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Some last minute questions from a first time peregrina

deebubbster

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September(2017)
Will be starting on the CF in about 10 days and have a few questions to run by all of you experienced walkers. I am staying in Barcelona for a few days before starting and am planning to travel from there to Roncesvalles on Saturday 9/9 to start walking. Have been looking online and not sure about the best thing to do about transportation. Seems like I can get a train from Barcelona Sants station to Pamplona and then a bus to Roncesvalles but wondering if I need to buy train/bus tickets in advance or just show up at the station. Also, is Renfe the best/only train to take to Pamplona? I also came across something called ACPRail. Is this a different company than Renfe? There is a bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles that leaves at 4 pm on Saturdays run by Monbus that seems to take an hour so I assume I should make a reservation at the albergue in Roncesvalles for that night as I will be getting in after 5 pm on a Saturday. Hoping I can get a pilgrim passport that evening or early the next day (a Sunday) before starting out. Any information/advice on the above that people can offer gratefully accepted.
 
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ACPRail is a ticket agency and not a train company. They simply resell tickets for RENFE trains so they are not an alternative route.

Most longer-distance trains in Spain are reserved-seat only. They sometimes fill up well in advance and so booking in advance is advisable. It is also often considerably cheaper as large discounts are often given on advance bookings.

There should be no problem in getting a credencial on arrival at Roncesvalles. It is the preferred starting point for many Spanish pilgrims.
 
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I've never tried it, but somebody here recently recommended the Spanish car share website blablacar, which sounds fun and probably much less expensive than renfe. There seem to be at least a couple of cars a day going from Barcelona to Pamplona wanting passengers, so that might be an alternative, and you can chose a female driver etc.

https://www.blablacar.es/coche-comp..._date&order=asc&radius=36.277&limit=10&page=5
 
Definitely take the train (much less stressful than driving). Renfe operates very nice trains with comfortable seats. I believe that the train is one of the high speed trains that goes much faster than driving. I echo the statement that the bus and train stations are far apart. Taxis aren't that expensive. I walk the route in August/September a few years ago and the weather should be quite nice. What surprised me, actually, was how cold the mornings were in September.
 
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Another option is fly to Bilbao from Barcelona. Vueling have a very good prices to Barcelona-Bilbao. Then a bus to Pamplona cost about 14€ more. You can save time on it and its not so hard to spend so much time on a train...
www.vueling.com
 
My husband and I fly into Barcelona on September 4, take the train to Pamplona on the 8th (we bought our tickets on line for the 12:15 train) head to Roncesvalles on the 9th and start walking on the 10th. Hoping we meet you! Burn Camino!!!
 
EXPRESS BOURRICOT - Transport
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
PanamaFrancis said:
My husband and I fly into Barcelona on September 4, take the train to Pamplona on the 8th (we bought our tickets on line for the 12:15 train) head to Roncesvalles on the 9th and start walking on the 10th. Hoping we meet you! Burn Camino!!!
Click to expand...
Meant Buen Camino
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
PanamaFrancis said:
My husband and I fly into Barcelona on September 4, take the train to Pamplona on the 8th (we bought our tickets on line for the 12:15 train) head to Roncesvalles on the 9th and start walking on the 10th. Hoping we meet you! Burn Camino!!!
Click to expand...

Yes that would be great. Wanted to make reservation at Albergue Roncesvalles for the 9th since the bus gets in so late in the day (5pm) but their website would not take my credit card even though the Renfe site did for train ticket. So now thinking that I may start in Pamplona on the 10th. You'll probably catch up to me if I do, as I am planning on being slow. Will be looking for you along the way.
 
Buen Camino and safe travels! Right now we're sitting in the Airport in Panama (where we live) scheduled to fly out in 2 hours. I am sooooooooo excited!!!
 
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