Biarritz or Bayonne?

[Steven Light]

We are planning to spend our first night after flying into Paris in either Biarritz or Bayonne before heading on to SJPdP. Opinions as to which? Will be about May 23. Thanks!

 

[VNwalking]

The Côte Basque is a simple but comfortable hotel right near the train station in Bayonne, and the city and Cathedral are lovely to explore. So Bayonne is my choice, but then I like cathedrals more than beaches.

 

[jsalt]

We are planning to spend our first night after flying into Paris in either Biarritz or Bayonne before heading on to SJPdP. Opinions as to which? Will be about May 23. Thanks!

This might depend on your budget. Biarritz was a lot more expensive than Bayonne for accommodation when I was there a couple of years ago. I liked Bayonne very much. And lots of places to stay near the train station, so then you can catch the first train to St Jean next morning.
Jill

 

[ChuckM]

We are planning to spend our first night after flying into Paris in either Biarritz or Bayonne before heading on to SJPdP. Opinions as to which? Will be about May 23. Thanks!

Last September after staying one night in Paris we went to Biarritz. Loved it. My wife and I are hoping someday to just go back there and spend a week. As it's a resort town it's not inexpensive however. We stayed at Hotel de la Plage which was very nice right across the street from the beach.

 

[Scott Fraser]

The first train from Bayonne to SJPP leaves around 7:45am, arriving in SJ about an hour later. If you plan to walk on immediately on arrival in SJ, stay in Bayonne to make it easier to take the first train. If you aren't in a hurry.....? Choice is yours.

 

[Consigliere]

I’ll be doing the same thing a few weeks earlier, flying into Paris and doing a train. After over 30 hours of travel Bayonne is my choice for a quiet nights rest before heading into SJ. It’s cheaper than Baritz... although saying that my hotel booking cost me a tad more than in ‘13. I like the peace so I can contemplate before I set off.

 

[Mark McCarthy]

If you want to avoid the rush for beds in Roncesvalles, there is a route directly from Bayonne Cathedral to Pamplona Cathedral called the Camino Baztan. It takes 5 days and is very tough but very beautiful and definitely the road less travelled.