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Best Albergue in St Jean?

LivP

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances, 2016
Hi Everyone,

I am sure this has been asked hundreds of times but a lot of the answers lead me to this one: http://www.espritduchemin.org/en/hostel which is no longer servicing St Jean, so I am hoping you experienced pilgrims may be able to tell me which albergue will provide us with the best experience of St Jean?

I am arriving on the 6th of May with my mum, and we are spending 2 nights there before we begin on the 8th (Mothers Day for us, so that is important for her symbolically for the memory of her mum). It is really important for me that my mum has the best experience, as this is her big O.E., giving up that opportunity when she was young to raise us four kids. She is such a champ. I would love to stay somewhere which does a communal dinner where we can meet other pilgrims and get a sense of community before we depart, I am a celiac so cannot eat gluten but that is not the priority, as I am happy to cook my own dinner - I just want her to feel we are off to an amazing start to give her a boost for the big walk over the Pyrenees!

Any suggestions would be amazing, and sorry if there are other threads that I have missed!

Thanks so much in advance,

Liv
 
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Last August I stayed at the albergue Maison Kaserna. They had a communal dinner that evening and breakfast the next morning. It was nice.
 
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L'Esprit du Chemin was sold by its previous owners to some Basque friends and was renamed Beilari. I was lucky enough to stay for 4 days during the handover period after an accident left me with a back injury. Still operating very much as before. Joxelu and Jakline ask that everyone staying joins in the evening meal. They make a real effort to introduce that night's guests to each other and give them the chance to share experiences and their hopes for the journey. Most people find it a very positive way to begin their camino. If you explained your coeliac problem well in advance I think that they would be able to find some solution for you.

If you would prefer just a place to sleep for the night I found the Gite Ultreia a very pleasant place to stay on another visit when Beilari was temporarily closed. Just down the street from Beilari and the pilgrim office.
 
Last edited:
Hi Liv.
When I inquired last year below was their reply. When I arrived in SJPP I called in for a visit it was very much as the previous time in 2013. I did not stay as it was early in the afternoon so I went up the hill to Orisson. but as Bradypus has said above it is operated on the same principal as before. And it is just across the road from the Camino office.
Something you might consider is to stay your first day in SJPP and walk up the hill to Refuge Orisson ( 8km and you would need to book in ) in the afternoon of your second day , it is a good way to stage your walk over the hill to Roncesvalles.
Be aware of the weather last year, it started to rain on the 14th May in the afternoon and continued for two days, it was cold with a chill factor of -6c on the hill on the morning of the 15th.

Buen Camino.
Oldman.

Huberta and Arno
The new hosts, Joxelu and Jakline, will be taking over the refuge located at 40 rue de la Citadelle. It will be renamed "Beilari", which means pilgrims in Basque, ans " one who awakes". The custom of will remain the same (accomodation + dinner + breakfast). The new charge will be € 26 and if you like a snack for the road, the price will be € 4. More information you'll find here > www.beilari.info. We like to ask you to forward your mail to
info@beilari.info. Joxelu and Jakline will answer your mail soon; they speak French, Spanish and English.
Thanks and our warm greetings, Arno and Huberta
 
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For more info in French on the Gite at the Ithurburia farm in Huntto/Hounto see this link. You can reserve if you wish.
 
Last edited:
falcon269 said:
If you walk up the hill your first day, consider the gite at Hounto. You won't need reservations as you do at Orisson, it has a kitchen for self-catering, and it offers a great communal meal.
Click to expand...
That looks like a good idea. Get a head start on one of the most difficult stages to make it a little easier the next day.
 
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There is only one albergue in St. Jean, the municipal albergue, the rest are pensions and gites.
 

Thank you so much! Will definitely look to book there
 
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Thank you so much for those links and that valuable advice! I have emailed Orisson and am hoping we can get in
 
An albergue is the Spanish name, gite is the French name. The same thing.
 
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H
hey Liv,
Hopefully this can help, recommendation: Do not stay at : Sur Le Chenin du Coq! Good luck and Buen Camino!
 
Chantal said:
H

hey Liv,
Hopefully this can help, recommendation: Do not stay at : Sur Le Chenin du Coq! Good luck and Buen Camino!
Click to expand...

Hi Chantal, thanks so much for the tip! I will heed your advice
 
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