travel recommendations

[Bobby]

Hello. We leave in May ,fly into Paris (CDG),and are looking for some suggestions/help to get to SJPdP. Would one suggestion the train to Bayonne and then taxi ? to SJPdP. Or would it be best to take a shuttle (if there is one) to Orly airport and then book a flight to Biarritz and from there maybe a service to SJPdP. Need some help please. Thanks all

 

[Kerstinh47]

My personal advice (and I wish I would've taken someone else's) is to take your time from Paris to SJPDP. No matter which way you get there, take the time you need to acclimate to your new time zone and your happy dreams being realized. I was so beat up in Roncesvalles and on to Zubiri from not taking into account the time my body needed to adjust.
I traveled to CDG from the USA - bought train tickets once I arrived (there is a train station in the airport), and went from there. I took the train to Bordeaux, then Bayonne, where I spent the night, then I bussed to SJPDP the next morning.
Buen Camino!

 

[Bobby]

Thanks Kerstinh4 . We leave from Canada on the 12th and arrive in Paris at 830 am the following day. We
thought if we could get to SJPdP the same day we would rest up that nite and spend the following
Day there and then start our Camino on the 15th. That gives us a day of rest.

 

[Kerstinh47]

That sounds like a good plan; mine was similar to yours, however my train was delayed getting to Bordeaux, so my connection to Bayonne was several hours later than planned....I arrived in Bayonne around 10:30pm rather than 6 pm-ish. It was my first glimpse of learning that my own flexibility (or not) played a big role in my experience! I wish you the very best

 

[Kerstinh47]

by the way - is that a corgi - your avatar? I have a sweet corgi girl!

 

[frasert]

Thanks Kerstinh4 . We leave from Canada on the 12th and arrive in Paris at 830 am the following day. We
thought if we could get to SJPdP the same day we would rest up that nite and spend the following
Day there and then start our Camino on the 15th. That gives us a day of rest.

That sounds like a good plan! I was totally wrecked in the late afternoon when I arrived in St Jean that I couldn't face the queue at the pilgrim office so stayed at Hotel Ramunto. I got up the next morning and was the only one there getting my passport and great advice.

I'd even recommend a short first day Orrison, Huunto or Valcarlos. This will ease you into the Camino.

Have fun.

 

[Bobby]

by the way - is that a corgi - your avatar? I have a sweet corgi girl!

No, he is a border collie.

 

[Bobby]

Could one suggest the best means of getting to SJPDP from Paris.

 

[SYates]

Could one suggest the best means of getting to SJPDP from Paris.

Have a look here http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/

There is nothing like "best" for everybody, but taking the from Paris to Biarritz and then the local train/bus to SJPDP is an option that many use. Buen Camino! SY

 

[jsalt]

Hello. We leave in May ,fly into Paris (CDG),and are looking for some suggestions/help to get to SJPdP. Would one suggestion the train to Bayonne and then taxi ? to SJPdP. Or would it be best to take a shuttle (if there is one) to Orly airport and then book a flight to Biarritz and from there maybe a service to SJPdP. Need some help please. Thanks all

Hi Bobby
Maybe check out Air France for flying into and out of Paris, with connecting flight to Biarritz (you may have to get an airport bus from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris Orly airport). If returning from Santiago, check out a flight back with Air France from Vigo to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, to connect with your flight out of Paris. From where I am (South Africa), the two connecting flights (to Biarritz and from Vigo) don’t add a great deal to the Paris return long haul flight. Jill

 

[Chacharm]

Could one suggest the best means of getting to SJPDP from Paris.

There is a TGV (fast and direct) leaving the Montparnasse station around 11 am. Should have you in Bayonne around 4:30 pm. I bought a first class ticket and a sandwich and slept like a log the whole way.

 

[Thornley]

Hello. We leave in May ,fly into Paris (CDG),and are looking for some suggestions/help to get to SJPdP. Would one suggestion the train to Bayonne and then taxi ? to SJPdP. Or would it be best to take a shuttle (if there is one) to Orly airport and then book a flight to Biarritz and from there maybe a service to SJPdP. Need some help please. Thanks all

Hi Bobby,
Landing @ CDG 8.30am on 12/5..........clear customs by 9.15am.....relax.....there will be others with packs.
Flight with Easy Jet leaves CDG at 11.50am and arrives at Biarritz at 12.20pm
Cost 50 euro for 1 hours travel.
You will not be alone on this flight...it is very popular with pilgrims.
Get bus to train station , buy your ticket, relax in the bar / tabac next to station [ very good ] and @ 3pm you are on the train .
By 4.00pm you have booked into the pilgrims office following a walk with your mates from the train , relax again after getting accommodation with another red and you will be ok with Orrison the next day....or Valcarlos if wet.
** We tend to spend a bit extra on the first night , in your case STJPdP , on good accommodation [ pension and a private room] just to get rid of the jet lag....in our case 24 hours.
We wish you well regardless of your choice,
Buen Camino

 

[Mycamino Maya]

Thanks Kerstinh4 . We leave from Canada on the 12th and arrive in Paris at 830 am the following day. We
thought if we could get to SJPdP the same day we would rest up that nite and spend the following
Day there and then start our Camino on the 15th. That gives us a day of rest.

Hello Bobby, we are starting our trek on April 1, and we were discussing all our options. We also arrive at 08.30 but we decided to spend the night in Paris and we have booked the TGV to Bayonne the next morning. We did not want to take our chances in case our Air Canada flight would be delayed in any way to avoid any stress. We are also spending the night in STJPDP and then starting our journey. All the best Bobby and many memorable moments. SYates seems to have the address above where we booked the train. Maya

 

[Kerstinh47]

No, he is a border collie.

well, either way, he's really cute!

 

[AnnabelP]

Could one suggest the best means of getting to SJPDP from Paris.

Hi Bobby,

I'm arriving in Paris on May 2 from Brisbane, Aus. Staying over night in Paris, on to Bayonne on the 3rd by train from Montparnasse. Staying at the Monte Carlo over night then by train to SJPDP where I will enjoy the day, stay overnight before heading off to Orisson and serendipity beyond! Working for me!

Buen Camino!

 

[joe g texas aggies]

Could one suggest the best means of getting to SJPDP from Paris.

Hi. Next month I am flying from LAX to CDG on an AF flight arriving at 1135. I depart CDG for BIQ (Biarritz) on an easyJet flight at 1930 on the same day.

I will spend the night in Biarritz. Getting from BIQ to SJPdP seems to be fairly easy. At worst I could take a taxi, but otherwise I will look to take a train/bus combination to SJPdP. The train track does not go all the way to SJPdP, because it washed out last year. The rail line arranges for the bus to take you the last prt of the trip.

This seems to be much easier than going into Paris to catch a train. The easyJet flight is relatively inexpensive.

Further to my post above, Simon provided this information several months ago. I am quoting him in the passage below:

1. The train/bus is a simple option depending on when you arrive in Biarritz. Easy to catch city bus on sidewalk right in front of airport, 1.20 euro, 20 minute ride to Bayonne train station, maybe now 11 euro for train/bus to SJPdP. Again, depends when you arrive and maybe what plans you have for the next day such as starting your walk or relaxing in SJPdP. At what time of year will you walk? Might be easier to give you a better idea of train schedule.
   
   Cheers,
   Simeon

Hope this helps. Buen Camino

 

[waveprof]

I'd take the train to Bayonne, then the train from Bayonne to SJPDP.

Nice looking border collie. We have one too. Named Pivo (means beer in most eastern european languages).

 

[SYates]

Na zdravi! Meaning cheers when drinking pivo and btw I love border collies and live in the Czech Republic ;-) SY

 

[waveprof]

Na zdravi! Meaning cheers when drinking pivo and btw I love border collies and live in the Czech Republic ;-) SY

Czech pivo is the best pivo in the world (by far). Eggenberg dark (only served on tap at the brewery) still has me laying awake at night.

 

[Bobby]

I'd take the train to Bayonne, then the train from Bayonne to SJPDP.

Nice looking border collie. We have one too. Named Pivo (means beer in most eastern european languages).

I. Yes, he is a border collie. The Best!So dedicated. He passed away when he was 16 and is sadly missed. Thanks for the info