SeattleWoman
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Planning to walk the Camino in June 2018
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I plan to walk the CF starting in late May 2018. I’ll be flying from Seattle. Any advice on the best way to arrive at the starting point of the CF?
Thanks!
A lot of people travelling from the US and Canada seem to make their travel unnecessarily complicated by flying to Madrid and then travelling overland to St Jean Pied de Port - not the most straightforward of journeys. A practical alternative to consider might be to fly from the US to either London or Dublin, then a direct flight to Biarritz which is usually quite cheap and arrives only a short distance from SJPDP by bus and train. If you are sure of your travel dates it might make financial sense to book a return flight between the US and Dublin/London, a single flight to Biarritz, and a single flight from Santiago, A Coruna or Vigo to either Dublin/London to catch your flight home.
Just out of curiosity I just searched on Kayak.co.uk for flights from Seattle to London in May next year. At the moment Icelandair are offering return fares via Reykjavik from a little under $500. Sounds like a real bargain!Very Cool. Thank you! I’ll be flying from Seattle.
3rd best option is to go via London to BIQ
I plan to walk the CF starting in late May 2018. I’ll be flying from Seattle. Any advice on the best way to arrive at the starting point of the CF?
Thanks!
A lot of people travelling from the US and Canada seem to make their travel unnecessarily complicated by flying to Madrid and then travelling overland to St Jean Pied de Port - not the most straightforward of journeys. A practical alternative to consider might be to fly from the US to either London or Dublin, then a direct flight to Biarritz which is usually quite cheap and arrives only a short distance from SJPDP by bus and train. If you are sure of your travel dates it might make financial sense to book a return flight between the US and Dublin/London, a single flight to Biarritz, and a single flight from Santiago, A Coruna or Vigo to either Dublin/London to catch your flight home.
I flew into Paris and took an Air France direct to Biarritz, about 45 minute flight, perfect!
I plan to walk the CF starting in late May 2018. I’ll be flying from Seattle. Any advice on the best way to arrive at the starting point of the CF?
Thanks!
The only major issue is spending the extra day in Pamplona to catch the morning bus to SJPP.
You will have to disembark and switch trains at some time. That becomes an issue because that requires you to remain awake and vigilant for your stop. That's the equivalent of tourist water-boarding. Again, if you board a direct train from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne, you can set the alarm on your phone and grab several hours of sleep knowing that you do not have to worry about switching trains...
But be forewarned, once you've been awake for 32 hours, and are in desperate need of sleep, saving $200 on a cheaper airfare no longer seems like a brilliant idea.
We're flying Lufthansa: US to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Pamplona, taxi to SJPP. Returning directly from Santiago to USA via Frankfurt.
As previously pointed out, the easiest way to get to St. Jean from North America depends on where you are starting. I have flown from Boston MA to Pamplona and caught the bus to St. Jean from the bus station in Pamplona, and that is a lot simpler than the many transfers and changes people are describing. My ticket from Boston to Pamplona did not cost much more, actually probably the same or less, than the other options of catching a bus or train from Madrid and less stressful on the jet-lagged traveler. I don't understand why people think they can't fly to Pamplona.I plan to walk the CF starting in late May 2018. I’ll be flying from Seattle. Any advice on the best way to arrive at the starting point of the CF?
Thanks!
You are most likely correct, but I'd wager a bet to think over 80% of first time pilgrims asume the "start" is SJPdP.Well, all answers are pointing to fly from somewhere to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, but the OP was asking "to the start of the CF".
This is officially in Roncesvalles
Buen Camino, Jacques-D.
Hi Seattle woman. I live in Puyallup--very close and have walked the Camino 5 times. I fly from Seattle to Madrid. I buy train tickets online and catch the train to Pamplona. I stay a night or two to get over jet lag and then take the bus to St. Jean. I buy the tickets online but you can also buy them the same day. You will not be alone because I see many other pilgrims on the train. Because I live so close let me know if you need anything else. I tried flying to London and then France twice and found it not as easy or straight forward. Also I am Sharon Easygoing's wife. You will love walking the CaminoI plan to walk the CF starting in late May 2018. I’ll be flying from Seattle. Any advice on the best way to arrive at the starting point of the CF?
Thanks!
Well, all answers are pointing to fly from somewhere to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, but the OP was asking "to the start of the CF".
This is officially in Roncesvalles
I really wished your observations were true for me, but a one way ticket getting me to Pamplona from Chicago was almost as much as some of the round trip fares to Madrid and still had a layover. I just looked again and find the same issue. I always fly back to Madrid from Santiago on Ryan Air, which is very reasonable....Maybe you can be my travel agent the next time I plan to go!As previously pointed out, the easiest way to get to St. Jean from North America depends on where you are starting. I have flown from Boston MA to Pamplona and caught the bus to St. Jean from the bus station in Pamplona, and that is a lot simpler than the many transfers and changes people are describing. My ticket from Boston to Pamplona did not cost much more, actually probably the same or less, than the other options of catching a bus or train from Madrid and less stressful on the jet-lagged traveler. I don't understand why people think they can't fly to Pamplona.
...At the moment Icelandair are offering return fares via Reykjavik from a little under $500..
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