Train reservations and weather

[Anniesantiago]

Is it possible for us to make train reservations from Santiago to Irun for August, in case we decide to walk this route instead of the VDLP?

Is the weather hot or foggy or mixed in August on this northern route?

Thanks!

 

[sillydoll]

I'm sure Ivar can help you with the train reservations.
Read Annette's diary of her walk on the Norte in August.

http://raunsbjerg.dk


Edit: I've just tried the link and it doesn't work.

Here is Annette's diary in word format.

 

[mdefrayne]

Hi Silvia,

Who is Ivar? My wife and I were thinking about taking the train back to Madrid after the pilgrimage.

Gracias,
Mark

 

[ivar]

Hi Silvia,

Who is Ivar? My wife and I were thinking about taking the train back to Madrid after the pilgrimage.

Gracias,
Mark

Hi Mark,

I am Ivar (I run this forum) and i also run the Camino Travel Center in Santiago de Compostela. I am working on getting set up with RENFE to book train tickets, but as of today I can not. I would have a look over at their website:
http://www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html
This said, I can book bus tickets in Spain.

Greetings from Santiago,
Ivar

 

[Canuck]

the train back to Madrid after the pilgrimage

Mark,

Santiago to Madrid is a real treat on the night train hotel. Leaves around 23h00 and gets in Madrid Chamartin around 08h00. The total package includes a sumptuous dinner(champagne to start), beautiful breakfast the next morning and a quiet berth with shower for two persons.
You will enjoy and remember. Go ahead and treat yourself after the walk. You deserve it.

I have done it many times alone and with friends. Always a success!

Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[mdefrayne]

Hi Ivar,

I apologize for not recognizing the founder of this wonderful board. This is a really great site, very well organized and probably the most informational site on the Internet. Thank you very much for all your effort.

Most Sincerely,
Mark

 

[mdefrayne]

Hi Jean-Marc,

I looked at the Renfe TrenHotel, very nice. The Cama Gran Classe would certainly be a wonderful end to the journey. I'm going to hold back a bit on making reservation in hopes the exchange rate may move more in my favor. The last month has been brutal on the US Dollar.

Are reservation required a long time in advance?

Thanks a lot,
Mark

 

[Canuck]

Rate of exchange brutal on the US Dollar.

Are reservation required a long time in advance?

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the club on the brutality of the the exchange rate. The C$ is not doing very well either. I just finished doing my reservations for the VDLP at the end of August and I am not looking forward to see how this will all translate in C$ on my credit card account.

Reservations on the Trenhotel to Madrid can be done two or three days ahead of time. At least, that's what I've done in the past without any difficulties, except once when I couldn't get a private room and had to settle for a ''dormitory style'' berth.

Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[Anniesantiago]

Sooo.. what are we talking about in Euros?
I can't seem to get a price when I check.

 

[mdefrayne]

Hi Annie,

As of the moment, it is approximately $1.40 per Euro. So, for my wife and I to take the Renfe TrenHotel from Santiago to Madrid, Cama Gran Classe, as Jean-Marc mentioned, it would be 260 Euros. That would work out to $364.00 in US, kind of scary. I would be thrilled if the US Dollar made it back to $1.25/Euro.

Suerte,
Mark