Too late for dinner in SJPP?

[Liddybee]

Greetings all!
I have flights booked for the end of August and with the timing I will not be arriving into St.Jean before 8 o’clock in the evening. I was hoping to stay at Beilari but I imagine an 8:00 to 8:15 arrival will be too late for dinner. Can anyone tell me what time they serve the meal? Any other recommendations for a place to stay and/ or a place to eat before I bed down for the night?

 

[Bradypus]

Dinner in Beilari is usually at 7.30pm.

 

[Liddybee]

Dinner in Beilari is usually at 7.30pm.

Thanks…it’s what I suspected. I’m assuming I’ll have to find a place that put doesn’t include an evening meal and head out to eat.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Personally, I would contact them and tell them your situation. I bet they'd put a plate aside for you.

 

[Liddybee]

Personally, I would contact them and tell them your situation. I bet they'd put a plate aside for you.

Great suggestion! It’s definitely worth a shot

 

[CWBuff]

Hi @Liddybee - welcome to The Forum!
Yes I would definitely try to explain your situation to them. Joseph and Fleur are sweethearts! Besides they usually wait for the folks who go to evening Pilgrim's Mass anyways...
I hope it works for you

Good luck and Buen Camino.

 

[Jarrad]

Oh my -- just looked at their website and it looks lovely! Enjoy!

 

[good_old_shoes]

I have the same situation.

Usually I don't book accommodation, but since I'll arrive with the last train and the campsite is probably not open yet for the season, I asked at Beilari if I can stay there even though I'll arrive a bit late for dinner.

Apparently it is okay, they accepted my booking and told me just to come straight to the gite from the station So I'd ask them and explain the situation, it seems they know the problem.

Buen Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

It isn't so much the dinner as the activities which accompany dinner which you may be missing. It is kind of like an "orientation" lesson to beginning your Camino. Sets the tone...

 

[crackmrmac]

I know someone who stayed there a few years ago. The "activities and evening meal" were delayed to await arrival of some pilgrims arriving by train.

 

[Liddybee]

Update to my original post…I took advice from all, contacted Beilari and they’ve accepted my reservation. Thanks to all respondents. I’m soexcited to think of starting to walk again in September.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Arrive at Beilari before 10 pm. They will tell you this. The door is locked at 10. No one will answer the door after that time.

I say this as I was on the same schedule as yourself, also in August. The bus was delayed and our arrival was 10:05. Racing up to the hostel was a waste. I had to find somewhere else to sleep that night. The Pilgrim office was still open, believe it or not, and their suggestions proves most useful.

 

[Casserole]

Arrive at Beilari before 10 pm. They will tell you this. The door is locked at 10. No one will answer the door after that time.

I say this as I was on the same schedule as yourself, also in August. The bus was delayed and our arrival was 10:05. Racing up to the hostel was a waste. I had to find somewhere else to sleep that night. The Pilgrim office was still open, believe it or not, and their suggestions proves most useful.

I was just emailing with them to book a room for April. They told me they "do not accept guests that arrive after 8:30p." I'm not sure on their curfew rules.

 

[J Willhaus]

Most albergues close at 10 p.m. If you want something later, choose a hotel. The whole concept of the Beilari experience is the meal and surrounding activities... Otherwise, it is just a bed...

 

[Fyrfalk]

Greetings all!
I have flights booked for the end of August and with the timing I will not be arriving into St.Jean before 8 o’clock in the evening. I was hoping to stay at Beilari but I imagine an 8:00 to 8:15 arrival will be too late for dinner. Can anyone tell me what time they serve the meal? Any other recommendations for a place to stay and/ or a place to eat before I bed down for the night?

Both times I've started in Saint-Jean I arrived with the last train from Bayonne approx 8.10 PM and managed to get dinner (pilgrim's menu) at the Hurrup Eta Klik restaurant on Rue de la Citadelle (main pilgrim street)

In late april last year I stayed at a lovley private guest house just opposite that restaurant: Maison Simonenia. Run by a really nice lady. Ok breakfast as well as I remember.

I didn't find any open shops for snacks etc that evening nor the next morning, so it's a good idea to buy before arriving. There is a bakery open in the morning that sells sandwiches though.

 

[Amachant]

Personally, I would contact them and tell them your situation. I bet they'd put a plate aside for you.

Greetings all!
I have flights booked for the end of August and with the timing I will not be arriving into St.Jean before 8 o’clock in the evening. I was hoping to stay at Beilari but I imagine an 8:00 to 8:15 arrival will be too late for dinner. Can anyone tell me what time they serve the meal? Any other recommendations for a place to stay and/ or a place to eat before I bed down for the night?

In 2019 my Camino partner had a late arrival to Beilari. They did save a plate for her. Just let them know.

 

[FourSeasons]

Greetings all!
I have flights booked for the end of August and with the timing I will not be arriving into St.Jean before 8 o’clock in the evening. I was hoping to stay at Beilari but I imagine an 8:00 to 8:15 arrival will be too late for dinner. Can anyone tell me what time they serve the meal? Any other recommendations for a place to stay and/ or a place to eat before I bed down for the night?

Seems they have become more understanding to late arrivals. My experience with Beilari in September 2013 was when the train from Bayonne was delayed I had to give up my reserved bed. I called the Gite from Bayonne train station to inform her we would be late, possibly arriving after the dinner bell. She was quite stern informing me I would have to give up my bed. I don’t recall the exact time we strolled up to the pilgrims office, a little past 8:00PM. While waiting in line, I decided to knock on the door to the Gite, a woman answered. I was filled with excitement as I introduced myself, she was abrupt and short with me telling me my bed was given away. Oh, I explained. I just wanted to meet you, to say hello. She closed the door. I got the feeling I was interrupting something, dinner perhaps? The pilgrims office did a wonderful job finding beds for us who didn’t have a plan B. My first Camino started just the way it was meant to. In the attic above Gite Le Chemen ver I’Etoile with an Irishman. Buen Camino!

 

[CWBuff]

@Fyrfalk - Oh I am sure that there is a way to get dinner in St Jean even at late hour (and thanks for confirming this).
I do believe the OP's concern was a specific situation with Beilari - whether or not she'll have a dinner if she arrived after the "set\usual dinner time".

That said - may be I will venture out for an outside repast next time I'm in the area

 

[CWBuff]

.... and all these stories about "arriving late" somewhat take me to another topic (which just happens to be yet another ongoing thread) namely - (to simplify) plod on ahead or spend the night in Paris and take train next day.
Guess which way I am leaning?!

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

I was just emailing with them to book a room for April. They told me they "do not accept guests that arrive after 8:30p." I'm not sure on their curfew rules.

Go with what they say. I have not been to SJPP in 6 years. Things change.

 

[KiwiJohn]

.... and all these stories about "arriving late" somewhat take me to another topic (which just happens to be yet another ongoing thread) namely - (to simplify) plod on ahead or spend the night in Paris and take train next day.
Guess which way I am leaning?!

Paris!

 

[David61]

It isn't so much the dinner as the activities which accompany dinner which you may be missing. It is kind of like an "orientation" lesson to beginning your Camino. Sets the tone...

Curiosity piqued. What are these "activities"?

 

[CWBuff]

@David61 the ever famous ball game which breaks the ice for the "new pilgrims" ( and who knows some of them might make a Camino Family and become friends for life) and somewhat sets the tone of Camaraderie for the whole Camino

 

[J Willhaus]

Curiosity piqued. What are these "activities"?

It has been a while since we stayed there, but I think we played a game where we did introductions and talked about our reasons for being there.

 

[David61]

It has been a while since we stayed there, but I think we played a game where we did introductions and talked about our reasons for being there.

Thank you