[SabsP]

You are welcome Aideen. It is a good choice. Safe area, close to station and nice walk upto the cathedral.

Enjoy!

 

[whariwharangi]

Take Renfe train via Palencia.