Canada to St.Jean and back again

[MDerepentigny]

Help!!

I have a few questions and hope that somebody can help me out...

First - I am debating on going on the Camino in either May 2010 or June 2010... what is the weather like these months and how crowded is it? should i be concerned about too many travelers...

Second - What is the easiest way for me to get from Toronto, Canada to St. Jean... and further than that... how do i get from Santiago back to Toronto? I am very new to European Travel and figure i will probably get lost or spend a fortune for travel when there is more than likely an easier way...

Any info is most appreciated!!

Thanks!

Misty

[Covey]

2010 is a Holy Year in Spain, and in the past Holy Years, the numbers walking the various Camino's has doubled over the year before. That means that in 2010 they are expecting around 250,000 pilgrims over the course of the year.

A Holy Year is when the Feast of St James on 25th July falls on a Sunday.

This means that there are going to be a lot of pilgrims on the trail, and I suspect that a considerable number of they will be aiming to be in Santiago on 25th July. That means June and July are going to be busy. This might make it more fun in places, but will put a strain on those albergues near Santiago. May would be good!!!

To start the Camino Frances you will probably want to start in St Jean which is actually in France and guards one of the winter passes through the Pyrenees.

The nearest main line railway station to St Jean is Bayonne and the nearest airport is Bairritz from which airport you catch a local bus to Bayonne Station and then a local train to St Jean. Bayonne can be reached by the ultra fast TGV train from Paris.

There are regular daily flights from London Stansted airport and Dublin to Bairritz all year round on Ryanair which is a no frill (probably no seats or loo's either!!) airline. Easyjet fly from London Gatwick to Bairritz from Easter to mid September.

There are internal Air France and regional flights into Bairritz on a daily basis.

Most travelers from N America head to either London or Paris as these are the major hubs where flights are usually cheaper, and then you head down to Bairritz on a feeder flight.

You can also fly into Madrid and catch a coach or train to Pamplona and either start from there, or catch a bus and taxi to St Jean, but that is doing it the hard way!. There are probably fewer cheap flights from Canada to Madrid.

Probably your best bet is Toronto - London - Bairritz and then Santiago - London - Toronto. Ryanair fly daily from Santiago to London and Dublin.

Hope that helps.

[MDerepentigny]

Thank you so very much for your help, it truly is appreciated and will certinately make trying to do this trip a whole lot easier.

Thanks again!

[ken huocj]

fyi i got a good deal from Air France, XDS->YUL->CDG->OLY->LDE and back via MPL->CDG->YUL->XDS
or simply Ottawa Train Station via Montreal to Paris, airport transfer to Lourdes, [ train to SJPP for sept 10th start ] return from Montpleiier to Paris and home.
I have a preference to AirFrance.com or through expedia.ca
Good service and having an open jaw return did not increase the special price (761$) i got for my Sept 7th XDS departure
Buen Camino

[MDerepentigny]

Thank you Ken!

I really do like the open return option, something that i am going to have to consider forsure. Your suggestion is most appreciated!