Madrid to St. Pierre, via San Sebastian

[Sue Kranz]

Hello Camineros (not sure if this is even a real word in Spanish, but I was trying to say, "fellow walkers," but it sounds way better in Spanish )

I am low on funds, so I will be landing in Madrid at 11:30am, not a fortuitous hour to begin a long trek to St. Pierre...I will take a train to San Sebastian...then head for Bayonne and take the train from there to St. Pierre...does this sound sound?

Does anyone know of any inexpensive place to stay in the San Sebastian area?

Mil gracias (million thanks)
Sue...peregrina

 

[whariwharangi]

Hello Camineros (not sure if this is even a real word in Spanish, but I was trying to say, "fellow walkers," but it sounds way better in Spanish )

I am low on funds, so I will be landing in Madrid at 11:30am, not a fortuitous hour to begin a long trek to St. Pierre...I will take a train to San Sebastian...then head for Bayonne and take the train from there to St. Pierre...does this sound sound?

Does anyone know of any inexpensive place to stay in the San Sebastian area?

Mil gracias (million thanks)
Sue...peregrina

It would be helpful when you purchase tickets to state your destination as St Jean Pied de Port. Unless you really mean St Pierre ... a place that I am not aware of.

If you are taking the train from Madrid to San Sebastian ... you might as well take the train to the terminus at Irun/Hendaye. There is Metro Donostialdea (Euskotren) from Irun Colon - 3 km - to Hendaia if the Renfe train doesn't terminate in Hendaye. Then take the SNCF train from Gare d'Hendaye to Gare Bayonne.

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Sue,
If you're going to spend the night somewhere, maybe Pamplona would be better? That way it's only a short (1h45) bus trip the next day to St Jean Pied de Port, you don't have to worry about making any other connections.

You can get a bus Madrid-Pamplona with Alsa or PLM (€20-40, buses throughout the day, journey time +/-5hrs) and then from Pamplona-St Jean with Alsa (€22, bus leaves at 14:30). You might be able to stay in an albergue in Pamplona.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Sue,

Do you mean St-Jean Pied-de-Port?

And why go to Bayonne from Pamplona? There is a bus to St-Jean from Pamplona. In Pamplona you can stay in any of the albergues as if it was your first night on the Camino.

Now, if you want to go to Bayonne, by all means, but then walk the beautiful Camino del Norte.

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi Sue,
If you're going to spend the night somewhere, maybe Pamplona would be better? That way it's only a short (1h45) bus trip the next day to St Jean Pied de Port, you don't have to worry about making any other connections.

You can get a bus Madrid-Pamplona with Alsa or PLM (€20-40, buses throughout the day, journey time +/-5hrs) and then from Pamplona-St Jean with Alsa (€22, bus leaves at 14:30). You might be able to stay in an albergue in Pamplona.

Sue,

Do you mean St-Jean Pied-de-Port?

And why go to Bayonne from Pamplona? There is a bus to St-Jean from Pamplona. In Pamplona you can stay in any of the albergues as if it was your first night on the Camino.

Now, if you want to go to Bayonne, by all means, but then walk the beautiful Camino del Norte.

The problem with Pamplona is that unless you catch the last bus at 1730 you end up waiting till 1430 the next day to continue travel. Even in summer the first bus goes at 1000 ... and gets to SJPdP too late to start walking.

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Hi Sue.
In Spanish language the walkers are " caminantes " but in the Camino we say "Peregrinos"
Buen Camino peregrina.

 

[Jan_D]

@whariwharangi - yes I suppose the OP could catch the 7:45am train the next day from Bayonne, getting to SJPP at 9am and then start walking straight away. Assuming she wants to start walking the morning after an international flight and a +/-7 hour train journey? I'd prefer to get to SJPP at a leisurely pace and then spend the night there, to be fresh and well rested for an early camino start the next day. But that's just me! I suppose it's good to know one's options.

 

[kristen metcalf]

Hi Sue, I am a volunteer at a local b&b in San Sebastian and I am happy to help you out. Just let me know... Buen Camino! Kristen

 

[waveprof]

Hello Camineros (not sure if this is even a real word in Spanish, but I was trying to say, "fellow walkers," but it sounds way better in Spanish )

I am low on funds, so I will be landing in Madrid at 11:30am, not a fortuitous hour to begin a long trek to St. Pierre...I will take a train to San Sebastian...then head for Bayonne and take the train from there to St. Pierre...does this sound sound?

Does anyone know of any inexpensive place to stay in the San Sebastian area?

Mil gracias (million thanks)
Sue...peregrina

I live in San Sebastian in summers.

There are a couple of pilgrim's albuergues there (Donostia is on the Norte) so those would be cheapest.

If you can't get in there try Pension d'amore (orD'adore, something like that). Its just off the plaza de la constitution and nice, cheap, and centrally locatted

 

[Sue Kranz]

I live in San Sebastian in summers.

There are a couple of pilgrim's albuergues there (Donostia is on the Norte) so those would be cheapest.

If you can't get in there try Pension d'amore (orD'adore, something like that). Its just off the plaza de la constitution and nice, cheap, and centrally locatted

Thanks for the info. Would I be able to stay in an albuergue, if I don't yet have my "passport"?

 

[Sue Kranz]

Hi Sue,
If you're going to spend the night somewhere, maybe Pamplona would be better? That way it's only a short (1h45) bus trip the next day to St Jean Pied de Port, you don't have to worry about making any other connections.

You can get a bus Madrid-Pamplona with Alsa or PLM (€20-40, buses throughout the day, journey time +/-5hrs) and then from Pamplona-St Jean with Alsa (€22, bus leaves at 14:30). You might be able to stay in an albergue in Pamplona.

Thanks! I have little funds for lodging. Would I be able to stay at an albergue if I don't yet have my "passport"?

I have always wanted to see San Sebastian, so I thought I'd stay there and leave in the afternoon and arrive in St-Jean Pied-de-Port late afternoon and stay the night there.

Any thoughts about where to stay in St-Jean Pied-de-Port?

Gracias!
Sue

 

[mspath]

...

Any thoughts about where to stay in St-Jean Pied-de-Port?

Gracias!
Sue

Sue,

If you arrive in SJPdP without a reservation go to the Pilgrim Office for help in finding a place for the night. The SJPdP Pilgrim Office is located on the camino at 39 rue de La Citadelle.

The office is open every day and in season from early in the morning until late at night ie after the arrival of the last bus/train. The helpful multi-lingual volunteers can provide Credentials and stamps if needed, as well as a list of major albergues and current weather/ trail conditions.

They can also help locate a bed/bunk for the night. They keep an up to the minute list of all available spaces in pilgrim albergues as well as regular tourist facilities and will telephone to find you a space

Most importantly the office is a great spot to meet/ greet other pilgrims. ...One year due to a bad storm, ice on tbe rr tracks and very late arrival I was happy to sleep ad hoc on the floor of that pilgrim office!

Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[waveprof]

Thanks for the info. Would I be able to stay in an albuergue, if I don't yet have my "passport"?

Depends on the albergue. Sometiems yes, sometimes no. If you explain your situation it improves your chances. Say hello in Basque (Kaixo) and it improves it more

 

[Sue Kranz]

Hi Sue, I am a volunteer at a local b&b in San Sebastian and I am happy to help you out. Just let me know... Buen Camino! Kristen

Hola Kristen,
I will have my credenciales when I arrive, so I could stay in an albergue. I am interested in more details about your B&B in San Sebastian. Please contact me via conversation on this forum (click on my avatar and start a conversation). If it isn't too expensive, I would definitely be interested in staying there....gracias.

 

[Sue Kranz]

Hi Sue, I am a volunteer at a local b&b in San Sebastian and I am happy to help you out. Just let me know... Buen Camino! Kristen

Hi Kristen,

I would like to find out more about the B&B you mentioned, and/or other albergues in San Sebastian. I will be there on May 17!

Sue