Getting to SJPDP

[falconbrother]

I was looking at Alsa bus tickets to get from Pamplona to SJPDP. We plan to take 1 carry on bag to send from SJPDP to Ivar. The bus ticket mentions size restrictions for an extra bag, etc.. What are my options to get to SJPDP? Taxi? Car rental? Bus? Train??

The extra bag size mentioned sounds like it must meet the carry on size limit, 60x40x40cm.

 

[J Willhaus]

I have not seen them measure bags on the bus (or train). They just go under the bus. They dont give you a baggage claim ticket, you just put it under the bus yourself and get it out when you arrive. Do you have time to send from Madrid or Pamplona or have it picked up at your hotel DHL for delivery to @ivar? It is one less thing to keep track of.

 

[ELHS220]

The only thing I remember is the driver would only let you take a small bag, like a day pack, INTO the bus. Larger items had to go into the hold, which is HUGE. You will definitely NOT have anything refused transport.

 

[joramos]

Food for thought, depending on your luggage's weight/bulk, and your accommodation's location in SJPdP, the bus from Pamplona stops about 4-6 blocks away from the citadel. Last year I had a hell time dragging my luggage from the bus stop to my accommodation near the Pilgrims Office at the Rue de Citadelle. If I knew beforehand, I would have taken a taxi which takes you much closer.

 

[jungleboy]

I was looking at Alsa bus tickets to get from Pamplona to SJPDP. We plan to take 1 carry on bag to send from SJPDP to Ivar.

Can you not send the bag from Pamplona?

 

[falconbrother]

Can you not send the bag from Pamplona?

I thought about that but, the reason we’re taking the carry on bag is to give us flexibility in the start and at the end. Walking poles and a Swiss Army knife with corkscrew will be in the check bag. Along with a clean change of clothes for when we get to Santiago. Seems best to bring it to SJPDP and ship to Ivar from there.

 

[trecile]

We plan to take 1 carry on bag to send from SJPDP to Ivar

Ivar's service is great, and I have used it, but it's best when you are mailing from within Spain. In SJPdP I recommend using the service of Express Bourricot. They make it super easy, and there's no worries about cross border mail service.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT - Express Bourricot

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[joramos]

Ivar's service is great, and I have used it, but it's best when you are mailing from within Spain. In SJPdP I recommend using the service of Express Bourricot. They make it super easy, and there's no worries about cross border mail service.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT - Express Bourricot

www.expressbourricot.com

My kids and I used Express Bourricot from SJPdP to SDC between end of Sep to middle of Nov 2022, and worked great and no additional fee for all that number of days. The Express Bourricot office in SJPdP is right next door to the Pilgrims Office. The only thing was, when we got our luggage back, my son's raggedy old leather shoes were moldy / musty. Otherwise, all worked well. So, maybe put something inside your luggage to prevent similar from happening. Ultreia.

 

[jungleboy]

I thought about that but, the reason we’re taking the carry on bag is to give us flexibility in the start and at the end. Walking poles and a Swiss Army knife with corkscrew will be in the check bag. Along with a clean change of clothes for when we get to Santiago. Seems best to bring it to SJPDP and ship to Ivar from there.

If those are the only reasons to bring the bag in the first place, my first suggestion would be to forget about the bag altogether, as it seems like it might not be worth the hassle. Buy a knife and poles in Pamplona/SJPDP and don’t worry about fresh clothes for Santiago — most pilgrims won’t have them.

Or if you really want to bring the bag and assuming you have time in Pamplona, I still don’t see why that’s not the better choice. Switch the knife and poles to your backpack once you pick up the checked bag, and then send the clothes ahead. As mentioned above, it’s easier to do this from Spain than France.