Multiple night stays in Saint Jean

[Terri B]

Does anyone know whether you can stay multiple nights in any alberge in Saint Jean? I arrive late on 29 August from Oz and want to stay in Saint Jean a few nights before starting to get myself on European time etc after 24+ hours of travel.

 

[mspath]

You might try a private albergue for a longer stay. See this Gronze.com link below for some possibilities. Pilgrim albergues are printed in brown ink and regular tourist accommodation in black. http://www.gronze.com/francia/aquitania/pirineos-atlanticos/saint-jean-pied-port

Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[wayfarer]

I would imagine it should not be a problem in the Private albergues, you will have plenty time to email them and check.
Have a great Camino.
Buen Camino.

 

[Terri B]

You might try a private albergue for a longer stay. See this Gronze.com link below for some possibilities. Pilgrim albergues are printed in brown ink and regular tourist accommodation in black. http://www.gronze.com/francia/aquitania/pirineos-atlanticos/saint-jean-pied-port

Good luck and Buen camino!

Thanks mspath, I've had a look, but it's gonna take me a while to go through it as my Spanish isn't great.
Buen Camino

 

[Terri B]

I would imagine it should not be a problem in the Private albergues, you will have plenty time to email them and check.
Have a great Camino.
Buen Camino.

Thanks wayfarer, true I do have some time to organise myself.
Buen Camino

 

[William Marques]

Thanks mspath, I've had a look, but it's gonna take me a while to go through it as my Spanish isn't great.
Buen Camino

How's your French or Basque?

 

[julie]

Hi Terri, A couple of years ago, I stayed in Auberge du Pelerin http://www.aubergedupelerin.com/fr/l-auberge-du-pelerin--t10.html for two nights and, many years ago, stayed in l'Esprit du Chemin for three nights. L'Esprit is now under different ownership and is Gite Beilari http://www.beilari.info/en

I believe the maximum gite stay is three nights. My stays were at the end of pilgrimages when I was trying to make sense of what I had learnt along the way and I desperately wanted to maintain pilgrim contact which is why I chose to stay in a gite. However, it is not what I would choose in order to recover from jetlag because you need to leave your accommodation when the pilgrims vacate in the morning and return again with the new intake in the afternoon. To have adequate rest and come and go as you please, I would go for a hotel. I have stayed in Hotel Restaurant des Remparts http://www.hoteldesremparts.fr/remparts/gb/hoteldesremparts.htm a couple of times and found it comfortable.

 

[nreyn12]

Hi Terri,

I love the idea not to rush the start!

I have stayed multiple nights at a couple of gites in SJPP: Gite Etoile (http://www.pelerinage-saint-jacques-compostelle.com/en/gite) and Gite Beilari when it was L'Esprit du Chemin (http://www.pelerinage-saint-jacques-compostelle.com/en/gite). Both will have English-speakers on hand, and both will be able to respond to emails in English.

Keep in mind that gites close during the day, from around 9:00m to 4:00pm, and everyone has to be out during those hours. If you want to have access to your room and the facility during the day hours, you will need to book into a hotel or B&B.

Maybe get a private room for a couple of nights, then move to a gite for the night before you walk so you can meet up with pilgrims starting on the same day?

Enjoy your journey!

Nancy

 

[NorwegianWalker]

Does anyone know whether you can stay multiple nights in any alberge in Saint Jean? I arrive late on 29 August from Oz and want to stay in Saint Jean a few nights before starting to get myself on European time etc after 24+ hours of travel.

Hi Terri, why don't you ask about volunteering opportunities, mabye you can get a few nights free of charge including free meals Please let me know I might do that myself.

 

[Maryimelda]

Hi Terri, A couple of years ago, I stayed in Auberge du Pelerin http://www.aubergedupelerin.com/fr/l-auberge-du-pelerin--t10.html for two nights and, many years ago, stayed in l'Esprit du Chemin for three nights. L'Esprit is now under different ownership and is Gite Beilari http://www.beilari.info/en

I believe the maximum gite stay is three nights. My stays were at the end of pilgrimages when I was trying to make sense of what I had learnt along the way and I desperately wanted to maintain pilgrim contact which is why I chose to stay in a gite. However, it is not what I would choose in order to recover from jetlag because you need to leave your accommodation when the pilgrims vacate in the morning and return again with the new intake in the afternoon. To have adequate rest and come and go as you please, I would go for a hotel. I have stayed in Hotel Restaurant des Remparts http://www.hoteldesremparts.fr/remparts/gb/hoteldesremparts.htm a couple of times and found it comfortable.

And I can recommend Hotel Ramuntcho. It is very central to everything in St Jean, is very comfortable and pristine clean. The views out over the Pyrenees from some of the rooms are amazing as well.

 

[Mark Lee]

Not sure if you will get much rest being booted out of an albergue for several hours everyday. Maybe stay your last night at an albergue, but the other nights stay at a hotel?
I stayed at the Central Hotel on my first CF. It was very nice. My room's window overlooked the small river there in SJPdP and I could hear it at night. Too cool.

 

[Kanga]

I doubt you would need any more than 2 nights, I think you might find yourself impatient to start. I find walking is an excellent cure for jetlag. When I had to stay in SJPDP for a few days wsiting for a travelling companion I used a B&B (chambre d'hotes) and it was luxurious - more expensive than a gite but worth it to have my own room and be able to come and go as I wanted.

 

[Terri B]

How's your French or Basque?

Non existent William. Unfortunately learning other languages wasn't a priority in Oz when I was at School. It has since changed but too late for me to pick up another language with ease. Hence my struggling with Spanish.

 

[Terri B]

Hi Terri, A couple of years ago, I stayed in Auberge du Pelerin http://www.aubergedupelerin.com/fr/l-auberge-du-pelerin--t10.html for two nights and, many years ago, stayed in l'Esprit du Chemin for three nights. L'Esprit is now under different ownership and is Gite Beilari http://www.beilari.info/en

I believe the maximum gite stay is three nights. My stays were at the end of pilgrimages when I was trying to make sense of what I had learnt along the way and I desperately wanted to maintain pilgrim contact which is why I chose to stay in a gite. However, it is not what I would choose in order to recover from jetlag because you need to leave your accommodation when the pilgrims vacate in the morning and return again with the new intake in the afternoon. To have adequate rest and come and go as you please, I would go for a hotel. I have stayed in Hotel Restaurant des Remparts http://www.hoteldesremparts.fr/remparts/gb/hoteldesremparts.htm a couple of times and found it comfortable.

Thanks Julie, I'll check out some If your suggestions.

 

[Terri B]

Hi Terri,

I love the idea not to rush the start!

I have stayed multiple nights at a couple of gites in SJPP: Gite Etoile (http://www.pelerinage-saint-jacques-compostelle.com/en/gite) and Gite Beilari when it was L'Esprit du Chemin (http://www.pelerinage-saint-jacques-compostelle.com/en/gite). Both will have English-speakers on hand, and both will be able to respond to emails in English.

Keep in mind that gites close during the day, from around 9:00m to 4:00pm, and everyone has to be out during those hours. If you want to have access to your room and the facility during the day hours, you will need to book into a hotel or B&B.

Maybe get a private room for a couple of nights, then move to a gite for the night before you walk so you can meet up with pilgrims starting on the same day?

Enjoy your journey!

Nancy

Thanks Nancy I'll check them out.

 

[Terri B]

Hi Terri, why don't you ask about volunteering opportunities, mabye you can get a few nights free of charge including free meals Please let me know I might do that myself.

Thanks Norwegianwalker I see what I can find.

 

[Terri B]

And I can recommend Hotel Ramuntcho. It is very central to everything in St Jean, is very comfortable and pristine clean. The views out over the Pyrenees from some of the rooms are amazing as well.

Thanks Maryimelda I'll check it out.

 

[Terri B]

I doubt you would need any more than 2 nights, I think you might find yourself impatient to start. I find walking is an excellent cure for jetlag. When I had to stay in SJPDP for a few days wsiting for a travelling companion I used a B&B (chambre d'hotes) and it was luxurious - more expensive than a gite but worth it to have my own room and be able to come and go as I wanted.

Thanks Kanga. Might need to rethink the number of nights then or book 2 nights and see how I feel. Only problem is how flexible are they at Orisson with bookings. I was going to split the first leg and only goes as far as there on the first day.

 

[Terri B]

Not sure if you will get much rest being booted out of an albergue for several hours everyday. Maybe stay your last night at an albergue, but the other nights stay at a hotel?
I stayed at the Central Hotel on my first CF. It was very nice. My room's window overlooked the small river there in SJPdP and I could hear it at night. Too cool.

Thanks Mark, I'll check it out.

 

[Brian the Mennonite]

I've been considering the same thing. I arrive on July 3 but plan to book a hotel for the first night to get a good rest travelling from Canada. I'll wander around for a full day and check into the alberge on the 4th. I think one good night's rest should do it. I think the advice of walking off the jetlag is a great idea.

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

Does anyone know whether you can stay multiple nights in any alberge in Saint Jean? I arrive late on 29 August from Oz and want to stay in Saint Jean a few nights before starting to get myself on European time etc after 24+ hours of travel.

Hi Terri
We also travelled from Australia and stayed 2 nights in St Jean at the Hotel Ramuntcho. Found it comfortable and well located. We walked all around for the 2 days. There's the pilgrim office, a well equipped outdoor store for all the stuff you still need but never knew existed, a wonderful spice and tea shop and a chocolate shop!!! I had my birthday there before we started and ended up with 1kg of chocolate (!) that I gave away to departing pilgrims. So there's plenty to do and see (we spent an afternoon walking around the citadel) as well as lots of places to eat.

I agree with @Kanga that 2 nights will probably be enough. Watching pilgrims leave makes you eager to be on your way.

 

[gerardcarey]

Auberge du Pelerin for me also. I've stayed there twice, 2 nights both times. Came and went throughout the day, no prob. They like you to have the evening meal there, but I'm over lentil soup. The town cafes will give you an idea of what the local food consists of. That's part of the travel experience right?
Regards & Buen Camino
Gerard

 

[Terri B]

Hi Terri
We also travelled from Australia and stayed 2 nights in St Jean at the Hotel Ramuntcho. Found it comfortable and well located. We walked all around for the 2 days. There's the pilgrim office, a well equipped outdoor store for all the stuff you still need but never knew existed, a wonderful spice and tea shop and a chocolate shop!!! I had my birthday there before we started and ended up with 1kg of chocolate (!) that I gave away to departing pilgrims. So there's plenty to do and see (we spent an afternoon walking around the citadel) as well as lots of places to eat.

I agree with @Kanga that 2 nights will probably be enough. Watching pilgrims leave makes you eager to be on your way.

Thanks Meri, I took Kanga's advice and am only doing 2 nights in SJPDP at Gite Azkorria and have split day 1 by staying at Orisson.

 

[Terri B]

Auberge du Pelerin for me also. I've stayed there twice, 2 nights both times. Came and went throughout the day, no prob. They like you to have the evening meal there, but I'm over lentil soup. The town cafes will give you an idea of what the local food consists of. That's part of the travel experience right?
Regards & Buen Camino
Gerard

Thanks Gerard trying all the local food is a must!!

 

[J Willhaus]

Non existent William. Unfortunately learning other languages wasn't a priority in Oz when I was at School. It has since changed but too late for me to pick up another language with ease. Hence my struggling with Spanish.[/QUOTE)

Might try the app Duo Lingo. It is free. I have finished the Spanish lesson and am doing a bit of French now. We are staying one night at a Paris airport hotel before we go on to SJPDP to help with jet lag.