joecollins
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2024
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Advice above is good - note that train bookings in Spain are virtually never available more than 12 weeks in advance; often less.
If you’re planning to overnight at Orrison after St Jean; that’s now bookable online (and not through the power of prayer, as previously) and I’d do so as soon as your required date is made available.
Otherwise, you’ve plenty of time - the ‘tight spots’ in April are up to (but not including) Pamplona.
It phone them. The staff that answer the phone speak English. In past years I've emailed for a pilgrim room, but this year my email was unanswered for several days, so I called and was able to reserve a pilgrim room for the following week.I recommend booking a room in St. Martin Pinario. They have single rooms and pilgrim rooms, but you need to write to them to request a pilgrim room
I booked a couple nights in an Air B&B in SJPdP to shake of the jet lag.I’m mainly concerned with the booking windows for the trains, planes and accommodations in SJPDP.
Thanks for the insight folks!
Hello,What are your recommended time frames for advanced booking and the travels that bracket the walk?
My plan as of now is:
Going -
1. Fly from JFK (NYC) to Paris
2. Possibly overnight in Paris depending upon flight and train schedules
3. Train from Montparrse to SJPDP
4. 2 nights in SJPDP to shake off all jet lag
Returning -
1. Train to Madrid
2. At least 3 nights in Madrid (possibly 4)
3. Fly back home to JFK
So what is a good time frame to book the trains and SJPDP accommodation ahead of time?
Oh and I am planning for next April.
Thanks a bunch!
I don't think that's true of Beilari - I've met people who stayed there two nights. I believe that you do have to vacate the premises during the day though.that said Beilari (as many others) are 1-night only
On some many things, @trecile , you know better than me - so I will take your word for itI don't think that's true of Beilari - I've met people who stayed there two nights. I believe that you do have to vacate the premises during the day though.
When we stayed there in Sep 2022, we booked for two days. But on the morning of the second day, we were waken up by what Fleur told us night before as angels. We had a few minutes to prepare and leave the premises and to come back when they open for the day. So, yes, you can stay for two days (probably more) but you have to go somewhere while they get the place ready for the next day.I don't think that's true of Beilari - I've met people who stayed there two nights. I believe that you do have to vacate the premises during the day though.
Planes: typically 11 or 12 months depending on the airline. Some airlines release schedules to their frequent flyers a month or so earlier.I’m mainly concerned with the booking windows for the trains, planes and accommodations in SJPDP.
Thanks for the insight folks!
Thanks Doug!Planes: typically 11 or 12 months depending on the airline. Some airlines release schedules to their frequent flyers a month or so earlier.
Trains: It varies in my experience. Two to six months. Try the SNCF website. Note that local services often cannot be booked for both train and bus, only the longer distance services. For planning, I assume that the services will continue in much the same pattern for weekdays and weekends, but then check once the time gets closer.
Accommodation: varies - it seems to depend on what the owners are prepared to schedule. Typically my wife and I have seen 12 months, but that isn't always so.
I flew into Paris and then caught a flight to Biarritz. There I stayed at a hotel like a 5 minute walk away. The next morning I took a train to SJPdP. That train was about 2kms from my hotel, but I did take a taxi to the station (being how early in the am and whatnot), but would be walkable distance tooWhat are your recommended time frames for advanced booking and the travels that bracket the walk?
My plan as of now is:
Going -
1. Fly from JFK (NYC) to Paris
2. Possibly overnight in Paris depending upon flight and train schedules
3. Train from Montparrse to SJPDP
4. 2 nights in SJPDP to shake off all jet lag
Returning -
1. Train to Madrid
2. At least 3 nights in Madrid (possibly 4)
3. Fly back home to JFK
So what is a good time frame to book the trains and SJPDP accommodation ahead of time?
Oh and I am planning for next April.
Thanks a bunch!
How far in advance did you book your flight and train?I flew into Paris and then caught a flight to Biarritz. There I stayed at a hotel like a 5 minute walk away. The next morning I took a train to SJPdP. That train was about 2kms from my hotel, but I did take a taxi (being how early in the am and whatnot), but would be walkable distance too
There is no right or wrong time to book a flight no matter what you here. Very generally the earlier you book and the more restrictive your terms and conditions the cheaper it is. Flights increase in price more than they decrease but prices do go down as well as up - for example if a fight is selling less seats at a given point in time than expected, or a route is included in a sale. Often the best way to go is book after searching prices and book when you see a price that 'feels right'.How far in advance did you book your flight and train?
It looks like JFK - CDG - Biarritz may be the most economical way to go. Thanks for the advice!I flew into Paris and then caught a flight to Biarritz. There I stayed at a hotel like a 5 minute walk away. The next morning I took a train to SJPdP. That train was about 2kms from my hotel, but I did take a taxi (being how early in the am and whatnot), but would be walkable distance too
As you are planning to fly home from Madrid look at multi-city aka open jaw tickets. I have found that they cost about the same as round trip tickets, and much less than two one way tickets from North America.It looks like JFK - CDG - Biarritz may be the most economical way to go. Thanks for the advice!
Each to their own - I always book through booking.com as I find the app to be excellent and very clear as I change bookings alot too so I have full transparency on rates/cancellations fees, etc. Suppliers choose to use booking.com as part of their distribution strategy. I can't say I have noticed any difference in customer service levels irrespective of the booking channel I have used.I agree with using Booking.com to research places, but then emailing or calling the accommodation directly. This gives you a relationship directly with the owner from the start which is lovely for when you finally arrive. Many places where I have done this greet me with a warmth that I don't notice when I arrive at a place that I just went through the big booking agency. This applies to ALL my travels, not just the Caminos.
If you enjoy the planning stage, (and I must say that I adore that stage and spend many enjoyable hours pouring over booking sites, expanding maps to see if there is a little gem that isn't being obvious), then book as soon as you can. You will soon find out when the train, flights, and accommodations open their books. I was able to book some train travel several months ahead but other trips only a few weeks in advance! For some places to stay, they opened their books on 1st January, others could be booked 9 months ahead.
Enjoy the planning stage if you are a planner and dreamer like me. Buen Camino
I booked everything only like 2 weeks before. It was in 2020 so my March trip was postponed from C19. So when there was a lull in late summer I went. (Flew from canada)How far in advance did you book your flight and train?
Flights are a different matter, but I have booked bus and train tickets from Santiago as late as the night before travel. I did delay that, despite my wife's prompting to do it earlier, and paid a premium over the price I might have paid if I had booked even a day earlier, and still got a seat at the very back of the bus for my troubles!How far in advance did you book your flight and train?
Always a gamble. Travelling from the UK I usually book my outward flight to Spain as far ahead as possible but leave booking my homeward flight until a couple of days from Santiago. So long as I avoid the peak holiday seasons I can usually find a cheap fare back to the UK. That probably doesn't work so well when your flight is thousands of miles rather than hundreds.There is a balance between booking well in advance when there are still cheaper fare structures available, and hoping for an airline to have offer discounts when ticket sales are not meeting their expectations.
Yes, Europe to UK is a very easy matter with thousands of options including train or driving all the way if you can't get flights. Much harder if you have to fly to Australia or USA/Canada.Always a gamble. Travelling from the UK I usually book my outward flight to Spain as far ahead as possible but leave booking my homeward flight until a couple of days from Santiago. So long as I avoid the peak holiday seasons I can usually find a cheap fare back to the UK. That probably doesn't work so well when your flight is thousands of miles rather than hundreds.
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