Getting to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port....

[Camino2014]

Question -

This will be my first time on the Camino (doing the Frances in 2014), and it will also be my first time to France and Spain. I would like to see as much of these countries as possible before starting my Camino as I have substantial extra time.

So I was thinking about going from my home city in the USA to Paris and taking some days off there, then taking a train to Lourdes to see the Marian apparition shrine there (I'm Catholic), then going to Saint-Jean.

But after research I found that flying from my home city to Madrid, then taking a train to Pamplona, is much cheaper.

My point is:
Basically.... is my more expensive plan worth it, or should I stick with the cheaper flight plan?
Also.... are there any plans flying from the USA even cheaper than this?
Finally, what is the best airline to take from the USA?

Thank you so much, and for all the pilgrims about to set out on a Camino, BUEN CAMINO!

 

[Camino2014]

ALSO:

I am traveling in June/July 2014 if that is any help to you.

 

[CaminoGen]

If you plan to start out by visiting Paris, I would recommend that you get home through Paris too. There are direct flights to Paris (not MAdrid) for less than 100$. I did this in May 2011...left Santiago late afternoon and got to my airport hotel at 7:30 PM with the free shuttle. Went to dinner and had a perfect night in a single room! THe next day, I took my time to take the same shuttle back to the airport at 11AM. No stress.

 

[Camino2014]

If you plan to start out by visiting Paris, I would recommend that you get home through Paris too. There are direct flights to Paris (not MAdrid) for less than 100$. I did this in May 2011...left Santiago late afternoon and got to my airport hotel at 7:30 PM with the free shuttle. Went to dinner and had a perfect night in a single room! THe next day, I took my time to take the same shuttle back to the airport at 11AM. No stress.

CaminoGen-

Wow! What airline did you take to get such a great price?
I believe I might just go back through Paris as well now.

 

[CaminoGen]

I flew Iberia. Go to kayak.com and you'll get all to compare prices. The last time, expedia had the best deal (paid 76$ for a flight on June 19 2011). This year, Vueling has the best price at 106$ for October 23. Hint, cheapest flights are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

 

[mralisn]

I went to Lourdes after my first Camino. I was fortunate to go to Fatima after my second. If you have the time, perhaps you can get to Fatima as well. I had an incredible experience there with a night mass/procession.

¡Buen Camino!

 

[Freetime]

With an abundance of time you could consider a Camino starting in Lourdes through to Jaca in Spain on the Argones route, and up to connect with the Frances route or see more of France go from Lourdes to St. Jean. Once you get to Santiago you can make a left and go south to Fatima rather than west Finisterre.

I know others have done the Lourdes to Fatima pilgrimage. You can search the boards for more info.

Tony

 

[Anniesantiago]

I agree. The walk from Lourdes is spectacular! I did it last year. I posted photos on my blog and there are plenty of other blogs on this stretch as well. Worth consideration.

 

[kingscrown2014]

Hi Camino 2014....I was comeing from the U.S also and found in the past that flying into Toulouse France, which has a small airport to get around in, with a bus going into Toulouse... then staying a night in Toulouse because so much history and things to see... then the SNCF train to Lourdes, stay a night there, many places to stay and very lovely to see. Then the SNCF train to Bayonne and then you conect with another train to Saint Jean Pied de Port. Very stress free way to start the Camino.
You can book all this on the computer in advance...watch for good deals.

 

[DAuntDeb]

If you have some time before you have to buy...I signed up for email alerts for sale fares for Paris and Madrid at http://www.airfarewatchdog.com. There are probably other sites as well. This way you can monitor fares for a while and get an idea of what a sale price looks like from your home city or other US airports

I did a RT to/from Paris and used trains France.

 

[hotelmedicis]

To scan all the major airlines as well as dozens of travel agents, go to http://www.skyscanner.com/ and you can use this for USA - Europe flights as well in Europe-only flights.