ttbtinkerbell
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- May-June 2015
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Thanks Bagaracer. The tickets I am buying are the lowest tickets so they actually charge to check a bag. You get only one carryon for free. The charge for the checked bag is $58, and they directly say it will be double at the terminal (you find all this out while going through the purchasing process). I may also fly with Ryanair from London to Biarritz, which I believe would be a $21 fee to check a bag as well. Unfortunately that is getting expensive quick.
Whariwharangi, I have tried to convince myself that I won't need the poles, but I have a bad knee. I am usually fine every day, but if I push myself too hard, I have awful knee pains. I figured the poles will help avoid some knee issues along the way. I keep trying to tell myself that I will be fine without them, but I have a hard time letting them go.
Wayfarer, I am buying all my tickets today and I will be looking for a place to stay in SJPdP. I am definatally going to ask to see if I can get them shipped there.
I appreciate everyone's advice. I probably will try to see if I find a place that will let me ship them there, if not, then maybe leave them behind. I have hiked all over the Southwestern United States this summer with no issues. I didn't really hike much more then 6 miles a day though. But my knees didn't need braces or walking sticks at all. I will try to hike or walk around ten miles a day somewhat regularly to see how I do.
They let us carry on our cardboard box with our poles and knives, as well as our packs. Checked everything coming home, but didn't want to risk it not arriving on our way there.I made a cardboard suitcase and checked my poles (and peanut butter) to Paris while carrying on my pack. When I picked it up I threw away the cardboard. It is not an issue on trains or buses. When I returned home I checked my pack, poles and all.
I have been browsing through many posts on this website, but I don't seem to find anything on the ability of shipping things TO St Jean Pied De Port. I live in America, and I am flying Norwegian Air to Paris. My return flight will be somewhere in Spain (Madrid or Barcelona) depending on price of ticket.
I understand you can check your luggage with your poles and little pocket knife on an airline. As I am not sure of all Trains and airlines I will be taking in Europe, I thought it would be easier to send my poles/knife straight to St Jean Pied De Port. That way I don't have to worry about checking luggage the whole way of the trip.
Please forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question and I am clearly don't "get it". I have looked up how much it costs to send the poles via mail to France, and it is cheaper than checking my luggage on the first flight alone. Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated.
Bring as little as possible! Poles - dont bother. Bring bare necessities and all will fall into place!I have been browsing through many posts on this website, but I don't seem to find anything on the ability of shipping things TO St Jean Pied De Port. I live in America, and I am flying Norwegian Air to Paris. My return flight will be somewhere in Spain (Madrid or Barcelona) depending on price of ticket.
I understand you can check your luggage with your poles and little pocket knife on an airline. As I am not sure of all Trains and airlines I will be taking in Europe, I thought it would be easier to send my poles/knife straight to St Jean Pied De Port. That way I don't have to worry about checking luggage the whole way of the trip.
Please forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question and I am clearly don't "get it". I have looked up how much it costs to send the poles via mail to France, and it is cheaper than checking my luggage on the first flight alone. Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Bagaracer. The tickets I am buying are the lowest tickets so they actually charge to check a bag. You get only one carryon for free. The charge for the checked bag is $58, and they directly say it will be double at the terminal (you find all this out while going through the purchasing process). I may also fly with Ryanair from London to Biarritz, which I believe would be a $21 fee to check a bag as well. Unfortunately that is getting expensive quick.
Whariwharangi, I have tried to convince myself that I won't need the poles, but I have a bad knee. I am usually fine every day, but if I push myself too hard, I have awful knee pains. I figured the poles will help avoid some knee issues along the way. I keep trying to tell myself that I will be fine without them, but I have a hard time letting them go.
Wayfarer, I am buying all my tickets today and I will be looking for a place to stay in SJPdP. I am definatally going to ask to see if I can get them shipped there.
I appreciate everyone's advice. I probably will try to see if I find a place that will let me ship them there, if not, then maybe leave them behind. I have hiked all over the Southwestern United States this summer with no issues. I didn't really hike much more then 6 miles a day though. But my knees didn't need braces or walking sticks at all. I will try to hike or walk around ten miles a day somewhat regularly to see how I do.
I have been browsing through many posts on this website, but I don't seem to find anything on the ability of shipping things TO St Jean Pied De Port. I live in America, and I am flying Norwegian Air to Paris. My return flight will be somewhere in Spain (Madrid or Barcelona) depending on price of ticket.
I understand you can check your luggage with your poles and little pocket knife on an airline. As I am not sure of all Trains and airlines I will be taking in Europe, I thought it would be easier to send my poles/knife straight to St Jean Pied De Port. That way I don't have to worry about checking luggage the whole way of the trip.
Please forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question and I am clearly don't "get it". I have looked up how much it costs to send the poles via mail to France, and it is cheaper than checking my luggage on the first flight alone. Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated.
You may not have time in your travels --but if you google the very large Decathlon sports stores in Paris and Anglet (between Bayonne and Biarritz) you will find various qualities of hiking poles for as little as 10-20 dollars each. (I think I paid less than 30 dollars for my lightweight pair in Decathlon Belfast a few months ago and I'm certainly happy with them.) A pocket knife can be bought there or elsewhere--certainly for less than shipping from the US. (I carry a tiny Swiss army knife/scissors freely on European flights, as its blade is within the rules--but I can't attest for the whims of the TSA). Yet another thought, there is also a Decathlon (I do not have shares in the company, I promise!) within sight of the camino route on the outskirts of Logrono, if you prefer to walk the first week+ without poles, but would like them for further on. My daughter has a damaged knee, and it took a lot of maternal nagging to get her to use one pole on her first short camino portugués--but she managed much better with two poles on her second camino. Shipping may really not be worth the hassle and timing, but you have done a lot of homework and know your own mind best. Buen camino!!
Hi Picatta, I'm doing the CF starting March 19 2017 from SJPP and have just asked the Beilari albergue where I have a reservation if I can ship my poles, just waiting to see their response. You didn't say which albergue you shipped them to . ThanksIn 2012 I shipped my poles and knife directly to my first night's accommodation in St. Jean Pied de Port for some similar reasons. I emailed the private albergue I'd reserved first to check that it would be possible. They asked that I just not send them too early so they didn't have to store them for very long, so I shipped them Priority Mail because the delivery time frame is much more specific than regular international mail. I knew that it might not work and I was prepared to purchase new poles and a knife if they didn't arrive. It was so wonderful to see the cardboard shipping prism I got at the US post office lying on my bed when I got there! It did cost a bit more (I think it was $35) than checking them would have at that time, but I had a tight connection to make in Barcelona (I won't do that again) and thought shipping would make it a little more likely that I'd have my beloved Pacerpoles. I probably spent a few hours on USPS.com trying to figure out how long it would take to arrive, costs, etc. One thing I remember that I can pass along: be sure to write, in the "Detailed Description of Contents" area, "USED walking poles" and "USED knife" (for example) so you don't get charged tax or import fees. Also, I had a heck of a time determining what state or province St. Jean is in. There's a slot on the US postal form for it, but maybe they don't really use them in France? I ended up writing Acquitaine, but I have no idea if that is correct or if my package arrived despite the incorrect address. On the internet, historical provinces seem all mixed up with the current ones. Maybe someone here knows?
Oh, and on the way home from Santiago, I paid $25 to check my backpack and just put the disassembled poles and knife inside.
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