Traveling from U.S.. Where do I start?

[sstabley]

Hey everyone,
I'm looking to book a ticket to France to go on El Camino in late May but honestly, I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions on the best/cheapest way to get to St. Jean Pied duPort? I've seen a few suggestions on other threads but I'm not sure that they're coming by way of New York. (Does that even make a difference?)

Is there a recommended airport that I should try to get to?

Thanks!

Sstabley

[geraldkelly]

You could fly into Paris and get a train from there via Bayonne.

For your return flight you could try to book a flight out of Madrid, it's much easier to get to from Santiago than Paris.

[Andya]

Night train from Paris to Bayonne and then the charming little train from Bayonne to SJPDP worked well for me. You could begin walking as soon as you arrive but SJPDP is worth a day before you set out

[HuskyNerd]

From the U.S. it's much easier to get back from Santiago than it is to get to St Jean Pied de Port. As Ger points out, a Madrid connection is quite simple from Santiago. Given that fact, a round trip airfare through Madrid is usually least expensive. With some planning, access to SJPP from Madrid is not too bad. You can take the train from Madrid to Pamplona and then catch a van (contact Express Bouricot) from Pamplona over the mountains to SJPP.

Sometimes direct connections through Paris are quite cheap. If you choose that option you can fairly easily get to SJPP (as mentioned above) by rail via Bayonne or by plane via Biarritz and then a transfer to Bayonne for the SJPP train. To get back to Paris, though, requires a flight from Santiago through Madrid or Barcelona, etc., which starts to eat away at the cost savings of a Paris ticket.

[Roe]

I'm doing El Comino beginning in mid-May; I'm flying from JFK to Madrid to Pamplona; then taking a train to Roncevilles, taxi to SJPdP. Hope to see you on the trail!

[HuskyNerd]

I'm doing El Comino beginning in mid-May; I'm flying from JFK to Madrid to Pamplona; then taking a train to Roncevilles, taxi to SJPdP. Hope to see you on the trail!

Unless they've built new tracks in the last few months there's no train to Roncesvalles.

[Roe]

Ahh!!!! You're right; taking a bus from Pamplona to Roncevailles! Thanks for yanking my chain!!

[grayland]

Ahh!!!! You're right; taking a bus from Pamplona to Roncevailles! Thanks for yanking my chain!!

: ) Sandy is our official chain yanker....and he sometimes even gives good advice....

[Precious1]

"...a round trip airfare through Madrid is usually least expensive. With some planning, access to SJPP from Madrid is not too bad. You can take the train from Madrid to Pamplona and then catch a van (contact Express Bouricot) from Pamplona over the mountains to SJPP.

Sometimes direct connections through Paris are quite cheap. If you choose that option you can fairly easily get to SJPP (as mentioned above) by rail via Bayonne or by plane via Biarritz and then a transfer to Bayonne for the SJPP train. To get back to Paris, though, requires a flight from Santiago through Madrid or Barcelona, etc., which starts to eat away at the cost savings of a Paris ticket."



This is very helpful. Thanks Sandy.

[Roe]

I'm going to SJPDP in mid-May; flying out of JFK to Madrid to Pamplona; coming back from Santiago back to Madrid back to JFK. We looked at all the options; this was the easiest way to get there in the least amount of time.