Staying in Bayonne without pre-booking?

[LizArmstrong]

Hi all,

In my excellent preparation for my first Camino, I have somehow left booking my accommodation to the last minute and have now discovered that seemingly every hotel and hostel in Biarritz and Bayonne is full or well out of budget.

If I get the bus from Biarritz to Bayonne, am I likely to find a room somewhere near the station? Has anyone done this before? I want to avoid wandering Bayonne all night waiting for the train but equally just can't run to the costs of the guesthouses I've found online. I arrive at 21.30 on Tuesday (6th) Aug.

Thanks for any advice. I have planned better for the rest of it, I promise!

Liz

 

[whariwharangi]

I tried expedia.ca ... and its quite expensive (cheapest $117 though only 1 km from station) ... it doesn't look like there are other options.

Can you delay your arrival so you don't have to stay there?

 

[mikevasey]

Hi try using this link http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/spip/ when you get through look at the heading Accueil et Hebergents and one of the subheadings there will take you to pilgrim related accommodation in Bayonne. The website belongs to the friends od St Jacques in the Pyrenees/ Atlantique region. You will have to provide a credencial to stay at any of the places listed and that your first stamp will come from there.

Buen Camino

Mike

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hi Liz
What a predicament.

You may want to email Caroline apcaroline@hotmail.com at Express Burricote to see if there is room to share or contact the site at http://www.expressbourricot.com/en/contact.html.

There maybe someone on your flight who wants to share a taxi. At this point it would be cheaper than staying in Bayonne because of all beds full. Even if you had to do a taxi yourself the cost would still be cheaper at 80 Euro? Hopefully you will find someone to share. I'm guessing there would be a few taxi's outside the airport waiting for customers.

You will get to St Jean in about an hour. I've read that the pilgrims office doesn't close until after the last train gets in and that is around the same time you would arrive. I would go directly to the office so they can help you find a bed at regular pilgrims prices. Whew!!

Wait, I just found this post from Margaret who really knows her stuff.

"In SJPdP the Pilgrims' office ie the Amies du Chemin de Saint Jacques at 39 rue de la Citadelle In season is open from 7h30 to 12h30 and then from 13h30 to 22h. Telephone is 05 59 37 05 09. They can provide you with a Credential or Pilgrim Passport and lodging assistance.

These volunteers also help run the municipal albergue at 55 rue de la Citadelle. Recently renovated this is a fine place to stay, but they do NOT take reservations. If their albergue is full they will help you find lodgings when you are on site. Margaret"

May the Lord be with you Liz and Buen Camino,
Angela

 

[mspath]

Liz,

All the above answers are helpful. I trust that you are arriving at the Biarritz airport. If all else fails from the airport CALL the pilgrim office in SJPdP of the Amies du Chemin de St Jacques. Their telephone is 05 59 37 05 09 and ask them for help. Explain your situation. Their volunteers speak many languages.

Do NOT try to wander the streets alone during the night.

In Bayonne the Monte Carlo, 11 rue Hugues, is a small, inexpensive place which is conveniently opposite the rr station (Gare SNCF). Slightly off the expensive tourist grid they might have rooms. Here is their web >> http://hotel-montecarlo.allcommerces.com/. Next morning you could easily catch the early TER line 62 train to SJPdP.

Bon Voyage and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[naplesdon]

If you are trying to book in Bayonne or Biarritz in August you are definitely going have a hard time finding a place available. August is the height of the tourist season and there are more people here than ever before in my memory, even finding a place park is next to impossible.

 

[Canuck]

Liz,
There is a possibility for pilgrim accommodation in Bayonne here:
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/mai ... saint-leon
Give it a try.
Good luck,
Jean-Marc

 

[OTH86]

Thanks, Mike & Jean-Luc, for these links! I'll be arriving in Bayonne 22 Sept - how busy are these places likely to be?
Terry (68-yo female)

 

[Canuck]

... how busy are these places likely to be?
Terry (68-yo female)

Terry,

I don't think it should be a problem considering that September is a quieter month and that St-Leon can accommodate up to 100 persons.
Have a good one,
Jean-Marc

 

[mikevasey]

One thing I will add is that the Maison Dicoesaine in Bayonne does not usually accept guests on a Sunday, one of our forum members(FatmaG) managed to stay there on a Sunday when she walked the Batzan route but they are normally closed.

 

[OTH86]

Oops - sorry Jean-Marc! I gave you a new name!

Thanks to both of you for the additional info!
Terry

 

[naplesdon]

Quite right! The school holidays end on 2 September so a large number of tourist will probably have gone home over the last weekend of August. Granted there are still some tourists visiting here until the middle of September and for whatever reason there are many, many young backpackers wandering around town right now.

 

[Old Koot]

I'm arriving Bayonne, 2013-09-07 at 20h44 after 8 hours or more on the train, and after a long flight from the west coast of Canada ....... so far I'm flummoxed trying to find an Albergue for a bed for the night.

Any helpful suggestions as to how to find a hostel, and secondly, how to contact them by email.

I read somewhere that there was one in the centre of Bayonne next to the cathedral, but I can't find anyway to contact via email or a website.

thx

 

[mspath]

Old Koot,

In Bayonne there is no albergue as such but the Maison Diocesaine Saint Leon provides simple accommodation for pilgrims. See >> http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/maison-diocesaine-saint-leon . The site lists an email address.

Also the Monte Carlo, 11 rue Hugues, is a small, inexpensive hotel conveniently close to the rr station (GareSNCF). Here is their web which also lists an email address >> http://hotel-montecarlo.allcommerces.com/.

Next morning you can easily catch the early TER line 62 train to SJPdP.

Bon Voyage and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[nathanael]

I tried expedia.ca ... and its quite expensive (cheapest $117 though only 1 km from station) ... it doesn't look like there are other options.

Can you delay your arrival so you don't have to stay there?

much info, but no one answers the question. Is there an albergue/gite in Bayonne for pilgrims?

 

[mspath]

Check out this albergue, Maison Diocesaine Saint Leon, listed by Eroski for Bayonne.
As I mentioned above the Monte Carlo restaurant/hotel is small, cheap and faces the rr station.

MM

 

[MickMac]

much info, but no one answers the question. Is there an albergue/gite in Bayonne for pilgrims?

Read other replys . http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/maison-diocesaine-saint-leon