There and back again

Gerry 7 · Jun 28, 2015

Hi everyone,
We intend to walk the Camino Frances in September 2015. I am looking for advice about the most efficient/economical way to make the round trip. We live in Scotland and it seems the best way is to fly to Biarritz, then train up SJPP. We want to walk the whole route to SDC and may go on to Muxia. So how do you book the ticket? Not sure how long it will take us ( we have no time constraints). Single fares are more expensive but it looks like singles to Biarritz and then singles from Santiago back home -if that is possible. Do we book open tickets for the return or get transport back to Biarritz? Any advice would be most welcome.

regards
Gerry 7

Waka · Jun 28, 2015

I have booked a single with Easy Jet from Gatwick to Biarritz, I haven't bothered with a return because like you I don't know how long it will take.
I have checked and you can get from SDC back to the UK, again by Easy jet, so you wouldn't need to go back to Biarritz. Now the logistics of booking a ticket in Spain with EJ and doing an online check-in, plus printing a boarding pass is a bridge I'll cross when I'm ready to return home.

Hope this helps.

whariwharangi · Jun 28, 2015

Gerry 7 said:
Hi everyone,
We intend to walk the Camino Frances in September 2015. I am looking for advice about the most efficient/economical way to make the round trip. We live in Scotland and it seems the best way is to fly to Biarritz, then train up SJPP. We want to walk the whole route to SDC and may go on to Muxia. So how do you book the ticket? Not sure how long it will take us ( we have no time constraints). Single fares are more expensive but it looks like singles to Biarritz and then singles from Santiago back home -if that is possible. Do we book open tickets for the return or get transport back to Biarritz? Any advice would be most welcome.

regards
Gerry 7

You can buy the ticket on-line from the airline you travel with.

I found Easy Jet and Ryan Air to be relatively cheap compared to what I am used to at home. They offer flights from Gatwick and Stansted respectively to Biarritz.

Ryan Air and Easy Jet both provide service from Santiago to London.

You will have to do your own cost analysis to determine if it is cheaper to buy two single fares, an open jaw ticket, or return from Biarritz. There are lots of variables in prices depending on your dates of travel and when you buy tickets. Remember there is a cost to get from Santiago to Biarritz (Renfe train to Hendaye, and Transports64 bus to Biarritz airport)

See destination information on airport sites to selects ports of travel and airlines.

Biarritz Airport
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Santiago (Labacolla) Airport
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/es/

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

Transports64
http://www.transports64.fr/transports-64?lang=fr

MKalcolm M · Jun 28, 2015

Hi,

I traveled to the camino from Scotland by flying from Edinburgh to Gatwick with a budget airline, I think it was Ryanair, then Easy jet to Biaritz. In pure dyslexic incompetence on my part I booked a flight home from Santander by mistake, thinking it was Santiago. Fortunately one of my friends saw my booking and pointed out that it was not from Santiago, so when I finished I took an overnight bus at the coast of 50 Euro back to Santander, and walked a couple of days on the North route before it was time to leave. In September most of the tourists will have gone home, so flights will be cheaper. Check out the Ryanair and easyjet sites, flights are cheapest when booked as early as possible. make sure you give yourselves plenty of time, so as not having to rush the last part under pressure to get back for a flight.

Icacos · Jun 29, 2015

Welcome to the Forum. Would advise that you consider very carefully before booking a return flight out of Biarritz. It is not simple getting from Santiago to Biarritz; all travel seemed to be via Madrid and, consequently, very time consuming.

Happy planning.

Me Fein · Jun 29, 2015

Hello Gerry
When I did the Camino Frances I booked a oneway flight to Biarritz with Ryanair When I was about a week from Santiago I booked a flight home. By then I had a good idea when I would reach Santiago and if I wanted to walk to the coast.I have repeated this homeward journey for my other Caminos as well
Buen Camino and enjoy
Maura

Gerry 7 · Jul 2, 2015

Waka said:
I have booked a single with Easy Jet from Gatwick to Biarritz, I haven't bothered with a return because like you I don't know how long it will take.
I have checked and you can get from SDC back to the UK, again by Easy jet, so you wouldn't need to go back to Biarritz. Now the logistics of booking a ticket in Spain with EJ and doing an online check-in, plus printing a boarding pass is a bridge I'll cross when I'm ready to return home.

Hope this helps.

Hi Waka,
Thanks for the quick reply. I think we will end up just booking the return flight while we are there, as you suggest. I'm sure that it must be simpe enough. (Famous last words). Thanks again. Hope your Camino goes well.
Gerry

Gerry 7 · Jul 2, 2015

whariwharangi said:
You can buy the ticket on-line from the airline you travel with.

I found Easy Jet and Ryan Air to be relatively cheap compared to what I am used to at home. They offer flights from Gatwick and Stansted respectively to Biarritz.

Ryan Air and Easy Jet both provide service from Santiago to London.

You will have to do your own cost analysis to determine if it is cheaper to buy two single fares, an open jaw ticket, or return from Biarritz. There are lots of variables in prices depending on your dates of travel and when you buy tickets. Remember there is a cost to get from Santiago to Biarritz (Renfe train to Hendaye, and Transports64 bus to Biarritz airport)

See destination information on airport sites to selects ports of travel and airlines.

Biarritz Airport
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Santiago (Labacolla) Airport
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Santiago/es/

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

Transports64
http://www.transports64.fr/transports-64?lang=fr

Hi Whariwharangi,
Thanks. You have given a lot of information and options to consider. Much Obliged.
Gerry

Gerry 7 · Jul 2, 2015

MKalcolm M said:
Hi,

I traveled to the camino from Scotland by flying from Edinburgh to Gatwick with a budget airline, I think it was Ryanair, then Easy jet to Biaritz. In pure dyslexic incompetence on my part I booked a flight home from Santander by mistake, thinking it was Santiago. Fortunately one of my friends saw my booking and pointed out that it was not from Santiago, so when I finished I took an overnight bus at the coast of 50 Euro back to Santander, and walked a couple of days on the North route before it was time to leave. In September most of the tourists will have gone home, so flights will be cheaper. Check out the Ryanair and easyjet sites, flights are cheapest when booked as early as possible. make sure you give yourselves plenty of time, so as not having to rush the last part under pressure to get back for a flight.

Hi MKalcolm,
Thanks for all of the advice. The current theme seems to be that I can book the return when I am out there. But I will look into some of your suggestions. I think you will be right when you say that flights might be cheaper at that time.
Thanks
Gerry

Gerry 7 · Jul 2, 2015

Icacos said:
Welcome to the Forum. Would advise that you consider very carefully before booking a return flight out of Biarritz. It is not simple getting from Santiago to Biarritz; all travel seemed to be via Madrid and, consequently, very time consuming.

Happy planning.

Hi Icacos,
Yes I agree with that. I did not want to return via Biarritz as I was hoping to avoid that journey back.
Thanks for the reply.

Gerry

Gerry 7 · Jul 2, 2015

Me Fein said:
Hello Gerry
When I did the Camino Frances I booked a oneway flight to Biarritz with Ryanair When I was about a week from Santiago I booked a flight home. By then I had a good idea when I would reach Santiago and if I wanted to walk to the coast.I have repeated this homeward journey for my other Caminos as well
Buen Camino and enjoy
Maura

Hi Maura,
Thanks for the advice. I think we will be doing what you suggest and booking our return when we are out there. It seems to be the most sensible solution for us. Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Regards
Gerry

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