Getting to the Camino and back

Getting to the airport

Unless you have money to burn, driving to the airport and leaving your car there for several weeks is probably not the best option. You could ask someone to drop you off or use a train, taxi or bus service.

Remember that international flights generally require you to check in around three hours before departure. Allow enough time for the journey to the airport and any unexpected delays along the way.

Flying to Europe

It is not always possible or practical to fly into the airport closest to your starting point. Flying into one of the larger European hubs may be more economical, but check whether connecting flights are available to airports closer to your destination.

Allow sufficient time between connecting flights and remember that flights do not always arrive on schedule. Booking systems may prevent you from selecting connections with very short transfer times, but they cannot account for delays on your incoming flight.

When booking your return journey, remember that you will be leaving from Santiago de Compostela, not necessarily from the city where you arrived in Europe.

A conventional return-flight booking normally takes you back to the same airport you arrived at. If you plan to fly home from Santiago or another city, you may need to select a multi-city or open-jaw itinerary. These can sometimes be more expensive. Alternatively, you can book separate flights, but make sure you factor in the cost and time required to travel from Santiago to the airport you will be departing from.

Play around with different options to find the best deals. There are plenty of websites that make it easy to compare flight prices. Once you have identified a suitable route, check the airlines’ own websites as well. Sometimes you get lucky and find a better deal.

There are several other things worth considering:

● Departure and arrival times: Will you arrive at a convenient time, or spend half the night waiting for your next flight?

● Number of stops: More stops can mean cheaper flights, but also longer journeys and more opportunities for delays.

● Waiting times: How long will you have to wait between connecting flights?

● Airport transfers: Will your connecting flight leave from the same airport as your arrival flight?

● Terminal transfers: If you need to change terminals, how much time will you need and what transport is available?

Cheaper flights are not always the best deal. A long journey with several connections and lengthy waiting times can leave you exhausted before your Camino even begins.

Also consider whether your connecting flights are booked on a single ticket or as separate bookings. If a delay causes you to miss a connection, the airline’s responsibility for getting you to your destination may depend on how your flights were booked. With separate tickets, you may have to make your own arrangements and pay for another flight.

Baggage

Flying with only carry-on luggage is often cheaper and has the added advantage of avoiding the risk of your backpack being lost or delayed. However, make sure your backpack meets the airline’s carry-on size and weight restrictions. If it is oversized or overweight, you may be forced to pay for checked luggage at the airport, which can be expensive.

There is plenty of discussion on Camino forums about transporting hiking poles by air. Check the specific airline’s policy before travelling, and remember that airline baggage rules and airport security requirements are not necessarily the same thing. Even written confirmation from an airline cannot guarantee that security will allow your poles through.

Many pilgrims prefer to avoid the uncertainty and purchase hiking poles at their starting point.

If you decide to check your backpack, I recommend having it wrapped at the airport. It provides some additional protection against rough handling and may act as a deterrent to anyone considering accessing your belongings. It is not foolproof, of course.

When collecting your backpack, check that the wrapping is intact. If you suspect that someone has tampered with it, report it to the airline’s baggage service desk or the appropriate airport authority before opening the bag.

Internal flights

If you need to take an internal flight to get closer to your starting point, allow enough time between flights to accommodate delays and transfers. Also consider how you will get from the arrival airport to your Camino starting point.

Check the availability and schedules of buses and trains, and try to arrange your arrival so that you do not spend hours waiting for the next connection.

Trains and buses

Many European routes are served by efficient train services, including high-speed trains. Some pilgrims prefer to fly into a major hub, spend a couple of days exploring and recovering from jet lag, and then catch a train or bus to their starting point.

Buses offer an alternative way of getting from one place to another. They are generally slower than trains but often cheaper. Depending on your destination, you may need a combination of trains and buses to get there.

Departing from Santiago

Depending on how you booked your return journey, you may need to travel from Santiago to another city before flying home.

There are several options, including flights from Santiago Airport, buses and trains.

Santiago’s train and bus stations form part of the same intermodal transport complex, connected by a pedestrian footbridge. The complex is a short distance from the historic centre, so allow time to get there from your accommodation. If you are flying home, you will also need to arrange transport to the airport.