Alternative to Monbus (Samos to Santiago)?

[azjulia]

Hello,

I was trying to plan on catching the 4:00 pm Monbus from Samos to Santiago. I can see from the many reviews online this bus company is not reliable and treats customers terribly (denying boarding w/paid ticket, etc.). It is the only bus going through Samos 1x/day.

I will be arriving in Samos (from Triacastela) around 10am and thought it would give me time to visit the monastery and have some lunch. If I miss the bus, I am out of luck, I need to be in Santiago that evening.

I have lived in Europe before and have had many busses blow right past me at a bus stop (or not even show up). Is there any other alternative transportation to get to Santiago from Samos or do you have any itinerary change suggestions?

Many thanks!

 

[ajloughran]

Hello,

I was trying to plan on catching the 4:00 pm Monbus from Samos to Santiago. I can see from the many reviews online this bus company is not reliable and treats customers terribly (denying boarding w/paid ticket, etc.). It is the only bus going through Samos 1x/day.

I will be arriving in Samos (from Triacastela) around 10am and thought it would give me time to visit the monastery and have some lunch. If I miss the bus, I am out of luck, I need to be in Santiago that evening.

I have lived in Europe before and have had many busses blow right past me at a bus stop (or not even show up). Is there any other alternative transportation to get to Santiago from Samos or do you have any itinerary change suggestions?

Many thanks!

Hi, If you take a taxi to Sarria you can get a train to Santiago. The Renfe website shows 4 trains for Monday 27th May. Check out the times on

Renfe | Train tickets AVE, Avlo Low Cost (with No Booking Fees)

Buy cheap train tickets AVE, Avlo high speed Low Cost ✓ Timetables, Fares and Discounts ✅ No Booking Fees! ▷ ( Renfe.com )

www.renfe.com

PS Incidentally, I have never had a problem with Monbus.
Regards, Arthur Loughran

 

[azjulia]

Thank you, Arthur. I see for the trains to Santiago, there is some infrastructure work going on and I actually need to take a bus to Ourense (then take a train to Santiago). Do I understand this correctly?

Here's what it shows in the trip details:
Trip with incident
MD 12696
Por obras de mejora de la infraestructura, se realizará por carretera el trayecto entre Lugo y Ourense.

I think if I left at 2pm via taxi from Samos, this would give me plenty of time to get to the train station in Sarria (or do I need to go to the bus station?)

Also, do I just ask at a local bar/restaurant in Samos if they can suggest a taxi to call?

Leaving Sarria at 3pm would be great - thanks for your help!

 

[Tincatinker]

Hello,

I was trying to plan on catching the 4:00 pm Monbus from Samos to Santiago. I can see from the many reviews online this bus company is not reliable and treats customers terribly (denying boarding w/paid ticket, etc.). It is the only bus going through Samos 1x/day.

I will be arriving in Samos (from Triacastela) around 10am and thought it would give me time to visit the monastery and have some lunch. If I miss the bus, I am out of luck, I need to be in Santiago that evening.

I have lived in Europe before and have had many busses blow right past me at a bus stop (or not even show up). Is there any other alternative transportation to get to Santiago from Samos or do you have any itinerary change suggestions?

Many thanks!

Monbus are very reliable. Reviews on the internet are not.

Edit: you could walk to Sarria, catch a (reliable) bus to Lugo and a bus to Santiago from there. You could just get a taxi if you’ve the budget and want to make a local taxi driver very happy.

 

[Vacajoe]

Just took a Monbus yesterday and it was clean, efficient, and driven by a caring professional who was nothing but helpful.

 

[azjulia]

Edit: you could walk to Sarria, catch a (reliable) bus to Lugo and a bus to Santiago from there. You could just get a taxi if you’ve the budget and want to make a local taxi driver very happy.

Through Lugo - also an option, thank you! I'll check it out.

 

[J Willhaus]

I have always found the Monbus service reliable and pleasant. They serve most of this area and all the small towns on the CF.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Never had a problem with Monbus!

 

[azjulia]

Do you all buy your tickets just when boarding the bus? (vs on the Monbus website)

 

[J Willhaus]

You can do either. I have done both.

 

[dbier]

For the popular routes (Muxia Santiago for one example), buy before. The early morning bus tends to sell out.

 

[ajloughran]

Thank you, Arthur. I see for the trains to Santiago, there is some infrastructure work going on and I actually need to take a bus to Ourense (then take a train to Santiago). Do I understand this correctly?

Here's what it shows in the trip details:
Trip with incident
MD 12696
Por obras de mejora de la infraestructura, se realizará por carretera el trayecto entre Lugo y Ourense.

I think if I left at 2pm via taxi from Samos, this would give me plenty of time to get to the train station in Sarria (or do I need to go to the bus station?)

Also, do I just ask at a local bar/restaurant in Samos if they can suggest a taxi to call?

Leaving Sarria at 3pm would be great - thanks for your help!

Hi,
It looks like there is a replacement bus service between Lugo and Ourense picking up in Sarria.
I presume that the replacement bus will stop at the train station and not the bus station.
The bus station and train station in Sarria are in different parts of the town.
I would advise checking the Monbus website (https://www.monbus.es/en). This shows a bus to Santiago at 16.20 on 27th May.
Good luck.
Best, Arthur Loughran
PS Ask your “landlord” to call you a taxi.

 

[J Willhaus]

The train goes to Ourense a d then switch to Santiago. The bus will be cheaper and likely quicker.

 

[mimpete]

I have always found the Monbus service reliable and pleasant. They serve most of this area and all the small towns on the CF.

We four arrived in Sarria from Samos, last Tuesday, 21st May after a fabulous week's walking from Rabanal del Camino. On Wednesday 22nd of May we took the Mons bus to Lugo and then took another bus from Lugo to Santiago Airport, with no problem at all. P.S. Thank you for all the advice regarding the " demon " trail from Riego de Ambros to Molinaseca. Two of us took the road with no problem and two of us took the dangerous route happily!! Result?
A very happy and fulfilling week amongst stunning scenery, and a God given sense of Peace. Buen Camino to all.