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Good question, and I guess I should have taken the time to research this a bit more before posting. I read on another thread that someone from Canada was flying to Biarritz. But I'm looking for the simplest route, so yes Bordeaux or Bilbao could be options. Another poster above also mentioned Bayonne, and now that I look at a map I see Bayonne is the closest to SJPDP. So perhaps the easiest route is to fly to Paris and take the train to Bayonne. Or perhaps fly from Paris to Bayonne (if they have an airport there?).The train from Paris, via Montparnasse is okay; but why not consider flying to Bordeaux or Bilbao. they are closer to SJPdP and less of a hassle.
If you fly from Paris/Orly you would fly to Biarritz then take the bus(right outside the airport) or a taxi to the Bayonne train station. The train ride is very comfortable to SJPdP.Good question, and I guess I should have taken the time to research this a bit more before posting. I read on another thread that someone from Canada was flying to Biarritz. But I'm looking for the simplest route, so yes Bordeaux or Bilbao could be options. Another poster above also mentioned Bayonne, and now that I look at a map I see Bayonne is the closest to SJPDP. So perhaps the easiest route is to fly to Paris and take the train to Bayonne. Or perhaps fly from Paris to Bayonne (if they have an airport there?).
I was surprised to find that getting to SJPDP is a lot more convoluted that anticipated...
Well there you go, I learned something new today. That explains a lot of my confusion... I should have looked at a map... Thanks for clarifying this obvious piece of info!Biarritz BIQ (that IS the Bayonne airport)
It's not if you stay a night in Paris.I was surprised to find that getting to SJPDP is a lot more convoluted that anticipated...
That does sound attractive. Are there later trains from Paris to Bayonne? I suspect I will be anxious to get to SJPDP and won't want to spend the night in Paris. Not sure what time I would arrive in Paris, but in case I happen to arrive later in the morning I'm wondering if I could still catch a train to Bayonne. I can rest on the train if I have jet lag - I wouldn't rest if I stayed in Paris, I would be out walking the streets for hours...It's not if you stay a night in Paris.
Simply stay a night in Paris to recover.
Get the 7.30am-ish TGV from Gare Montparnasse.
Enjoy the wonderful relaxing, one stop trip to Bayonne.
In Gare Bayonne you'll connect with the valley rattler that runs up the River River Valley to SJPDP.
I wouldn't do it any other way.
It's one of my favourite journeys.
Regards, good travelling and Buen Camino.
Gerard
You get over jetlag by walking in the daylight, not by sleeping on a train. Your flight will land in the early morning......you have to stay awake for the next six hours!I can rest on the train if I have jet lag - I wouldn't rest if I stayed in Paris, I would be out walking the streets for hours...
Jet lag isn't really a concern and likely won't factor into my planning. I see now there are a number of flight options from Vancouver to Paris, arriving a various times. So I guess I need to find out how long the train ride is from Paris to Bayonne, and what the departure times are. Hopefully they line up.You get over jetlag by walking in the daylight, not by sleeping on a train. Your flight will land in the early morning......you have to stay awake for the next six hours!
If you go to the SNCF website, you’ll find their schedule of trains from Paris to Bayonne to SJPP. As I remember there are 3-4 trains a day to Bayonne. An early morning arrival would be best so as to get south. Overnighting in Bayonne might be another option if you can’t get into SJPP at a reasonable hour. I’m thinking that you’ll want to visit the Pilgrim’s Office before leaving SJPP. It’s just a bit more complicated getting it all to work in one day. To make sure you can get out of Paris as easily as possible, don’t check your backpack in Vancouver. Carry it into the cabin with you. It’ll speed up getting from CDG to Gare Montparnasse and avoid the problem of it not arriving with you in Paris.That does sound attractive. Are there later trains from Paris to Bayonne? I suspect I will be anxious to get to SJPDP and won't want to spend the night in Paris. Not sure what time I would arrive in Paris, but in case I happen to arrive later in the morning I'm wondering if I could still catch a train to Bayonne. I can rest on the train if I have jet lag - I wouldn't rest if I stayed in Paris, I would be out walking the streets for hours...
You can buy one ticket on the SNCF website for Paris to SJPdP, with a change in Bayonne.Another poster above also mentioned Bayonne, and now that I look at a map I see Bayonne is the closest to SJPDP. So perhaps the easiest route is to fly to Paris and take the train to Bayonne.
Hi JustJack, I've taken the train every time I've gone. The one time I booked a flight, AirCanada was delayed, and delayed, and I ended up missing that flight to Biarritz. I had to go by train that time, too. The whole flight from Vancouver was so stressful knowing that I barely had time to get to the correct terminal. And, in the end, I missed the flight. Air Canada offered no help, at all. Oh, wait, that's not exactly true. They offered me the equivalent of a ten dollar food voucher. The train is pleasant enough and fast.I'll of course be checking all the various options and associated prices, but looking to this group for any anecdotes regarding flying from Paris to Biarritz versus taking the train (to get to SJPDP)
My instinct is always to take a train over flying, and not having been to France since my backpacking days I'm sure I would enjoy the train ride. But perhaps there are considerations I haven't thought of?
What say you all? Do you have a preference? Is it purely personal preference or are there solid reasons for choosing one method of transport over the other?
HI, I live in BC and have done the Frances twice. Both times I took KLM Vancouver to Amsterdam, and from there flew to Bayonne. Overnighted in Bayonne for two nights to get over the jet lag, then train ( or bus) up to SJDPP. Bayonne is an interesting little city, nice place to get acclimatized, lots of reasonable accommodation. Buen Camino!I'll of course be checking all the various options and associated prices, but looking to this group for any anecdotes regarding flying from Paris to Biarritz versus taking the train (to get to SJPDP)
My instinct is always to take a train over flying, and not having been to France since my backpacking days I'm sure I would enjoy the train ride. But perhaps there are considerations I haven't thought of?
What say you all? Do you have a preference? Is it purely personal preference or are there solid reasons for choosing one method of transport over the other?
Flights to the Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne airport leave apparently now from CDG and not so much from Orly as in earlier years.
Yes, I remember this. But now in 2022 there are as many or even more flights from CdG to Biarritz than from Orly, see here: https://biarritz.aeroport.fr/fr/destinations/paris/In 2010 , we flew from Winnipeg to Biarritz via Paris . The problem is we arrived at the Paris International airport Charles de Gaulle . To fly to Biarritz , we had to get to Paris Orly airport for the domestic flight
I don't see any currently available direct flights from Calgary or Vancouver to Bordeaux, only direct flights from Montreal. Below is the destination map for Bordeaux. Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne has even fewer international flights, they are mainly from and to other European airports.First time we got a four hour car ride to Calgary, barely made the plane to Bordeaux
I have taken the train and also traveled by jet from Paris to Biarritz and flying for me was much cheaper than the train, and way less time. I rested in SJPP for 2 nights after flying, and had a refreshed start to my Camino on the Napoleon Route. It’s worth checking out the prices of each option.I'll of course be checking all the various options and associated prices, but looking to this group for any anecdotes regarding flying from Paris to Biarritz versus taking the train (to get to SJPDP)
My instinct is always to take a train over flying, and not having been to France since my backpacking days I'm sure I would enjoy the train ride. But perhaps there are considerations I haven't thought of?
What say you all? Do you have a preference? Is it purely personal preference or are there solid reasons for choosing one method of transport over the other?
Nothing is closer to SJPdP than the train station of Bayonne, easy, quit often and cheap to reach from Montepernasse. Flying is of course best Biarritz, nearby Bayonne, a bus will bring you from the airport to the train stationThe train from Paris, via Montparnasse is okay; but why not consider flying to Bordeaux or Bilbao. they are closer to SJPdP and less of a hassle.
If I can catch the train from Paris to Bayonne at CDG with only a 90 minute layover that's fantastic news! On this, my first camino, I'm just not interested in the distraction of Paris. I want to go directly to SJPDP, and rest and recover there. Thanks for the info.I have been on the Frances 3 times. Leaving from Kelowna BC. Twice I've flown via CDG and once directly into Biarritz. The Air Canada flights land in T2, the same terminal the train leaves from. So, twice, I've walked 20 minutes through the terminal and got on the train to Bayonne and then to SJPdP. No need to go into Paris to Gare Montparnasse, just walk through the terminal. There is 1 train change. Last August the Air Canada flight from Montreal arrived 90 minutes ahead of the train departure..
JustJack, I’m flying out of Toronto, overnight AF flight at 6.30pm to Paris ( CDG ) get there at 7.40 AM and then on to HOP airline to Biarritz (from CDG ,next morning) at 9.15 AM , have about 90 minutes to change flights, get to Biarritz at 10.40 am , then cab/van ride share to SJPP from Biarritz airport At 2 pm, ( all local times) Another option you have.Good question, and I guess I should have taken the time to research this a bit more before posting. I read on another thread that someone from Canada was flying to Biarritz. But I'm looking for the simplest route, so yes Bordeaux or Bilbao could be options. Another poster above also mentioned Bayonne, and now that I look at a map I see Bayonne is the closest to SJPDP. So perhaps the easiest route is to fly to Paris and take the train to Bayonne. Or perhaps fly from Paris to Bayonne (if they have an airport there?).
I was surprised to find that getting to SJPDP is a lot more convoluted that anticipated...
I will leave YVR on AIR FRANCE 03.APR at 13:30 arrive Paris CDG 08:10. Leave CDG for BIQ on Easyjet at 11:10 arrive 12:40. Train to SJpDP. Works well.Well there you go, I learned something new today. That explains a lot of my confusion... I should have looked at a map... Thanks for clarifying this obvious piece of info!
Thanks for sharing your flight details from YVR. Very helpful. Those are convenient times you've booked.I will leave YVR on AIR FRANCE 03.APR at 13:30 arrive Paris CDG 08:10. Leave CDG for BIQ on Easyjet at 11:10 arrive 12:40. Train to SJpDP. Works well.
I flew Vancouver to Paris. Took the train from Charles Deg airport to Bordeaux. Stayed overnight in Bordeaux, at hotel across street from train station. Took train from Bordeaux to SJPDP. The train was so easy. You would have to get to the other airport in Paris to fly to Biarritz then train from Biarritz to SJPD. You’d also have to get from airport in Biarritz to train station. Train ride from Paris to Bordeaux was very relaxing. No running around getting more transportation planned.I'll of course be checking all the various options and associated prices, but looking to this group for any anecdotes regarding flying from Paris to Biarritz versus taking the train (to get to SJPDP)
My instinct is always to take a train over flying, and not having been to France since my backpacking days I'm sure I would enjoy the train ride. But perhaps there are considerations I haven't thought of?
What say you all? Do you have a preference? Is it purely personal preference or are there solid reasons for choosing one method of transport over the other?
You would have to get to the other airport in Paris to fly to Biarritz then train from Biarritz to SJPD. You’d also have to get from airport in Biarritz to train station.
I mentioned it before in this thread but you may not have seen it: It is no longer true that you must get from CdG to Orly to fly to Biarritz. I checked today's arrival board right now: there are three flights arriving from CdG in Biarritz and two flights from Orly.You would have to get to the other airport in Paris to fly to Biarritz
I`m flying Air France Toronto > CDG > HOP ( air( airline) from CDG>Biarritz next morning . Cheers !I mentioned it before in this thread but you may not have seen it: It is no longer true that you must get from CdG to Orly to fly to Biarritz. I checked today's arrival board right now: there are three flights arriving from CdG in Biarritz and two flights from Orly.
AirFrance flies from CdG to Biarritz, Transavia from Orly.
Sorry, I did this 10 years ago. Of course they would have changes to flights now.I`m flying Air France Toronto > CDG > HOP ( air( airline) from CDG>Biarritz next morning . Cheers !
Im in a similar position. Living in Asia and just winging things. Not used to having to plan and book in advance. I also want to catch the train (same day as I arrive in Paris). Just working throught the logistics and making sure I leave enough room for hiccups...Despite all evidence to the contrary, I'm not a travel newbie. However I've been doing all my travel in Asia for many years, and haven't set foot in Europe in probably 20 years. It feels overwhelming compared to planning travel in asia, but I guess that's just because I'm unfamiliar. Bit by bit I'll get my european travel legs under me and figure this whole thing out...
Hi, It sounds like you are familiar with this part of the trip 'CDG to Gare Montparnasse'.If you go to the SNCF website, you’ll find their schedule of trains from Paris to Bayonne to SJPP. As I remember there are 3-4 trains a day to Bayonne. An early morning arrival would be best so as to get south. Overnighting in Bayonne might be another option if you can’t get into SJPP at a reasonable hour. I’m thinking that you’ll want to visit the Pilgrim’s Office before leaving SJPP. It’s just a bit more complicated getting it all to work in one day. To make sure you can get out of Paris as easily as possible, don’t check your backpack in Vancouver. Carry it into the cabin with you. It’ll speed up getting from CDG to Gare Montparnasse and avoid the problem of it not arriving with you in Paris.
Your time scale feels tight to me. I might try it, but I know how to catch the RER, and how Montparnasse is layed out.Hi, It sounds like you are familiar with this part of the trip 'CDG to Gare Montparnasse'.
What would you consider a reasonable time to get from the plane through immigration and baggage to the train departures?
And
How long does the train from CDG to Gare Montparnasse actually take? One website tells me a little over an hour, another website is suggesting up to 2.5hours. I'm not sure what is realistic?
My planes arrival time is 7.35 (but I'm allowing for it to be an hour late so 8.45am). I would prefer to take the 12.15 train from Gare Montparnasse to Bayonne but I can't tell if I'm leaving things too tight?
Would be really grateful for your thoughts.
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