starting in march

[basildonbond]

hi there im planning on doing the camino frances from st jean de pied de port in march just wondering if any follow aussies or poms are arriving the same time would be good to meet new friends along the way

[advntr]

I'm in the UK atm and will be doing the Camino in either March or April, but I've heard that it's still pretty wet in March. April is better. You can still get cheap flights in April....

[Ange]

Hi,
I'm from the UK and have just booked my trains, from Manchester, right through to Bayonne, arriving 13th March, so no going back now! I'm planning to stay overnight in St Jean, get my bearings/passport etc and probably start on the 14th. I know it's early, and I'm a little worried about the weather, but what the heck, it's all part of the challenge!
I'm getting very excited now, especially reading these forums, hearing about the experiences of other people, pictures etc - can't believe I'm actually doing it, I've travelled before but never on my own, and the idea of walking 800+km, yikes!
Be nice to swap thoughts and ideas etc with anyone going around the same time.
Ange

[Covey]

Last time I looked at getting to Bayonne from London by train, it appeared from the price that I was buying the train!!

I looked at Eurostar from London to Paris and then the overnight TGV (seats, not sleeper) down to Bayonne. The price at the beginning of September was almost £300 ONE WAY!! and that was booking over six months in advance. The cost of Eastjet from Gatwick to Bairitz was £35 one way.

I then looked at separate tickets from London to Paris and Paris to Bayonne. Paris to Bayonne was £60 one way and London to Paris was £260 one way.

Funnily enough, I was looking at working in Darmstadt in Germany for 6 months. If I booked a ticket from Darmstadt (Frankfurt) to Brussels and Eurostar from Brussels to London return with Deutsche Bahn , it was half the price of booking the exact same ticket and route with Eurostar in London.

It pays to shop around when traveling in Europe.!!

[Trusting Spirit]

So here it is, January 2011 and I'm wondering how was your trip? I'm thinking of doing this when I retire in 2012. Walk the whole way from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. I live in a warm climate and don't like cold very much so I am thinking of starting in July. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Someone who will be Trusting Spirit for this pilgrimage

[Ange]

Hi Covey,

That's bizarre - I couldn't believe how cheap my trip worked out. I'm going Manchester to London, St Pancras to Paris (night in Paris to have a mooch around) and Paris to Bayonne - all for just over £100. London to Paris was £39, and Paris to Bayonne was £43 - first class!!! I was delighted because I much prefer train travel to flying, just feels right to start my journey overland somehow. It must be down to the time of year?

Mind you, did take me about two hours of flitting between different sites to book it! (booked each leg separately, worked out cheaper).

[Covey]

It would seem that Eurostar has woken up to the realities of life in this age of austerity!! I had a look yesterday and could get a non-refundable Eurostar ticket from London to Paris for £39 one way and an overnight TGV seat from Paris to Bayonne for £21 for a mid week trip in March 2011.

Life is looking up!!

[Covey]

If you are staying overnight in St Jean I would suggest you stay at: welcome

I have never heard a bad word from anyone who has stayed there and they are located almost exactly opposite the Pilgrim Office.

You will not be bothered by crowds at the Pilgrim Office in March, but in July - September it can get very busy there especially just after the last train from Bayonne has arrived. If you arrive without having booked somewhere to stay for the night, the volunteers in the Pilgrim Office will find you somewhere (usually run by their wives!!)

[grayland]

Le Chemin does not open until April 1. It was not open in mid March this year. Reservations are a good idea if you will be there in April or later.

[Ange]

Oo, that's a shame, looks nice as well.

Any other suggestions i could check out for March would be mosty welcome.

Good news on the train prices Covey! That's actually really good value now isn't? And my memory of French trains is that they are far superior to British ones. Nice was to arrive as well i think. I'm hoping I'll start to 'switch off' en route, before I start my walk....

Ange

[Covey]

The train prices are pretty good compared with a couple of years ago. It would seem that you cannot book Eurostar more than 3 months ahead, but the alternative flights are usually still cheap 3 months before departure so it's swings and roundabouts.

You had better enjoy dinner in Paris, as the Pilgrim Menu along the way is not exactly a gourmet feast, but you learn not to expect much for €10!!