Biarritz to St. Jean suggestions please?

[Gerry47]

I am flying to Biarritz and hear there is a train to St. Jean from there. Is the train station near the airport in Biarritz and any idea how frequent the train is? I am travelling at the end of July.

Many thanks

[Leslie]

From the following you can see the trains are fairly regular. I looked up http://www.sncf.com/index.php?LANG=en_EN and from there "ter" - there is no direct train as far I can see and it requires a change in Bayonne to a local train - hope some of this helps -

Any one else????



D?part - Biarritz - gare de Biarritz (64200)
Arriv?e - Commune de Bayonne (64100)

Le Samedi 21 juin 2008 d?part vers 10h 15
Mes pr?f?rences Arriver le plus rapidement

?tendre la recherche aux points alentours

Horaires entre Biarritz - gare de Biarritz et Commune de Bayonne Horaires Modes de transport Dur?e Correspondance D?tail D?part : 09h 02
Arriv?e : 09h 12 10min Trajet direct D?tail n? 1 D?part : 10h 54
Arriv?e : 11h 03 09min Trajet direct D?tail n? 2 D?part : 13h 52
Arriv?e : 14h 02 10min Trajet direct D?tail n? 3

[Leslie]

The above is not quite right - the station you want to get to is Bayonne - gare de Bayonne - this is the one where you transfer to the local train to St Jean.

[toledo]

It may be of interest to those would be pilgrims who, like me are in the over 60's age group, that the French apparently honour the British Senior Rail Card. I have received tickets from Bordeaux to SJPP for 15 Euros.

[Gerry47]

Thank you for your help and if anyone else has information on local trains maybe you can let me know?

[jo hughes]

Hi I am also travelling this route on May 1st this year and was wondering if I can get a train after 8pm to St Jean as I dont really want to stay in Biarritz ovr night.

[spanishlancer]

Hi I am also travelling this route on May 1st this year and was wondering if I can get a train after 8pm to St Jean as I dont really want to stay in Biarritz ovr night.

You need to get to Gare de Bayonne,it is only 8 kilometres from Biarritz and 6 kilometres from the airport.
There is a train for St Jean departing Bayonne at 21.06, the previous one leaves at 15.06.
Bus line No. 6 runs from Biarritz townhall via the airport to Gare de Bayonne,the last bus from The Town Hall leaves at 19.17 and leaves the airport at 19.34.

Buen Camino

Ron

[jo hughes]

Thanks Ron. It seems I may have to spend the night in Biarritz.

[jo hughes]

I see you said 21.06. That's great news. St Jean here I come on May 1st. My first Camino.

[spanishlancer]

Good luck on your journey,please do not underestimate the first stage from St Jean to Roncevalles,it is ONLY 27 kilometres,and on 1st May there could still be snow there. Take advice from the locals there as to the state of the route.There are a couple of different routes,one follows the road most of the way and is supposed to be easier,Roncevalles at the moment is reported to have lots of the white stuff laying.
Dont be put off by my comments though,it gets better as you trudge on. Just think of your arrival in Santiago,a wonderful City.I never tire of it.

God Speed Ron

[Dit]

Hi!
I wonder if anybody is interested, but taking the train is not the only option to get to Saint Jean.
Right in front of the airport you can get a taxi that takes you there in less than an hour. Last year's price was 80Euros, which is a lot. But if there happen to be four of you --you recognize each other at the airport, what is more, even on the plain, because your clothes and equipment is special-- it is only 20 for each. It is just a few Euros more, but much more convenient and quick.
Both me and my friend did this last year. (Seperately.) I had to bargain a little bit, but it was very easy.
Best wishes!

[jo hughes]

Many thanks for your replies to my questions. I am finding this all very useful but have not used a web site like this before and am finding it difficult to find my way around the site. The first day of 27 km sounds like a baptism of fire, but in the snow!! I had not planned to take too much cold weather gear so maybe I will reconsider what to pack and wear. If the weather is going to be bad I guess I could always start from Ronsevalles. Many thanks once again for your advice. Jo

[spanishlancer]

If you take the Route Napolean from St Jean you will come to an Auberge at Orisson after 8 kilometres,I believe you can book it in advance.Unless you are an experienced hiker and very well equiped do not take this route if there is any chance of bad weather. The route peaks at 1450mtrs much higher than your local mountain,Snowdon. Instead consider the route via Arneguy and Valcarlos which follows the security of the road nearly all of the way.Hotels/Hostals at Arneguy, 9.5 kilometres, and Valcarlos, 12.5 kilometers.
If you havnt already got a good lightweight guide book to the Camino Frances I can recommend the latest edition of John Brierleys, A Pilgrims Guide to the Camino de Santiago,Camino Frances, it is available on Amazon UK at a discounted price.

All the Best, and dont worry, millions of Pilgrims have been on the route from St Jean and have secured the way for you.

Ron

[thomr]

Hi,
I tried to check out the trains for the 25th of April but can't seem to fill in the information correctly in the form ?tendre la recherche aux points alentours properly (which is not helped by my none understanding of french!) - any advice on how I should fill this in?
Thanks

[spanishlancer]

Dear Confused
Train times from Bayonne to St Jean on Saturday 25th April are,

08.24

11.58

15.06

18.12 (Last Train)

Travel time is appx. 1H 20m

www.seat61.com is a website for worldwide rail travel info.

ron

[thomr]

Thanks for this info.

[goods]

Im heading over soon maybe end of August.
Can you bring a bike on the trains ? Or will i just cycle to St Jean , its about 60 K ?

cheers

Brendan