Parking at St. Jean

[seashell]

Having posted this under ‘quick question’ and got serious grief from my wife for not being explicit, (sigh) perhaps this thread title is an improvement.

Does anybody happen to know where we might safely leave a car for three days next week whilst my wife and I walk from St. Jean Pied de Porte to Pamplona before catching a bus back to St. Jean? (We walked part of the Norte, then Pamplona to Navarette this summer and are walking from Logrono to Santiago in September, but we’ve missed the first three days from St. Jean to Pamplona and in 2016 the route up to Orisson was shrouded in mist - not really an explanation that anybody probably wanted but what the hell).

Thanks.

 

[Robo]

Station car park?

 

[jerbear]

I would park in a paid security lot in st Jean. Leave nothing visable. A plan. Cheers

 

[mspath]

In the past some pilgrims have arranged parking at the SJPdP camping ground. See more here --
Camping Municipal Plaza Berri
7 Avenue du Fronton, 64220 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
05 59 37 11 19

Camping Municipal Plaza Berri | En Pays Basque

Situé à 200m du centre historique de Saint Jean Pied de Port et proche de tous commerces, le camping municipal Plaza Berri s'étend sur les bords de la Nive ...

www.saintjeanpieddeport-paysbasque-tourisme.com

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Not what you asked but consider one more day and bus from Pamplona to Roncevalles (Autocares Artieda) and walk back to SJPdP by the other camino. In reverse the Napoleon would likely be the easiest but it is probably best to start with that route if the weather is good.

 

[scruffy1]

SJPP is not exactly a world center for organized crime and drugs, the worst you have to consider is that local authorities will tow unidentified vehicles off to say Biarritz. The Pilgrims Office will help you find a private lot and pay whatever they ask.

 

[seashell]

Many thanks for everyone’s comments, all much appreciated. It looks like we’ve a decent number of options to consider. Cheers.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The Beilari gite in town has a webpage giving several suggestions.

https://www.beilari.info/en/node/141

 

[Geodoc]

We just parked in public parking lot at the top of the town (where the Camino leaves the main part of town). Don't park where any markets might be. Worse comes to worst, ask a local. It can be done (we parked 3 nights in SJPdP, 3 nights at a cemetery near the monastery albergue in Sarria, then about 7 days in a horse pasture in Gonzar.

As stated earlier, keep everything out of sight - leave the center console and glove compartment open (to prove you don't have anything hiding), and put your keys in a safe place (two sets - one in pack, one in pocket). I somehow managed to lose one set (I think I was pick-pocketed, but have no evidence - that's my story, and I'm sticking to it).

 

[Bala]

I'd never thought about leaving the center console and glove compartment open. That's excellent advice, whether on the Camino or long-term parking anywhere. Every day I learn something new on this forum.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'd never thought about leaving the center console and glove compartment open. That's excellent advice, whether on the Camino or long-term parking anywhere. Every day I learn something new on this forum.

Read recently about a guy who was told to do this in his new neighborhood AND leave the doors unlocked. He did. One morning he found his radio stolen. But he also found a brick left on one of the front seats. His windows were still okay so I suppose you can say this method worked.

 

[Bala]

Read recently about a guy who was told to do this in his new neighborhood AND leave the doors unlocked. He did. One morning he found his radio stolen. But he also found a brick left on one of the front seats. His windows were still okay so I suppose you can say this method worked.

Well, that's one heck of a welcome to the neighborhood.