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Doing this on my own - CDG to where?

Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
You can stay in either Biarritz or Bayonne (the first is on the coast and thus more expensive) and take a bus or train from either to SJPP, or “carpool” to SJPP with the shuttle. The latest train gets in too late to do dinner with other pilgrims (I stayed at Beilari which does a communal dinner) or do much in SJPP.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Thank you! I am catching a train out of Biarritz at 18:19 to Bayonne (18:31) & have a 5 minute interchange to catch a train to SJPP (19:43). I haven't booked an Albergues in SJPP, but need to. Arriving at 7:43pm is kind of late, I know I will be road weary (don't laugh, I know I haven't at that point set foot to the Camino...well ok, go ahead and laugh - lol). Does anyone have a recommendation that isn't too far a walk from the SJPP train station (lol)?
 
With the jet lag to cope with, take a taxi from BIQ to Bayonne and stay near the station where there are good small hotels. Then take the train to SJPP in the morning, explore the town and walk up to Orison the first day. Be kind to yourself after all the travel and take a measured start!
 
christinelimbac said:
Greetings! Flying in from Chicago 4/25; ORY to BIQ (17:40)...how do you best get to St. Jean & can I do it the same day, or should I book a hotel in Biarritz?
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I flew into Biarritz walked out door to taxi stand and payed the 80$ to get to SJPP. I booked a room in SJPP on booking.com for Villa La Esponda. Costly taxi, maybe? But that allowed me to get to SJPP check into hotel, check in at Pilgrims office eat dinner explore St Jean and start Camino the following day. I initially had these thoughts of doing something similar to what you shared, but I am glad I took the quickest route, I arrived, decompressed and prepared for our journey. This is my experience.
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Wow - this "blog" (uncertain that is the proper tech term as I've never participated in one...) is a God-send. Here's my next question: what amount of Euro should I carry? I am presuming establishments take VISA and I've checked in with my credit card company to ensure no extra fees. What is the minimum Euro I should leave the states with for my treck?
 
Nothing is too far from the train station, it's a small town, and the center is about 4 blocks from the station. Make your choice on budget. While you are feverishly planning the fastest road to the trail head may I suggest that you SLOW DOWN. Spend a day in Paris, or Bayonne, or Biarritz, or SJPP before you race up the mountain. You have a clock to adjust, and a body to rehydrate. Take your time. It's a pilgrimage, not a race. You are going to be tired and dehydrated. Get your bearings, a great meal, a SIM card for your phone, and breathe a little before setting off.

Take a few hundred euros at most with you. Then you stop at an ATM every few days as required. I usually take out 300 euros at a whack.
 
If you have the budget to be able to afford a few nights elsewhere than an albergue then you can probably afford to pay for a cash conversion at home to bring 300€. Put maybe 100€ in your wallet and the rest in a money belt. You'll spend it all eventually and in case the ATMs don't work for some reason you'll feel better. Don't expect banks there to convert. If they do then St. James has taken a liking to you.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
christinelimbac said:
Wow - this "blog" (uncertain that is the proper tech term as I've never participated in one...) is a God-send.
Click to expand...
This is a forum. Blog is actually short for web-log. And there are now Vlogs - video-logs.
Blogs are sites that individuals create to share thoughts, information, etc.
 
Thank you! I will consider - I'm pretty intent on getting to SJPP on the 25th/same day I land in Paris (been there, done that, got the t-$hirt - I don't mean to sound flip, I loved Paris when I did it in the 80's, but budget is dedicated to my spiritual walk this time). I may spend two nights instead of one in SJPP & take time to exhale, register and rest up before I go through Porte St. Jaques and start my Camino in earnest. Buen Camino!
 
christinelimbac said:
I may spend two nights instead of one in SJPP & take time to exhale, register and rest up before I go through Porte St. Jaques and start my Camino in earnest. Buen Camino!
Click to expand...
Excellent idea. The '80s were 40 years ago. Time flies. Bodies age. The mountain you are planning to climb will be ready when you are.
 
Best lightweight Camino guides
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
Thank you! I will consider - I'm pretty intent on getting to SJPP on the 25th/same day I land in Paris (been there, done that, got the t-$hirt - I don't mean to sound flip, I loved Paris when I did it in the 80's, but budget is dedicated to my spiritual walk this time). I may spend two nights instead of one in SJPP & take time to exhale, register and rest up before I go through Porte St. Jaques and start my Camino in earnest. Buen Camino!
trecile said:
This is a forum. Blog is actually short for web-log. And there are now Vlogs - video-logs.
Blogs are sites that individuals create to share thoughts, information, etc.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the education! Buen Camino!
 
If you stay in a hotel, pension or private albergue, it's very likely they'll take VISA. Municipal and religious albergues probably won't. When you have lunch or dinner in a bar, you can usually pay by card, but some places have a minimum payment with card, so if you only have a coffee or a beer you may have to pay cash. There may be a few bars that don't take cards at all.

So, start off with €200-300 and see how it goes. Try to make sure you always have some cash as small villages won't have an ATM.
 
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