Santiago to Porto or CDG? and an Amsterdam layover.

[FourSeasons]

Hello all

I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I'll ask for any suggestions before I pull the trigger.
Considering the COVID situation and the unknown for September 2022 would you rather fly from and why:

#1 Santiago to Paris for one night before going back to the U.S.
The flight from CDG to the U.S. is shorter by about six hours. The cost is about the same.

#2 Santiago to Porto by bus then fly out the next day at 5am (can I catch the metro to the airport at 3am?
There is a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam arriving at 8:30a, what would you do with that time?

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

 

[trecile]

If you choose the Porto option you could stay very close to the airport and take a taxi or Uber.
The bus actually has a stop at the airport in Porto. That's where I got off to get to my accommodation.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I would definitely go for the night in Paris.

 

[FourSeasons]

Okay well that was a bust

 

[trecile]

There is a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam arriving at 8:30a, what would you do with that time?

You can pass some time in the airport at the mini Rijksmuseum.

Rijksmuseum Schiphol Airport | Amsterdam.info

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I would choose to go home via CDG which is the quickest option. One single night in Paris would leave you wishing you had more days available to enjoy it, (I had 4 days and it was barely enough), not to mention it adds 6 hours to an already long flight home.
EDIT, I don't think option #1 or #2 sound worth the extra hassles, as neither provides any quality sightseeing time if that is what you are hoping for, but that's just me.

 

[FourSeasons]

I would choose to go home via CDG which is the quickest option. One single night in Paris would leave you wishing you had more days available to enjoy it, (I had 4 days and it was barely enough), not to mention it adds 6 hours to an already long flight home.
EDIT, I don't think option #1 or #2 sound worth the extra hassles, as neither provides any quality sightseeing time if that is what you are hoping for, but that's just me.

Thank you. I’ve been to Paris several times and Amsterdam once. So I really don’t need to do a lot of site seeing. If any.

EDIT: Since #1 or #2 seem like a hassle. Do you have any other suggestions, hassle free, to get back to the U.S. from Santiago? Other ideas are welcome.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thank you. I’ve been to Paris several times and Amsterdam once. So I really don’t need to do a lot of site seeing. If any.

EDIT: Since #1 or #2 seem like a hassle. Do you have any other suggestions, hassle free, to get back to the U.S. from Santiago? Other ideas are welcome.

I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand your post/question if you are not interested in seeing the cities you mention. Flying out of CDG seems to be easiest and it is what I usually choose to do. Other members may have alternative suggestions for you to consider.

 

[FourSeasons]

I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand your post/question if you are not interested in seeing the cities you mention. Flying out of CDG seems to be easiest and it is what I usually choose to do. Other members may have alternative suggestions for you to consider.

Maybe I wasn’t clear with my question.

Fly home via CDG straight to the U.S. or PORTO which includes a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam, then I asked what would you do in Amsterdam for 6 hours.

I guess I’m asking because I’m nervous about going from Spain to France with all the COVID requirements. Who knows what September will bring.

Considering the COVID situation only: would it be easier to go from Santiago to Porto or Santiago to CDG? I prefer the CDG route as that’s my usual way as well. Perhaps I’m overthinking…. Again. Thank you for your patience.

 

[FourSeasons]

You can pass some time in the airport at the mini Rijksmuseum.

Rijksmuseum Schiphol Airport | Amsterdam.info

Definitely a great idea. You’re always so knowledgeable and ready with a link. Thank you.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Definitely a great idea. You’re always so knowledgeable and ready with a link. Thank you.

@trecile is!

 

[Camineiro]

Nobody knows the covid situation in september 2022.

The pandemic might be finished or it becomes even worse … or something in-between.

Regarding the connection I‘d choose the Paris option, because it‘s shorter in time.

 

[C & W]

You can fly or take the train to Madrid. There are several flights from Madrid to the US.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm assuming that you don't want to fly from Madrid due to costs. The low cost airline Level flies from Barcelona to NY, SF, LA and Boston. They report a 241 euro fare to Boston for most of September and you can visit Barcelona.

LEVEL | Airline Tickets and Fares - Search

 

[TaijiPilgrim]

Since your question relates to Covid restrictions, I think you need to be aware of what Covid requirements your itinerary entails for each country you transit through. For example, in January I flew roundtrip from Boston to Malaga, Spain via TAP airlines. Portugal requires all air passengers meet their Covid rules - even if they are just connecting lights or transiting through an airport. Returning, I had to be sure I had all documentation for both Portugal and the United States. Rules are constantly changing, so you have to keep up to date right up until your flight but I would suggest fewest connections and countries is best. I have several times flown to the US from Santiago transiting through Madrid.

 

[Natale]

Hello all

I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I'll ask for any suggestions before I pull the trigger.
Considering the COVID situation and the unknown for September 2022 would you rather fly from and why:

#1 Santiago to Paris for one night before going back to the U.S.
The flight from CDG to the U.S. is shorter by about six hours. The cost is about the same.

#2 Santiago to Porto by bus then fly out the next day at 5am (can I catch the metro to the airport at 3am?
There is a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam arriving at 8:30a, what would you do with that time?

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

You kidding 6 hours in Amsterdam? Lots of fun thing to do and see. You will love it's one of my favorite cities to visit.

 

[FourSeasons]

You kidding 6 hours in Amsterdam? Lots of fun thing to do and see. You will love it's one of my favorite cities to visit.

What are some of your favorite things to do near the airport?

 

[FourSeasons]

Since your question relates to Covid restrictions, I think you need to be aware of what Covid requirements your itinerary entails for each country you transit through. For example, in January I flew roundtrip from Boston to Malaga, Spain via TAP airlines. Portugal requires all air passengers meet their Covid rules - even if they are just connecting lights or transiting through an airport. Returning, I had to be sure I had all documentation for both Portugal and the United States. Rules are constantly changing, so you have to keep up to date right up until your flight but I would suggest fewest connections and countries is best. I have several times flown to the US from Santiago transiting through Madrid.

Thanks, I've flown from Madrid back to Idaho once and it was okay, a long day. Almost like if I do the Porto flight to Amsterdam. At least here I will have something to pass the time during layover. However, Madrid is definitely an alternative and dependent on the COVID restrictions come September, would be the option by preventing crossing boarders.

 

[FourSeasons]

I'm assuming that you don't want to fly from Madrid due to costs. The low cost airline Level flies from Barcelona to NY, SF, LA and Boston. They report a 241 euro fare to Boston for most of September and you can visit Barcelona.

LEVEL | Airline Tickets and Fares - Search

Thanks those are really great fares but those low cost airlines don't offer much for comfort on that long overseas flight. I do Delta, Delta Comfort. After my first couple of long distance flights I've graduated to comfort and once you're there it's hard to go back.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Thanks those are really great fares but those low cost airlines don't offer much for comfort on that long overseas flight.

I'm not trying to talk you into flying Level but I do want to mention for others reading this thread and are interested in Level that, for our 2019 Boston round-trips, we were actually piggybacking on Iberian flights and service and seating appeared to be the same as Iberian economy class. Maybe Level messed up but they would have messed up twice as RT tickets were bought months in advance but I picked up an earlier return just days in advance. I paid full fare for that as the tickets were only a bit over $100 US each way but a change to a ticket would have cost $200. When I got back home I told Level they could resell my seat on my originally booked flight.

 

[trecile]

You kidding 6 hours in Amsterdam? Lots of fun thing to do and see. You will love it's one of my favorite cities to visit.

However a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam does not equal 6 hours of sightseeing time in Amsterdam!

 

[FourSeasons]

However a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam does not equal 6 hours of sightseeing time in Amsterdam!

More like 3, Right? I’ve been to Amsterdam once and if I recall correctly the airport isn’t too far from all the sites.

 

[FourSeasons]

I'm not trying to talk you into flying Level but I do want to mention for others reading this thread and are interested in Level that, for our 2019 Boston round-trips, we were actually piggybacking on Iberian flights and service and seating appeared to be the same as Iberian economy class. Maybe Level messed up but they would have messed up twice as RT tickets were bought months in advance but I picked up an earlier return just days in advance. I paid full fare for that as the tickets were only a bit over $100 US each way but a change to a ticket would have cost $200. When I got back home I told Level they could resell my seat on my originally booked flight.

Oh, I didn’t feel any pressure at all. I appreciate your ideas and input. Crazy good prices and it’s great you’re close to one of their airports. I would need to purchase a separate flight to a West Coast airport from Boise. After looking at the LEVEL website I figured the price would be roughly the same if not more using them for my international travels. I can see how beneficial it would be for East Coast pilgrims. Buen Camino

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Hello all

I'm pretty sure I know the answer but I'll ask for any suggestions before I pull the trigger.
Considering the COVID situation and the unknown for September 2022 would you rather fly from and why:

#1 Santiago to Paris for one night before going back to the U.S.
The flight from CDG to the U.S. is shorter by about six hours. The cost is about the same.

#2 Santiago to Porto by bus then fly out the next day at 5am (can I catch the metro to the airport at 3am?
There is a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam arriving at 8:30a, what would you do with that time?

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

I would try to avoid as many transfers as possible. Every transit through an airport is additional hassle. And, I can't see the point of the Porto flight, if it means you have to go through an extra country (Netherlands) AND leave Porto at 5 am.

As someone who has regularly flown Portugal>Amsterdam>western Canada, because I like KLM as an airline, I've hated that the KLM flights are always leaving at 5:30 or 5 am from Lisbon. I guess they don't have preferred slots at the airport later in the day. I've now changed to flying Portugal>eastern Canada>western Canada instead. One less country to transit.

Any chance you could bus or (preferably) train south to Lisbon (only 3 hours or so past Porto), and then fly directly Portugal to the US? There are a fair number of Portuguese flights to the US east coast.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

More like 3, Right? I’ve been to Amsterdam once and if I recall correctly the airport isn’t too far from all the sites.

The railway to Amsterdam is right in the airport. We once did a trip (luggage checked all the way through) where we took the train into central Amsterdam and then did a canal cruise for a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun!

 

[Mycroft]

If you choose the Porto option you could stay very close to the airport and take a taxi or Uber.
The bus actually has a stop at the airport in Porto. That's where I got off to get to my accommodation.

Yes that is right and you reminded me that last Nov when I took Flixbus to Lisbon we did stop at the Porto airport. Remember, all, if you buy such a ticket from Flixbus, they use Monbus from Santiago, and Flixbus passengers get to board before Monbus passengers, so be on the lookout for the staff member who checks your ticket outside the second door, not the one near the driver (as of last Nov).

 

[FourSeasons]

I would try to avoid as many transfers as possible. Every transit through an airport is additional hassle. And, I can't see the point of the Porto flight, if it means you have to go through an extra country (Netherlands) AND leave Porto at 5 am.

As someone who has regularly flown Portugal>Amsterdam>western Canada, because I like KLM as an airline, I've hated that the KLM flights are always leaving at 5:30 or 5 am from Lisbon. I guess they don't have preferred slots at the airport later in the day. I've now changed to flying Portugal>eastern Canada>western Canada instead. One less country to transit.

Any chance you could bus or (preferably) train south to Lisbon (only 3 hours or so past Porto), and then fly directly Portugal to the US? There are a fair number of Portuguese flights to the US east coast.

Yes, I could take a train from Santiago to Lisbon then fly directly home. I looked up the flight and it’s only $300 more than what I’ve already booked, the CDG-BOI option. (I couldn’t help it, I got a great deal.) Thank goodness I have no change fees. $300 or more would be what it would cost for a one night stay near CDG and the flight there from Santiago. I’m thinking airfare will drop still for September, must be patient. Now to search Santiago to Lisbon and one night stay. It’s doable and different then what I’ve already done. Perhaps it’s a good opportunity to visit another great city. Ugh decisions.
Thanks for the thought.