train or plane

[Darren Chittock]

Hi next question, my rucksack will have my walking poles plus my trusty pocket knife with all important bottle opener, so it will have to go in the hold but im worrying about it being lost !! so do i fly or take train ?? i live near London, so its London to Paris to Bayonne then to SJPDP yes this is longer but my pack will be safe ? has anyone had their pack lost by airline ??
Thanks

 

[kayagee66]

If you take the early Eurostar to Paris, allow 2 hours to get to Montparnasse, then take the train to Bayonne. You’ll still be able to get the train/bus to SJPDP.
If you book early you can get good deals on the Paris Bayonne leg, 1st class good price too. Book Eurostar early for best price. Won’t be as cheap as flying i expect. But i prefer it. Blades less then 3 inches can be taken on Eurostar.

 

[Tincatinker]

Its been a while since but after lunch with a few ex-colleagues in one of Bloomsbury's better pubs I took an evening Eurostar and the sleeper train from Austerlitz (6 bunks in about the space of a standard garden shed made later Albergue living seem spacious) and made StJdPP with time for some pleasant exploration and a ramble to Valcarlos for a relaxed evening. My walking staff, pocket knife and bottle of scotch all completed the journey un-molested by various securities. My notes suggest I was feeling quite smug.

 

[domigee]

Hi next question, my rucksack will have my walking polls plus my trusty pocket knife with all important bottle opener, so it will have to go in the hold but im worrying about it being lost !! so do i fly or take train ?? i live near London so it London to Paris the to Bayonne to SJPDP yes this is longer but my pack will be safe ? has anyone had there pack lost by airline ??
Thanks

Flying direct London to Biarritz I always put my bag in the hold. I maybe tempting fate as I write this but it has not been lost....
My experience with luggage going awaol has -so far - only been when changing planes...
Enjoy your trip whatever you decide

 

[jsalt]

so do i fly or take train ??

Hi, you could fly and put only your poles and corkscrew I mean knife into the hold. So if they don’t pitch up at the other end, that’s all you need to replace, not your whole hiking gear. I did that once and was quite amazed to see my little packet trundling around on the conveyor belt. So I didn’t have to use Plan B after all and visit the nearest Decathlon store.
Jill

 

[Jan_D]

Ryanair has direct flights from London Stansted to Biarritz, and Easyjet has direct flights from both Gatwick and Luton. You might have considered these options already, but just in case... With a direct flight at least you'd cut out one leg of luggage worries. And you'd get to Biarritz within 1h30 of leaving London!

 

[KinkyOne]

In past 9 years I flew in and out of Spain (including Italy, Germany and England as start/stop or layover) exactly 19 flights with low cost carriers. For different reasons (poles, knife, liquids, presents etc.) I always check-in my backpack and I never had any problems with lost baggage. Knock on head (= wood)

Only one time at Barcelona airport I couldn't find my Swiss army knife which was obviously stolen but that was all my mistake because I put it in top pocket which was only zipped but not locked.