Trip from Bordeaux airport to Saint-Jean-Pied-du-Port (19 July 2018)

[Chair]

Hi!
I'm arriving with a friend at Bordeaux Airport on the 19th July at 15.15 headed to SJPdP to start the Camino.

Any tips on how to get there? I have searched with public transportation (3 trains!!) and the estimated time of arrival at Saint Jean is 10.30 pm, a bit late!

Wondering if there is anyone on the same route who would like to share a car/taxi..maybe from Bayonne to SJPdP.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

arrival at Saint Jean is 10.30 pm, a bit late

The Pilgrim Office will be open, and can help you find a bed if you do not have a reservation.

 

[Chair]

I heard the office closes at 22.00.

 

[Deleted member 39850]

I did this same set of connections in 2014 -- Bordeaux to Bayonne; Bayone to Saint-Jean (except that the train did not go all the way to Saint-Jean, so we had to take a shuttle for about 40 minutes[??]). On your tight timeframe, you might consider staying at the very basic hotel (it's a chain, very tall... white building) directly across from the Bordeaux station and leaving for SJPDP early the following morning. That ended up being how I did it because I actually was so jet-lagged that I stood right in front of my train at Bordeaux and marvelled at all the people with back-packs getting on, and did not myself get on. I had heard an announcement that our train would be late, but failed to hear its arrival, and figured mine would be the *next train*. Oops.
Anyway, it turned out to be for the best as I met people on the train the next day who became my "Camino family", whereas had I gotten on while still dead tired, I would not have met *anyone*.

 

[Chair]

Thanks a lot, but I really need to be start the Camino early 20th July.

Great tips though!!

 

[Tincatinker]

I heard the office closes at 22.00.

The Pilgrims Office closes about half-an- hour after the arrival time of the last train. They really do care about Pilgrims, even that much.
And if you have an urgent need to start the Camino early on the 20th I would urge you to pay respect to one of the old saws of the Camino - start slowly! Many of those who find themselves crippled by blisters, shin-splints, groin-strains and worse are those who pay little heed to that advice. It's a damn sight easier to finish a Camino in a rush than start with that imperative.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I heard the office closes at 22.00.

They stay open for the last train.

 

[NomadBoomer]

Check express bourcoit not sure of the spelling but you will find it on Google. They will split the cost of the transfer if more people on the same transfer. When I arrived at the airport there were enough people to make sharing a taxi a good deal. Easy to spot the walkers.

 

[Tincatinker]

Express Bourricot offer transfers from Biarritz, not Bordeaux.

 

[jsalt]

I'm arriving with a friend at Bordeaux Airport on the 19th July at 15.15 headed to SJPdP to start the Camino.

Overnight in Bayonne, get the first train to SJPDP in the morning, and start walking. Far less stressful than risking flight and train delays between Bordeaux and SJPDP .
Jill

 

[GettingThere]

Hi!
I'm arriving with a friend at Bordeaux Airport on the 19th July at 15.15 headed to SJPdP to start the Camino.

Any tips on how to get there? I have searched with public transportation (3 trains!!) and the estimated time of arrival at Saint Jean is 10.30 pm, a bit late!

Wondering if there is anyone on the same route who would like to share a car/taxi..maybe from Bayonne to SJPdP.

Chair, I agree with @jsalt above - if you are arriving in Bordeaux that late in the day, get yourself to Bayonne and stay the night there. Then take the first train in the morning to St Jean and start your walk. The first train (or replacement bus if the train isn't running) will get you there by 9.00. That's not too late to start walking, even if you're going all the way to Roncesvalles.

Whatever you decide - buen Camino!