Routing question for husband’s one week on CF

[Paynefive]

My husband and I will start the CF on Sunday, August 27 in SJPP. I plan to walk to Santiago, but he will need to leave the trail on Saturday morning, Sept 2, to get back to CDG for his flight home on Sunday. My question is for suggestions as to where it would be best for him to leave the trail? I think we could easily make it to Estella in those seven days without overdoing it, but I’m wondering if you guys have any ideas about this? Thanks in advance!

 

[naplesdon]

Estella is a good spot to bail out of the Camino because there is good bus service from there but the bigger question is which airport, bus or train line he needs to go to get back to Paris and what time of day he is departing from CDG. You need to do some serious research about the logistics of this trip. You can start with Rome2Rio and if you cut it up into shorter segments, i.e. Estella to Bilbao or Estella to Biarritz you will discover whether you can do the trip direct from point A to point B or needs places to stay overnight along the way. Good luck with your planning, especially since most reservation applications don't give you options to start making reservations until 30 days prior to the trip.

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi there. I’d look at the bus from Estella to Irun (I’ve taken a direct bus early morning ish some years ago). Irun to Hendaye in France is a quick local train ride ie less than 5 mins.

And then train from Hendaye to Paris or even directly to Paris CDG if he wants to stay near the airport for flight. Trainline shows the options for 2 Sept already available for purchase. They are via Bordeaux so could overnight there if necessary, depending on timing.

 

[Paynefive]

Estella is a good spot to bail out of the Camino because there is good bus service from there but the bigger question is which airport, bus or train line he needs to go to get back to Paris and what time of day he is departing from CDG. You need to do some serious research about the logistics of this trip. You can start with Rome2Rio and if you cut it up into shorter segments, i.e. Estella to Bilbao or Estella to Biarritz you will discover whether you can do the trip direct from point A to point B or needs places to stay overnight along the way. Good luck with your planning, especially since most reservation applications don't give you options to start making reservations until 30 days prior to the trip.

Thank you!! Yes! I was thinking Bilbao or Biarritz and then plane! Knowing Estella is a good option makes the next step easier. Thanks!!

 

[Paynefive]

Hi there. I’d look at the bus from Estella to Irun (I’ve taken a direct bus early morning ish some years ago). Irun to Hendaye in France is a quick local train ride ie less than 5 mins.

And then train from Hendaye to Paris or even directly to Paris CDG if he wants to stay near the airport for flight. Trainline shows the options for 2 Sept already available for purchase. They are via Bordeaux so could overnight there if necessary, depending on timing.

Thank you so much!! Knowing Estella is a good point to leave makes the next steps easier! I will try to book some of this tonight!

 

[David]

Sounds like fun - just remember that the first casualty tends to be the plan ... bus strikes, train strikes, twisted ankles, etc .. who knows, so do leave that buffer gap for him to return. Are you thinking of bus and train to Paris? There are also flights from Biarritz and Bilbao to CDG - and I think from Pamplona as well.

 

[Paynefive]

He departs CDG at 11:20 am on Sunday, September 3. Are y’all thinking he needs more than a day to get to Paris? I was thinking he could go to Biarritz and then fly to Paris.

 

[Former member 104756]

If it were me, for an AM departure, I’d aim to be at Paris CDG (either by air or train) by the Saturday evening and overnight at an airport hotel or in Roissy village - from where there are frequent free shuttle buses to and from the airport . Travelling from Paris centre to airport for a morning international flight can be risky and / or stressful due to possible traffic congestion (affecting bus or taxi) or problems with RER train.

 

[naplesdon]

Totally agree with Pelerina, it can take hours and hours to clear security at CDG and then find the way to your departure gate. Stay near the airport the night before and plan on 3+ hours to get checked into your flight and find your departure gate.

 

[Paynefive]

Hi there. I’d look at the bus from Estella to Irun (I’ve taken a direct bus early morning ish some years ago). Irun to Hendaye in France is a quick local train ride ie less than 5 mins.

And then train from Hendaye to Paris or even directly to Paris CDG if he wants to stay near the airport for flight. Trainline shows the options for 2 Sept already available for purchase. They are via Bordeaux so could overnight there if necessary, depending on timing.

Thank you so much!! Knowing Estella is a good point to leave makes the next steps easier! I will try to book some of this tonight

 

[Paynefive]

Thank you all so much for your help! I’m going to change his return flight to America out of Madrid. It feels like much less could go wrong! He thanks you very much, too!

 

[David Tallan]

Thank you all so much for your help! I’m going to change his return flight to America out of Madrid. It feels like much less could go wrong! He thanks you very much, too!

That sounds like a wise decision. Keeping it all in Spain is bound to be smoother.

 

[Paynefive]

That sounds like a wise decision. Keeping it all in Spain is bound to be smoother.

I’m am taking all of this advice seriously! This is such a great resource. Thank you all for taking the time to answer.