Planning first Camino

[Elke]

Hi everyone
I am planning my first Camino this Spring. The plan is to start in St Jean Pied-de Port. My first question is best way to travel from London as I am looking at trains or plane and where to stay if I need accommodation. I am looking at 24th April as my start from London. Any suggestions are welcome and if anyone else is heading out at the same time it please let me know.

Many thanks

Elke

 

[Deleted member 3000]

An airplane to Biarritz is quite convenient. Ryan Air has some. In SJPdP I suggest reservations at Beilari or just show up at the Pilgrim Office and stay in its gite.

 

[jpflavin1]

Hi everyone
I am planning my first Camino this Spring. The plan is to start in St Jean Pied-de Port. My first question is best way to travel from London as I am looking at trains or plane and where to stay if I need accommodation. I am looking at 24th April as my start from London. Any suggestions are welcome and if anyone else is heading out at the same time it please let me know.

Many thanks

Elke

Elke:

My first two Camino's I entered Europe through London.

Once I took the (Chunnel) train to Paris, the metra to Montparnesse, the TGV train to Bayonne and the local train in Bayonne to SJPdP.

The next time I flew from Stansted (long cab ride from London to Stansted) to Biarritz, cab to Bayonne and local train to SJPdP.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[FLEUR]

Flying to Biarritz is probably the best bet. Another option is fly to Bordeaux (regular buses in to city centre train station) and then travel by train to Bayonne, change there for St. Jean Pied de Port. Rail Europe is good for train bookings.

 

[Bradypus]

As @FLEUR suggests flying to Bordeaux is an option worth considering. Some of the flights London to Biarritz arrive too late to make a reliable connection with the train to St Jean. It might be a little more expensive but more dependable to travel via Bordeaux on an early flight if you are aiming to reach St Jean the same day.

 

[Devon Mike]

Check out National Express from London Victoria Coach Station to Bayonne. I have used this and it is cheaper. Also you do not have the same restrictions on what you can carry. It goes via the Dover-Calais ferry to Paris where you change coaches for Bayonne. The drop-off in Bayonne is right outside the railway station where you then get the train to SJPP.

 

[kayagee66]

Same as a previous answer, i took an early Eurostar to Paris (arriving around 10am i think). Took the train (just after midday i think) from Paris Montparnasse to Bayonne. You will have time if it goes to plan to get the train to St Jean when you arrive. I stayed in Bayonne and went to St Jean the next morning. Which gave me time to visit the pilgrims office and explore the town.
If you book early you can get a 1st class seat to Bayonne for little more than a 2nd class seat.

 

[Elke]

Thank you all very much for your responses.it helps me to feel connected and with the planning. I am sure have more questions later

 

[Bradypus]

Check out National Express from London Victoria Coach Station to Bayonne. I have used this and it is cheaper.

The headline fare may possibly be cheaper - though I suspect that with a few days or weeks advance notice comparison sites like Kayak or Skyscanner will produce prices that significantly undercut National Express/Eurolines/Alsa. The question I would ask myself is do I want to spend such a long time in a bus? Am I not likely to spend any cash saved on food and drink and other incidentals along the way? If you enjoy coach travel then this is certainly an option but I very much doubt that it would be any real cost-saving compared with flying to Biarritz.