Sarria

[JoHill]

I’m on my walk and started May 8, I’m in Burgos now. If my 15 year old granddaughter wanted to join me from the USA and walk from Sarria (or any where on Camino Frances) what would be a good flight over and what would be the best way to retrieve her from an airport. I would have to leave my walk and get her. Bad idea this late in the game?

 

[C clearly]

Is she an experienced traveler, able to navigate connecting flights and immigration on her own? If so, she could fly to Santiago (via connections somewhere in Europe) and you would meet her there. But make sure the journey is booked all on one ticket so it is guaranteed by one airline, in case of missed flights. Or, she could fly from the US to Madrid and you would go there.

The last-minute airfare for this trip would be high - it might almost be the cost of another trip. It would basically involve abandoning your own plans, which I'm sure you would happily do if it were either necessary or truly beneficial for your granddaughter. However, it might turn out to be hectic and not fully satisfactory. I don't know you, your granddaughter or any of the personal dynamics that are involved.

I understand your enthusiasm, but it might make more sense to plan another dedicated trip in a few months, if you can make time for another 2 week trip. That way you would get two caminos for you, and a trip planned just right for her.

Just my immediate thoughts.

 

[Juspassinthru]

Agree with C clearly on travel experience, with that caveat, there are flights into León from MAD as well.

 

[MickMac]

Agree with C clearly on travel experience, with that caveat, there are flights into León from MAD as well.

What a great experience for both of you my grandaughter has promised me she will go with me sometime she is 3 so may have to wait abit.
CARPE DIEM

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I’m on my walk and started May 8, I’m in Burgos now. If my 15 year old granddaughter wanted to join me from the USA and walk from Sarria (or any where on Camino Frances) what would be a good flight over and what would be the best way to retrieve her from an airport. I would have to leave my walk and get her. Bad idea this late in the game?

Hi, JoHill. . .

To get started, a site like Rome2Rio can be helpful in looking at the various options for getting from where your granddaughter lives to where you need to meet her. From there you can schedule the trip based on the best prices for your needs.

 

[JoHill]

Is she an experienced traveler, able to navigate connecting flights and immigration on her own? If so, she could fly to Santiago (via connections somewhere in Europe) and you would meet her there. But make sure the journey is booked all on one ticket so it is guaranteed by one airline, in case of missed flights. Or, she could fly from the US to Madrid and you would go there.

The last-minute airfare for this trip would be high - it might almost be the cost of another trip. It would basically involve abandoning your own plans, which I'm sure you would happily do if it were either necessary or truly beneficial for your granddaughter. However, it might turn out to be hectic and not fully satisfactory. I don't know you, your granddaughter or any of the personal dynamics that are involved.

I understand your enthusiasm, but it might make more sense to plan another dedicated trip in a few months, if you can make time for another 2 week trip. That way you would get two caminos for you, and a trip planned just right for her.

Just my immediate thoughts.

 

[JoHill]

Thank you Marylynn. Lots to think about.

 

[JoHill]

Hi, JoHill. . .

To get started, a site like Rome2Rio can be helpful in looking at the various options for getting from where your granddaughter lives to where you need to meet her. From there you can schedule the trip based on the best prices for your needs.

 

[JoHill]

Davebugg - you’re always in my corner and I thank you.

 

[Felipe]

Uh....I suppose that you have already considered the legal issues of a minor travelling alone. A parental permit will be required, obviously -one acceptable in Spain, I would ask the nearer Spanish consulate.
Some airlines have restrictions for these cases, too; ask before buying the ticket. On the other side, some of them offer a companion service (optional for teens).
Remember that most probably hotels will not accept unaccompanied minors, so for practical effects, you will need to pick her up at the airport.
Very sorry if I am saying something too obvious, but just in case...

 

[paddington]

If you have time, you could take the train from sarria to Madrid, meet your granddaughter at the Madrid airport and then the two of you could catch the train back to sarria and continue your Camino. Perhaps spend an extra night in Madrid or sarria to allow your granddaughter to recover from jet lag. Direct flight from US city to madrid would of course be best . You would have to check with the airline, you would probably have to pay the unaccompanied minor fee and the parents would have to do the paperwork to allow you to pick up your granddaughter at the Madrid airport. When my husband or I travelled internationally with our then minor daughter without both of us being on the trip the traveling parent always carried a notarized letter (signed by the parent not on the trip) authorizing the one parent to travel with the child without the other parent. There are sample letters on the internet. We also carried a letter allowing the one parent to approve any medical treatment (again notarized and signed by the parent not on the trip).
Sounds like overkill but I was asked for the letter at immigration once and I was glad I had it .
It has been a while since we did this so you should google to see if there are any restrictions / recommendations for the situation.
As a side note, my daughter is now 19 and she and I are hiking a portion of the Camino together later this month . Buen Camino

 

[GingerHaddad]

If s

I’m on my walk and started May 8, I’m in Burgos now. If my 15 year old granddaughter wanted to join me from the USA and walk from Sarria (or any where on Camino Frances) what would be a good flight over and what would be the best way to retrieve her from an airport. I would have to leave my walk and get her. Bad idea this late in the game?

If she feels comfortable it’s easy to fly into Madrid (need to get there by about 1030am), ride 3 trains stops to Chamartin Station, train leaves for Sarria (full of pilgrims who will watch over her) around 1pm, gets to Sarria about 7pm. Train is a Renfe train, costs about 60 euro. If she stops at Renfe office in airport near train platform and shows her ticket, she gets a free ticket to Chamartin Station.