Travelling from Paris to St. Jean and Santiago back to Paris

[Roxey]

I am just getting ready to make travel reservations for my spring 2016 Camino. Coming from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, I have it all worked until Paris. I really want to make this journey about the Camino, (i.e. not sightseeing), so I want to move from Paris to St. Jean as quickly as possible. Would appreciate suggestions as the best way to go so I can focus my available time on the Way. Also, for return from Santiago to Paris, are there any direct flights to suggest, or do I have to go through Madrid?

 

[Bajaracer]

For your return flight, Madrid back to Canada, round trip ticket to Paris can be cheaper, but once you factor in the logistics of getting from Santiago to Paris, not so much.

 

[AnnieS]

We flew IcelandAir this fall from Edmonton, AB to Paris (Charles de Gaulle airport). From there we flew on EasyJet to Biarritz/Bayonne. We stayed overnight in Bayonne near the train station and caught the train the next morning to St. Jean. On the return we flew from Santiago to Madrid (on RyanAir) then from Madrid back to Paris (EasyJet). You might be able to get a direct flight from Santiago back to Paris on Iberia Airlines.

 

[whariwharangi]

I am just getting ready to make travel reservations for my spring 2016 Camino. Coming from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, I have it all worked until Paris. I really want to make this journey about the Camino, (i.e. not sightseeing), so I want to move from Paris to St. Jean as quickly as possible. Would appreciate suggestions as the best way to go so I can focus my available time on the Way. Also, for return from Santiago to Paris, are there any direct flights to suggest, or do I have to go through Madrid?

Two main options:

1. Fly from Paris (CDG or Orly) to Biarritz (BIQ). Take Chronoplus bus to Gare Bayonne. Take SNCF TER service (train and bus) to SJPdP.

2. Take SNCF train from Paris (TGV train from either CDG 2, Gare Montparnasse or Massy or Intercites train from Gare d'Austerlitz) to Bayonne. Then SNCF TER service to SJPdP.

There are flights from Santiago (SCQ) to Paris, at least in summer. Else take discount airlines via Madrid Barcelona or London.

Paris Airports (CDG and Orly)
http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/

Paris Metro
http://parisbytrain.com/paris-metro/

Paris transit route planner
http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

SNCF Gare CDG terminal 2
http://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frmlw/aeroport-charles-gaulle-2-tgv

SNCF Gare Montparnasse
http://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frpmo/paris-montparnasse

SNCF Gare Massy TGV
http://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frdju/massy-tgv

SNCF Gare d'Austerlitz
http://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frpaz/paris-austerlitz

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/

Biarritz Airport
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Chronoplus
http://www.chronoplus.eu/

SNCF Gare Bayonne
http://www.gares-sncf.com/fr/gare/frxby/bayonne

SNCF TER Aquitaine
http://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine

Santiago Airport
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/es/

 

[VNwalking]

The collection of links above is hard to beat!
From experiential point of view, I flew into Paris and out immediately to Biarritz--with a pick-up at the airport there from Caroline at Express Bourricot.
The only hassle was at Paris because you have to get to another airport entirely after going through passport control and getting your baggage, if any. SO: if you do this, give yourself plenty of time to make the connection. I had about 3 and a half hours, and it was a bit of a nail-biter. I took the Air France bus service from CdG to Orly and it was a piece of cake as far as finding the bus and getting a ticket. There are threads here describing the options.
For the return I went through Madrid because I was with a friend by then--but I'd definitely consider flights from SdC to Paris if I were in your shoes.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Roxey, welcome to the forum,

As you hunt around for the best fares and schedules, an option to always try is the "multi-city" or "open jaw" fare. Check out how much it would cost to fly Canada - Paris and then Santiago-Canada. I think you may be surprised with how little that adds to your fare. I have also found that doing it that way (though I fly to the US) saves me a day in travel time (worth it when I'm rushing home to see family) and all the cost of getting from Santiago to either Paris of Madrid.

 

[Hugh Hertfordshire]

I am just getting ready to make travel reservations for my spring 2016 Camino. Coming from Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, I have it all worked until Paris. I really want to make this journey about the Camino, (i.e. not sightseeing), so I want to move from Paris to St. Jean as quickly as possible. Would appreciate suggestions as the best way to go so I can focus my available time on the Way. Also, for return from Santiago to Paris, are there any direct flights to suggest, or do I have to go through Madrid?

I flew to Biaritaz having booked a taxi on line as the train tracks are all being replaced. By the time is left the arrivals hall there were five in the taxi and it was cheap. We gave the driver a tip and he was happy and so were we

 

[Castilian]

Also, for return from Santiago to Paris, are there any direct flights to suggest

www.vueling.com has non-stop flights from Santiago de Compostela to Paris but not daily.