Insurance

Peter Morrill said:

A more mundane question for UK pilgrims.
I am doing my first Camino in April this year, flying to Biarritz (74p on RyanAir!) As the flight arrives evening I want to get a B&B in Biarritz and get a train to St Jean Pied de Port the next day. Does any know any good cheap hotels there?

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The airport is at Anglet, midway between Biarritz and Bayonne (which is really one conurbation). The train goes from Bayonne, which is the historic cathedral city. Unless you particularly want to see Biarritz - it is a fine situation - it would be out of your way to go there, and being a fashionable resort it's also pricier than Bayonne. You can get a bus from the airport to Bayonne station; there's several hotels around there, or you can stroll over the river to the old town where there are others. I have stopped in several hotels in Bayonne; last year the *** Grand (one of the best in town) cost me €60. Compared to Britain, all hotels in France are cheap! (And in Spain they're even cheaper.) You can get a list from the tourist office at http://www.tourisme64.com/ (though their server seems to be down at present). Or see what Ryanair and all the other discount websites can offer you.

An alternative to catching the train is to walk to St Jean. The Pyr-Atl Amis have marked a route from Bayonne (67km). See their website for sketch maps etc http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/aaa_carte.php3

Peter Morrill said:

The more important question is:
I have my E111 medical form, but is it advisable to get further travel insurance and if so are there any recommendations?

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The E111 covers the actual medical costs (generally you have to pay and get refunded later). Insurance will cover costs of repatriation (and various other things). Depends on how high you regard that risk. Travel insurance is not expensive these days; Ryanair for example will be happy to sell you some.

Peter Morrill said:

Peter Morrill

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as in LDWA, I assume

Peter Robins said:

You can get a list from the tourist office at http://www.tourisme64.com/ (though their server seems to be down at present)

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PS Bayonne Tourisme is at http://www.bayonne-tourisme.com/bayonne.htm

I am doing my first Camino in April this year, flying to Biarritz (74p on RyanAir!) As the flight arrives evening I want to get a B&B in Biarritz and get a train to St Jean Pied de Port the next day. Does any know any good cheap hotels there?

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If you need to stay over-night stand outside the station in Bayonne and look left across the parking lot. There you will see the Hotel Paris Madrid which is run by Patrick and Sylvie Sorbois. A comfortable room can be had for about 30 euros +/-.

The more important question is:
I have my E111 medical form, but is it advisable to get further travel insurance and if so are there any recommendations?

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This is your own decision. All I can say is that when I needed the hospital in Spain they did not even ask me for my E111 form and never mentioned any cost, but that was for a simple A&E problem. I have an annual travel insurance though and I would not really advise against it.