Canada - St. Jean

[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.

Any info is most appreciated!!

Thanks!

Misty

[Tami]

Hi Misty,

I plan on flying from Toronto to Dublin on US Airways and then down to Biarritz on Ryan Air. On returning, I will fly from Santiago to Madrid and then on to Dublin on Ryan Air for my return trip home.

This seemed to be the easiest. I priced flying out of Buffalo as well, but it was more expensive.

Tami

[MDerepentigny]

Hi Tami,

When are you going to be going on your Camino? is this your first trip?

If you don't mind my asking... with the route that you are going to be taking how much did the air fare end up costing?

[Roseallee]

Hi Tami & Misty,
I am flying from Vancouver to Dublin with Globespan in Sept. It was really quite cheap when I booked 6 weeks ago. Including taxes and fees, it was less than $400 one way. It worked out much the same each way for a return flight (which I did not want). I booked through flightnetwork but I am sure it could be done directly with the airline. The departure and arrival times are congenial as well, which is not always the case with charters. You might want to have a look at them for Toronto departures?
I will go on to Spain from Dublin with Ryanair. Roseallee

[Tami]

Good Morning,

Thank you, Roseallee for mentioning Flyglobespan. I agree that you can get very reasonable flights through this airline. Misty, they fly out of Hamilton airport, which would have been sweet for me; however, their service ends at the end of September and I plan on leaving for the Camino on October 8/09. Here is the link for your reference. I would recommend flying out of Hamilton if you ever have the opportunity. It is a small and hassle free airport. flyglobespan.ca | Cheap Flights from Canada to the UK and Ireland

My route from Toronto to Dublin via Philadelphia was just over $800. CAD

Yes, this is my first Camino. If anyone has any tips or advice for me given my October to mid-November timeframe, I would appreciate it. I know the hostel, L'Espirit du Chemin, in SJPP closes the end of September. I was hoping to stay there, but I will have to find something else.

Thank you,

Tami

[MDerepentigny]

I love this Forum! Everybody is so helpful!

Wow I can fly out of Hamilton! thats fantastic! I live 20minutes from there so that is much easier, i just assumed with it being such a small airport that there wouldn't be any chance in flying out from there... i will definately look into that and will definately look into the airlines that you've all suggested, I really appreciate all your help.

Good luck to you both on your travels, they will come up quick! When you get back be sure to drop me a note about how it went and some of your points of interest.

[lechat]

I'm flying from Montreal to Pau (France, 120km from St Jean Pied de Port) with Air France. And then Lisboa to Montreal. Both transit in CDG, Paris. 950$ CAD. Will sleep my first night in Pau then head to SJPDP very early the next morning and start the camino.

[BenedettoCAN]

My plan is to go in March, April, or May 2010. I'll leave Montreal and go to Paris and visit some friends for a few days. Take the TVG to Bordeaux and spend 2 days there, and then leave for Bayonne and SJPDP, sleep over night and then start the camino. I hope by that time the jetlag will have subsided.

[el nadador del sol]

Hi
I am starting the camino in June. I did it in 06 the same time of year as well.
I am flying from Boston Logan to Paris. I am arriving early enough in the morning so I am thinking that I might be able to jump a morning train to Bordeaux or Bayonne and from there to St. Jean. I was thinking of flying into Madrid this time, but the route was cheapest to/from Paris.
Also, I am not sure of your age, but check out regional passes for trains! I did this in 06 and will do so again this summer. You can get a France/Spain (or simply Spain) pass for a few hundred $ and travel for 4-5 days in a 2 month period! For me, as in 06, to get back to France I will need to take a 12 hour train ride from Santiago to Biarritz... plus another to Paris; according to SNCF.FR (France, national train) this would be well over 200$!
What I found in 06 is how travel slows down the moment you start walking! One day of crazy air travel + a day of jumping trains all seems to melt away when you set out from St. Jean or whatever your departure point may be! This, in my opinion, is the beauty of the Camino... it takes us to a simpler time and, before we know it, we are simply moving one leg then the other.

[Covey]

Not sure if we are talking about the same Globespan, but the UK version went bankrupt just before Christmas!

[ainsley b]

Hi
I am traveling from Edmonton to Paris on United and then catching the TGV from Paris to St Jean Pied de Port. I am flying at the end of March my flight cost around $850.
Cost are going to be higher in the summer because that is tourist season in Europe (tourist season starts at in the first few weeks of April). If you are flying in the summer you may be able to catch an Air transat flight to either London or Paris at a reasonable price. Air transat only flies to europe from Canada during certain times of the year. Air Canada just announced a seat sale so if you are looking for flights those might be a couple ways to get a reasonable price. I found my ticket on the Travel cuts website.
On another travel shopping topic please look into travel insurance.
Hope this helps.