Problems starting on a Sunday out of St Jean Pied de Port?

Parzival

New Member

• Dec 31, 2012

• #1

We are very close to buying tickets, and arranging travel when it occurred to me that starting on a Sunday might be a problem. Will everything in St Jean Pied de Port be closed? Would it be better to pick another day?

Thank you.

 

D

Deleted member 3000

Guest

• Dec 31, 2012

• #2

There is plenty open on a Sunday. You will have plenty of company, but I think Saturday is the busiest day of the week for departures.

Buen camino.

 

Parzival

New Member

• Dec 31, 2012

• #3

And just like that..."Sunday it is!". Thank you.

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Dec 31, 2012

• #4

HOWEVER, it has been my experience that starting your Camino mid-week helps in terms of albergues being full. Many more people start on a Monday than on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The times I've begun mid-week, I had a much nicer time, with fewer crowded albergues.

And remember, there is no law that says you have to follow Brierley's stages. Walking the "in between" is often a very good strategy also.

But... some people enjoy crowds!

 

ffp13

Addicted pilgrim

Time of past OR future Camino

Completed Caminos: 2009 SJPP, 2011 Roncessvalle , 2012 Pamploma, 2013 Roncessvalle, 2013 Porto, 2014 Burgos, 2014 Porto

Future: Roncessvalle

• Dec 31, 2012

• #5

Anniesantiago said:

HOWEVER, it has been my experience that starting your Camino mid-week helps

Click to expand...

I totally agree, many of the French and Spanish pilgrims will travel to SJPP over the weekend to start their Camino a mid week start helps to avoid this wave of pilgrims .

I have found the same thing happens at some of the other popular starting places Leon, Burgos, Saria, I try to avoid the weekends there as well.

 

Parzival

New Member

• Dec 31, 2012

• #6

Great advice. I have to start on the weekend because of time off from work. This will give me more days on the Camino. We get there on a Saturday.

 

D

Deleted member 3000

Guest

• Jan 1, 2013

• #7

If you are there early enough on Saturday, you might want to consider walking to Honto. It would take just a couple of hours, and would get a fair amount of elevation change and some jet lag behind you. While St. Jean Pied de Port is a charming little village, it does not take a lot of time to see it. A visit to the Pilgrim Office, a meal, and a view of the Citadel walls, and you might be ready and eager to get started. You do not generally need reservations for Honto because it is not as popular as Orisson, which his another long hour past Honto.

 

Parzival

New Member

• Jan 1, 2013

• #8

We will be getting to St Jean about 2:40PM. Our flight is only 3hrs from Italy.