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Thanks for the suggestion. Is there bus service between Leon and Ponferrada? I assume I'll have to take a day getting from Madrid to my start point.My suggestion: Start in Ponferrada and walk to Santiago ;-)
Buen Camino, SY
Is there bus service to Astorga from Leon? I assume there is. . . and rather than filling up this site with questions - I should be looking up the bus schedule. DUH!Astorga!
Is there bus service between Leon and Ponferrada?
Is there bus service to Astorga from Leon?
Yes, there is. And there's also train service.
BTW, there's also bus and train service from Madrid to Ponferrada.
Yes, there is. And there's also train service.
BTW, there's also bus and train service from Madrid to Astorga.
For buses, take a look at the web of Alsa (http://www.alsa.es/en) and for trains at the web of RENFE (http://www.renfe.com)
I know you said you prefer the train, but you might find the bus to be more convenient. You can catch the bus from terminal one at the airport and purchase your ticket there upon arrival ( you can also purchase on line). The bus may be direct or have a simple change at the bus station or an intermediate town. They are very comfortable. The train requires you to travel to the Chamartin train station and doesn't run as often. On my last trip I saved two hours and avoided the cost/hassle of getting to the train station. Just a suggestion...Thanks for the info. I would prefer the train. . . . and I've spent some time perusing train schedules and cannot seem to find train service from Madrid to Ponferrada. Is that because connections need to be made in Leon or some other waypoint? Any ideas about that? Is it necessary for me to book the ticket now or can I just purchase when I get to Madrid? [I'm trying to practice not planning EVERYTHING ahead of time. . . .!]
I really appreciate your time and thoughts -- thanks!
I know you said you prefer the train, but you might find the bus to be more convenient. You can catch the bus from terminal one at the airport and purchase your ticket there upon arrival ( you can also purchase on line). The bus may be direct or have a simple change at the bus station or an intermediate town. They are very comfortable. The train requires you to travel to the Chamartin train station and doesn't run as often. On my last trip I saved two hours and avoided the cost/hassle of getting to the train station. Just a suggestion...
If you have a confirmed flight then go ahead and purchase on line ( just plan time to go through customs). It is easier and less stressful to purchase in advance. I needed to wait to buy mine because I had a transfer in Germany and wasn't sure which terminal I would be arriving in and the bus I wanted to take was close to my arrival time. It all worked out and I had ten minutes to spareThat is outstanding advice. Thank you! Do you think it's important to purchase the bus ticket ahead of time (do buses fill up in early July?). I arrive in Madrid around noon and would like to get to Ponferrada that evening if possible.
I've spent some time perusing train schedules and cannot seem to find train service from Madrid to Ponferrada. Is that because connections need to be made in Leon or some other waypoint?
You can catch the bus from terminal one at the airport
There are some direct trains from Madrid to Ponferrada and schedules are easy to find on the web of RENFE... once they are published. You are traveling on July and that's after the mid-june train change of schedules so you'll probably have to wait till May (maybe even early June) to know the schedule for your July travel date (tip: most likely it'll be the same schedule than any day of this week). Otherwise, it's easy to find it because both Madrid and Ponferrada are on the main list of stations so you just have to select them from the drop down menu on the schedules area of the web of RENFE. To look for schedules for Astorga would be a bit more complicated because Astorga isn't on the main list of stations...
I think it departs from Terminal 4... but, anyway, you could verify the departure terminal of the bus when consulting the schedule on the web of Alsa.
If you are still open to considering accommodation in Ponferrada, I can recommend:my accommodation is booked for the first night
Ditto. That is a nice albergue and possibly the cleanest one I have stayed in on two Camino Frances.Alea is a new albergue (opened 2014) run by two very energetic women, Esperanza and Amelia. it is on the way into town and they do a wonderful paella for their communal dinner. Sorry referring to Ponferrada following Falcon's lead.
No, no, Mark, you said you were buying the next timeDitto. That is a nice albergue and possibly the cleanest one I have stayed in on two Camino Frances.
Also, if Don is there at the same time, he'll spring for a bottle of wine.
That's right, I did. Deal.No, no, Mark, you said you were buying the next time.
ThanksIf you are still open to considering accommodation in Ponferrada, I can recommend:
http://hostalrioselmo.com/tarifas/
It is on the Camino after crossing the river on the departure route (saves twenty minutes the next morning). It is very close to the newer commercial district with lots of bars and restaurants. It is only a bit further from the castle than the major albergue (which I do not recommend). It is a short walk from the bus station; you would pass it walking from the bus station to "downtown" Ponferrada, at least the old downtown.
Buen camino.
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