You kindly commented on my post "Spanish Immersion 1000", however, I need a little more help and would appreciate your comments. I arrive in Madrid on the 28th of July and have one day in Madrid (I have visited for 5 days previously) alone. The following day, the 29th, I can book a flight to Santiago de Compostela with Ryan Air and then travel to La Coruna. Can you tell me the distance from Santiago de Compostela? Is it better to take the train or the bus and how late do they run into the city. I have looked on this sight and others and cannot find the cost or what time they finish operating. I need to be at the university for the following morning and there are two flights from Madrid on the 29th one at 13:45 pm and the other 20:00 pm. I have four weeks at or near La Coruna before my daughters meet me in Spain. I am delighted to have this much time to learn the Spanish language (on just to scratch the surface) and to visit the North of Spain. Muchas gracias.

I have seen this posting..it is now 1:10 in the morning and I have to get up early for guest. I promise I will get back to you...
In the mean time do you have to travel to SdC and do you have to fly Ryanair?
There are flights to A Coruña too but not with Ryanair.
Are you aware of Ryanair's restrictive luggage allowance?

Back now after half a nights sleep!

To get from the airport of SdC to the bus station there is a frequent bus service or take one of the many taxis which stand outside the terminal.
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?La...gename=subHome

There is one bus a day to get directly from the airport to A Coruña.
http://www.travidi.com/es/services.html


From SdC you can get the bus or train to A Coruña.
http://www.renfe.es/
http://www.monbus.es/index2.htm
The bus takes about an hour train slightly less.

I hope this answers your questions.

I don't know what Ryanair is charging, but you could fly that day non stop from Madrid to A Coruña on Spanair for 90 Euros. They have two flights, one at 13:50, the other at 17:40.

Just wanted to add, when you compare Ryanir's fare to this one, make sure you add Ryanair's fees for check in bagagge and other fees they have. The difference in fare may not be that big after you factor all that in (plus the convenience of not having to trek from Santiago to Coruña).

cruiseluv...hence my question about do you have to travel with RA.

Hello Ribeirasacra:

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes you have answered my questions and thank you for the links - they helped greatly. No I do not have to fly Ryan Air but the rate was so good that I thought seriously about it. I know there are flights to La Coruna but they are more than double than to Santiago de Compostela which is one reason I asked for the information. The second is that on this trip I may not have very much time in Madrid so I was trying to stretch my visit there.

Cruiseluv, I have traveled Ryan Air before and realize that they do have very strict requirements in terms of baggage. The rush for seats on the aircraft is also very amusing.

I arrive in Madrid on the 28th and could fly direct to La Coruna - skip Madrid altogether - would that make more sense. Then I would miss my marzipan - I've been dreaming about the marzipan since I had some (alot) last year! And the Prado, too.

Thank you again.

Another reason not to recommend RA is after the last lot of Ash clouds they just let their passengers to fend for themselves. No back up what so ever.
I personally would rather pay double have some sort of customer service then save for crap. Rant over.

Anyway it is you vacation and your money. So have a great time. I bet you will find somewhere selling some marzipan. I looked but could not find anything on the web.

With the ash cloud still prominent in the news pales read this about Ryanair:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8684683.stm

You have a good point Ribeiracacra. I will speak with my professor and see if I can either go a little early or arrive the morning of class on Spanair or Iberia. That makes more sense. Again thank you for your help.

I don’t normally talk about guests but I have to write about this.
We have just had some guests, admittedly young (mid 20's) but one is German the other Galician. They met whilst one was here to learn Spanish.
So despite all the negatively you got about learning Spanish in A Coruña it does work out.
You never know what friendships you will pick up from this experience.

Have a great time.