Biarritz vs. Bayonne as arrival point

[Rosie]

Flying in from Canada to Biarritz in May, early evening, and debating whether it is best to taxi to downtown Biarritz or Bayonne for the night, before heading to SJPP in the morning. Recommendations? If Bayonne, any recommendations for accommodation?
Thank you! Love this forum.

[cairde]

Hola Rosie,
Whilst Biarritz is a very beautiful town on the Bay of Biscay, it is also very expensive for accommodation. I would suggest that you should consider getting to Saint Jean Pied de Port on the day you arrive. If you don't arrive early enough to catch the last train up the foothills at 6ish, you should consider sharing a taxi with other pilgrims to get to SJDP. - many pilgrims will be looking to share on arrival in the Airport. The advantage of being in SJDP overnight is that you won't waste part of the following day getting to your starting point at SJDP. To get to Roncevalles, which is an obviuos stopping point across the Pyrenees after day 1 is a long walk, so the earlier you start that day then all the better for you. Also you can book online a refugio in SJDP which is run by 2 Dutch pilgrims , Huberta and Arno. It is one of the most memorable and inviting refugios you could stay in on the Camino called "L'Esprit du Chemin" and it is located just opposite the pilgrim's office at No. 40, rue de la Citadelle.
Hope this is of some help,
Buen Camino

[Rosie]

This is very helpful. Thank you so much. Any idea of what a taxi from Biarritz airport to SJPP would cost?

[cairde]

Hola Rosie,
A taxi from Biarritz to Saint Jean Pied de Port will cost about ?25. If you share the taxi with other peregrinos it will obviously keep the cost to you down. You might manage to get it cheaper....above all else make sure that you agree the price of the taxi fare with the driver before you start your journey....if they aren't too busy you could get a good rate. The distance is about 20 Km, i.e. 11.5 miles.
Buen Camino

[Covey]

Google Maps puts the road distance from Bairritz to SJPdP at 58.9kms which is some 38 miles. The train journey which follows the road from Bayonne takes 75 minutes on average, but then the train is not exactly the TGV as it rattles its way up the valley.

The train leaves Bayonne every three hours so if you miss one train you have to hang around a dreary railway station drinking coffee for three hours for the next one, so sharing a taxi to SJPdP if you can is a good move, providing it ain't too expensive!!

[spanishlancer]

Flying in from Canada to Biarritz in May, early evening, and debating whether it is best to taxi to downtown Biarritz or Bayonne for the night, before heading to SJPP in the morning. Recommendations? If Bayonne, any recommendations for accommodation?
Thank you! Love this forum.

Bus number 6 from Airport to Bayonne railway station. ?1.20. Biarritz is in the opposite direction. If you want to stay in Bayonne I can recommend the good value Hotel Paris-Madrid close to the Station.I seem to remember that the last train for SJPP leaves at about 6pm.

Buen Camino Ron