Esprit du Chemin in SJPdP

[Al the optimist]

Just a reminder to everyone interested in staying there. It opened for bookings yesterday. So I finally had something to do, having booked my flight on May 10th some time ago! I would point out that I have no association with them other than as a contented customer from last May and am only mentioning this for information to first timers who will no doubt have seen the place mentioned elsewhere on this forum. They should note that it books up quite quickly.

 

[Houlet]

I liked look of the Esprit du Chemin but expect to get to SJPdP about 20:00 too late for their dinner.

Since their web site suggest they only want people who take dinner I had to book elsewhere.

 

[Al the optimist]

When I was there last year someone arrived half way through and joined in then. They were made welcome by the Hospitaleros. I had actually met her at the airport when she was asking for change for the bus as she only had high denomination notes. I and others were booked on a taxi which had a spare seat, but the driver said that to keep things congenial with the local Taxis they had agreed not to take anyone not pre-booked.

 

[Houlet]

Thanks for that Al, I have since booked Auberge du Pelerin in the same area.

 

[w cleveland]

Stayed here with my son last September. It was a wonderful way to start a camino. They embodied the essence of what the camino was all about for me. Great leak soup also.

 

[jdpiguet]

I stayed à l'Esprit-du-Chemin in 2007.
2 days.
The best reception I had in 2 monthes pilgrimage.
The only albergue where the bed was decorated with a small gift at my name.
Huberta and Arno are still there.
I don't know when and where I will start my next Camino.
But I will stay there again.
Sure.

See you again Huberta and Arno.
Thanks for what you are and what you are doing...

 

[Anniesantiago]

I loved this place.
They were clean, kind, and served a wonderful dinner and breakfast.
They even packed me a lunch.

My only complaint is that on my first Camino, I had made reservations at Orisson for my second night.
The man pooh-poohed my stopping and convinced me to "carry on" all the way to Roncesvalles.
"It's easy!" he said. "You can do it with no problem!"
Well, maybe for him, but it almost broke me.
I cried all the way down that hill, each step was torture.
I'm sure I took his name in vain more than once.
In retrospect, it almost ruined my first Camino and took me several days to recover.

So my suggestion is that if you have made plans to stop, don't let someone talk you out of it.
It isn't called "hell-day" for no reason.
If you are not in the BEST of shape, take that stretch in two days.

Otherwise, a GREAT albergue!

 

[drvnsmiln]

Just a reminder to everyone interested in staying there. It opened for bookings yesterday. So I finally had something to do, having booked my flight on May 10th some time ago! I would point out that I have no association with them other than as a contented customer from last May and am only mentioning this for information to first timers who will no doubt have seen the place mentioned elsewhere on this forum. They should note that it books up quite quickly.

Thank you, Al for the reminder! I just sent in my request for September 18.

 

[Avenelite]

i

Just a reminder to everyone interested in staying there. It opened for bookings yesterday. So I finally had something to do, having booked my flight on May 10th some time ago! I would point out that I have no association with them other than as a contented customer from last May and am only mentioning this for information to first timers who will no doubt have seen the place mentioned elsewhere on this forum. They should note that it books up quite quickly.

I have also sent through a booking [for Saturday, 19th April] and wait to hear the final confirmation of a place. I noticed that on the booking calendars, all Sundays are unavailable. On their website, L'Espirit mentions that unlike in Spain, one can stay at their 'albergue' for 2 nights. I wanted to stay Saturday and Sunday, but as Sunday is unavailable, now seek a night somewhere else for Sunday. My question is this: Can I stay at 2 different 'albergues' in St Jean on 2 consecutive nights, [using L'Espirit on the first], or do I have to use private accommodation for the second night?

 

[gerardcarey]

Great leak soup also.

That's put me off. Hate leak soup.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Thanks Al. Wouldn't you know it, we want to arrive on Sunday!

 

[Cejanus]

I stayed here fro two nights April 2 & 3 2013. I arrived after 36 hours of travel and I was going to be late. A lovely email from them said that they would keep dinner for me. A lovely gesture. I arrived just as they were doing the introductions.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Because everyone speaks so highly of this place I decided we would do a bit of a rush and make it there by Saturday....but no, it's all booked up already! Maybe we'll be able to nab the few places they keep for late walk-ins....and if not, we'll go elsewhere;-)

 

[Avenelite]

Thanks Al. Wouldn't you know it, we want to arrive on Sunday!

My understanding is that the hostal is not closed as such on Sundays, rather that one can't book for a Sunday. This allows the owners to take a break if they need to. If you are there and it is open, then you can stay Sunday. This information may not be helpful if you are wanting to book thus be assured of a place, however if you arrive early, there would be places at the Municipal hostal [and one could always check to see if L'Espirit was open. Or give them a call to check once on your way there.]

 

[Thomas1962]

They always put the number of beds which are still available on their front door, so you can know right away.
Every day they make a new dinner, also depending on the people who work there. I know one day a pilgrim who was a professional cook slept there who talked full of passion about his wish to open a restaurant on the camino. They let him cook that night. Usually the food is very good, that night it was more then spendid!
I love leek soup, didn't get it there!

It is indeed a place put up with a lot of care and love for the camino and for pilgrims.

 

[Thornley]

If you get the bus to Aire sur L'Adour from Biarritz on the Le Put camino and walk for the 3 days prior to STJPdP there will be a bed.
I believe they always keep beds for the pilgrims who have started the many km's into france.
It is wonderful for getting over jet lag, having the great basque meals [ they go down hill once in Spain , even still basque country] and a great warm up for the crossing of the mountain without the need to stop at Orrison.

And if the rain is in town , the mist is down then there is nothing wrong whatsoever going via Valcarlos.
They are wonderful hosts and also have great helpers.

 

[mspath]

In Saint-Jean the office for the Amis du Chemin de Saint Jacques at 39 rue de la Citadelle can provide you with a Credential and on site lodging assistance. If their albergue is full they will help you find other pilgrim lodgings when you are on site. They keep up to the minute lists of all available space throughout the SJPdP area. Their telephone is 05 59 37 05 09. In season the pilgrims office is open from 7h30 to 12h30 and then from 13h30 to 22h. Their volunteers help run the municipal albergue at 55 rue de la Citadelle, but they do NOT take reservations.

 

[Lmairead]

Just a reminder to everyone interested in staying there. It opened for bookings yesterday. So I finally had something to do, having booked my flight on May 10th some time ago! I would point out that I have no association with them other than as a contented customer from last May and am only mentioning this for information to first timers who will no doubt have seen the place mentioned elsewhere on this forum. They should note that it books up quite quickly.

just to let you know they don't take bookings for Sundays this year

 

[CaminoKris2013]

I am all booked for May 26th at the Esprit DU Chemin...super excited!

 

[clearskiescamino]

I am booked in for May 28th. Looking forward to it.