For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Thanks to all for the excellent recommendations, looking into each of them now!Can you fly to Biarritz, and shuttle from there? Others will chime
Can you fly to Biarritz, and shuttle from there? Others will chime in with the shuttle details.
Thanks to all for the excellent recommendations, looking into each of them now!
Can anyone tell me about the shuttle from Biarritz? Rome2Rio just says “autobus” with no option to book
My savior!!!! Seeing the earlier Bayonne-St Jean train still in place made everything click and I was able to rebook earlier trains from Paris that had been sold out when I made the original booking (silver lining of nationwide travel disruptions?)For info: On Saturday and Sunday, 11 and 12 March, trains from Bayonne to SJPP:
Trains departing at 8:16, 11:24 and 18:19 are cancelled and there is no replacement bus!Train departing at 14:19 is scheduled.Source:
Schedule and available tickets: https://www.sncf-connect.com/billet-train
Departure and arrival times at Bayonne train station in real time - https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gares-services/bayonne/horaires?board=train_time0&op=departure -
2 days after I booked my flight to Paris in 2018, they announced a train strike which involved the day I landed, and the next day. At least I knew about it before I left, so I could plan my Plan B. This involved taking the bus from Paris CDG airport to Paris Orly and flying to Biarritz, then taking bus to Bayonne, where I stayed overnight before bussing to SJPdP. The hardest part of my 800k Camino was getting to the start line.
I am not familiar with the current strike, but the French are very practiced at it, and I think these are usually rotating strikes, so if you can check their website, you may find they actually post the rotating days and it may be simpler to stay put for a day or 2 and enjoy Paris, then proceed as planned.
Edit: I see now that you have it sorted. Buen Camino.
@heyemily, how did it go today? I had a look from time to time at the real-time arrivals and departures board for Bayonne station and it seems that the 10:08 am TGV from Paris left on time and arrived in Bayonne in time for you to catch the 14:19 train to SJPP?Departure and arrival times at Bayonne train station in real time - https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gares-services/bayonne/horaires?board=train_time0&op=departure -
Did you check the train from montrepasse? It goes to Bayonne not Bordeaux. Leaves at 7 am .....it sounds like some are running? You shouldn't be headed to Bordeaux anywayHello all! Not what I expected for my first Camino, but you know what they say about best laid plans. Here’s the situation: I’ve been stuck in Paris for the past two days due to the national rail strikes (solidarité)! I just found out that the train I was hoping would get me from Paris to SJPDP tomorrow has cancelled the Bordeaux-Bayonne Bayonne-SJPDP legs, meaning I’d get from Paris to Bordeaux but no further. Hoping to draw on the collective wisdom of this forum to figure out how to get myself to SJPDP in the most expedient and least expensive way as I write this from a last minute hostel bed in Paris.
! NOTE: if you are a pilgrim who is similarly stuck, let’s coordinate!
Here are my options as I see them:
Option 1: Take my chances and take the train to Bordeaux, figure out a bus to SJPDP
-Potential issues: buses and tricker to navigate and less frequent than the trains, staying in France may mean more travel problems, my French is atrocious
-Does anyone have experience navigating the buses in France?
Option 2: Get out of dodge and fly to Barcelona, train to Pamplona, taxi to SJPDP
- A well-worn pilgrim path, but expensive now that I’ve gotten myself to Paris
Is there a third way? Obstacles or solutions I’m missing? Any advice would be gold as I try to get this Camino underway!
personally, I would fly to Bilbao Spain. It’s a beautiful seaside town in northern Spain frequented by visitors so good flights. A quick 2 hours bus ride to Pamplona. Then from there there are multiple options. This strike may not be easy to navigate. Get out of France and work your way to SJPP. Flights within Europe are fairly reasonable. If not Bilbao I’d fly to Madrid or Barcelona. I have done all three options and Bilbao is easiest and closest.Hello all! Not what I expected for my first Camino, but you know what they say about best laid plans. Here’s the situation: I’ve been stuck in Paris for the past two days due to the national rail strikes (solidarité)! I just found out that the train I was hoping would get me from Paris to SJPDP tomorrow has cancelled the Bordeaux-Bayonne Bayonne-SJPDP legs, meaning I’d get from Paris to Bordeaux but no further. Hoping to draw on the collective wisdom of this forum to figure out how to get myself to SJPDP in the most expedient and least expensive way as I write this from a last minute hostel bed in Paris.
! NOTE: if you are a pilgrim who is similarly stuck, let’s coordinate!
Here are my options as I see them:
Option 1: Take my chances and take the train to Bordeaux, figure out a bus to SJPDP
-Potential issues: buses and tricker to navigate and less frequent than the trains, staying in France may mean more travel problems, my French is atrocious
-Does anyone have experience navigating the buses in France?
Option 2: Get out of dodge and fly to Barcelona, train to Pamplona, taxi to SJPDP
- A well-worn pilgrim path, but expensive now that I’ve gotten myself to Paris
Is there a third way? Obstacles or solutions I’m missing? Any advice would be gold as I try to get this Camino underway!
“Several sectors in the French economy have been targeted by union calls for indefinite strikes, including in rail and air transport, power stations, natural gas terminals and rubbish collection.”Hello all! Not what I expected for my first Camino, but you know what they say about best laid plans. Here’s the situation: I’ve been stuck in Paris for the past two days due to the national rail strikes (solidarité)! I just found out that the train I was hoping would get me from Paris to SJPDP tomorrow has cancelled the Bordeaux-Bayonne Bayonne-SJPDP legs, meaning I’d get from Paris to Bordeaux but no further. Hoping to draw on the collective wisdom of this forum to figure out how to get myself to SJPDP in the most expedient and least expensive way as I write this from a last minute hostel bed in Paris.
! NOTE: if you are a pilgrim who is similarly stuck, let’s coordinate!
Here are my options as I see them:
Option 1: Take my chances and take the train to Bordeaux, figure out a bus to SJPDP
-Potential issues: buses and tricker to navigate and less frequent than the trains, staying in France may mean more travel problems, my French is atrocious
-Does anyone have experience navigating the buses in France?
Option 2: Get out of dodge and fly to Barcelona, train to Pamplona, taxi to SJPDP
- A well-worn pilgrim path, but expensive now that I’ve gotten myself to Paris
Is there a third way? Obstacles or solutions I’m missing? Any advice would be gold as I try to get this Camino underway!
Reporting back to say today was an absolute breeze! Hit a boulangerie and fromagerie before catching the train out of Paris for the best train snacks of all time and it was smooth sailing from there. All together I got to SJPDP 4 hours faster and €30 cheaper than my original booking! Wandered through St Jean in the rain, and now cozied up in my albergue, stomach full of Basque dinner, ready to get walking in the morning. Thanks to all for your help getting me to the starting line@heyemily, how did it go today? I had a look from time to time at the real-time arrivals and departures board for Bayonne station and it seems that the 10:08 am TGV from Paris left on time and arrived in Bayonne in time for you to catch the 14:19 train to SJPP?
Wow! Faster AND cheaper!?! And under crazy conditions. ¡Felicidades! Buen caminoReporting back to say today was an absolute breeze! Hit a boulangerie and fromagerie before catching the train out of Paris for the best train snacks of all time and it was smooth sailing from there. All together I got to SJPDP 4 hours faster and €30 cheaper than my original booking! Wandered through St Jean in the rain, and now cozied up in my albergue, stomach full of Basque dinner, ready to get walking in the morning. Thanks to all for your help getting me to the starting line
View attachment 142880
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?