A new means of transporting luggage and people at SJPDP

[Monasp]

Here's the link to the new Saint Jean pied de Port luggage and people transporter.

DONKEY SERVICE - English

Tell us what you think about this establishment !

sites.google.com

 

[Felice]

Is this in addition to Express Bourricot? Are they rival establishments or complimentary?

 

[Kitsambler]

Even in Sept 2023, there were two services running in the area SJPP - Burgos. I forget the name of the second, but this may be it.

 

[t2andreo]

I checked the Donkey Service website. It appears their service is limited to the Basque mountain area only. I cannot find any mention of onward transport of people or gear, say to Pamplona or Santiago.

It appears that Express Bourricot remains the sole long distance carrier - e.g. all the way to Santiago. But, Donkey Service seems to be a reasonable alternative for shorter trips.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[Anniesantiago]

I checked the Donkey Service website. It appears their service is limited to the Basque mountain area only. I cannot find any mention of onward transport of people or gear, say to Pamplona or Santiago.

It appears that Express Bourricot remains the sole long distance carrier - e.g. all the way to Santiago. But, Donkey Service seems to be a reasonable alternative for shorter trips.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Caminofacil takes bags all the way from SJPP to Santiago.

 

[Felice]

Thanks to you all. That's a useful clarification as to what is available for those who wish to use such a service.

 

[David]

I think they should do well - is the tip of the spear for virgin pilgrims and a lovely high mountain. Basically a set times 9 seater shuttle bus ... prices are interesting .. about the same as a taxi or more?

 

[Waka]

Looking at the prices from Biarritz to SJPDP they appear to be in line with EB, I think it's always good to have competition. I used EB 9 years ago ad could't fault them.
This year I'm doing the bus and train, I'll probably get lost between the airport and the bus stop, as they say it's all about the journey.

 

[J Willhaus]

Looking at the prices from Biarritz to SJPDP they appear to be in line with EB, I think it's always good to have competition. I used EB 9 years ago ad could't fault them.
This year I'm doing the bus and train, I'll probably get lost between the airport and the bus stop, as they say it's all about the journey.

You'll be fine...just follow the backpacks.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I had a bad experience last year with Express Bourricot at Biarritz. I flew from Ireland with my bike in a big bag. I had to wait for it to come through. Then when I got it I realised I had to find the toilet. When I finally came out to the concourse the few passengers had already left. I made the mistake of going to the wrong exit initially, but quickly realised my mistake. When I trundled my bike out the front there was no sign of any EP bus. I waited a few minutes, then tried to call them, but my phone did not co-operate. As it happened I was the only pilgrim on the plane with a reservation for the bus, which meant that I would be responsible for the full 70E pre-payment. I had to get a taxi – also 70E.
In SJpdP I went to the office to plead my case. No joy. They said "the driver waited for you and you didn't show up".
I then made another payment of 70E to transport my bike bag to Santiago (no complaints about that). But it was a very expensive start to my camino.
EP are very clear when you reserve that there may not be other pilgrims to share, and I was ready for that possibility.

 

[henrythedog]

To be fair Paul, you had a bad experience and EB did(or would have done) what they were paid to do. Your bowels, navigation and telephone are hardly their problem.

I’m sorry if that sounds harsh.

 

[Paul_Garland]

Is this in addition to Express Bourricot? Are they rival establishments or complimentary?

Complementary. But there is currently rivalry between the two. Enough said... but it wont be apparent to pilgrims.

 

[Bristle Boy]

Is this in addition to Express Bourricot? Are they rival establishments or complimentary?

I understand they speak very highly of each other.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I understand they speak very highly of each other.

If your Avatar is any indication, you'd definitely be the one to know.

 

[InBiarritz]

I just checked the company out, they are a genuine company run by a local from Saint Jean Pied de Port. He can be trusted and provides as good a service as Express Bourricot.

 

[Annw]

I used them from SJPDP to Borda.Worked great.

 

[peregrina2000]

@wisepilgrim told me that the people at Orisson have a new policy - they will only accept bags transported by one company. Turns out it is Donkey Service. Thanks to @trecile for the clarification.

Refuge Orisson

www.refuge-orisson.com

Luggage transport is surely becoming a much bigger headache for the owners of establishments. On some parts of the camino, there are as many as 4 or 5 competing luggage transfer companies. All have to come in the morning to pick up only the bags that they are responsible for, and then transport them to their new destination. 4 or 5 companies coming twice a day, for pick up and drop off, is not an insignificant irritation, seems to me. I am actually surprised that there seem to be so few losses and thefts, since I don’t think (but could be wrong) that any of these services (except for maybe Correos) uses a tracking system.

I’m sure there are other establishments that would love to reduce the services they accept, but they probably don’t have the market power that Orisson does!

 

[J Willhaus]

We don't accept bags and get along just fine...

 

[Richmond Gardner]

@wisepilgrim told me that the people at Orisson have a new policy - they will only accept bags transported by one company. Turns out it is Donkey Service. Thanks to @trecile for the clarification.

Refuge Orisson

www.refuge-orisson.com

Luggage transport is surely becoming a much bigger headache for the owners of establishments. On some parts of the camino, there are as many as 4 or 5 competing luggage transfer companies. All have to come in the morning to pick up only the bags that they are responsible for, and then transport them to their new destination. 4 or 5 companies coming twice a day, for pick up and drop off, is not an insignificant irritation, seems to me. I am actually surprised that there seem to be so few losses and thefts, since I don’t think (but could be wrong) that any of these services (except for maybe Correos) uses a tracking system.

I’m sure there are other establishments that would love to reduce the services they accept, but they probably don’t have the market power that Orisson does!

Good to know...my wife Ann and her college friend are walking the Camino Frances in September, and intending to engage baggage transport.

 

[RPereira]

Hello! Thanks for all the super useful info on this thread and many others. V grateful. I'm starting my first Camino Frances on September 6 from SJPDP and I'd like to send a small bag through each day. If some accommodations accept transfers from certain companies it may not be a good idea to engage a single company for the whole route. Can I book the luggage service each day so I have the flexibility to use different companies? Would the hotel/accommodation help with the transfers? Is that easier?

 

[trecile]

Hello! Thanks for all the super useful info on this thread and many others. V grateful. I'm starting my first Camino Frances on September 6 from SJPDP and I'd like to send a small bag through each day. If some accommodations accept transfers from certain companies it may not be a good idea to engage a single company for the whole route. Can I book the luggage service each day so I have the flexibility to use different companies? Would the hotel/accommodation help with the transfers? Is that easier?

As far as I know, this particular situation is only for Orisson. The luggage transport companies in Spain will all deliver to the accommodations that accept transported bags - not all do, such as many municipal, parochial, and donativo albergues.

 

[GAHtraveler]

Hello! Thanks for all the super useful info on this thread and many others. V grateful. I'm starting my first Camino Frances on September 6 from SJPDP and I'd like to send a small bag through each day. If some accommodations accept transfers from certain companies it may not be a good idea to engage a single company for the whole route. Can I book the luggage service each day so I have the flexibility to use different companies? Would the hotel/accommodation help with the transfers? Is that easier?

I have the same question. Following!

 

[henrythedog]

Orisson is the only accommodation reported to insist on only one transport provider. There are only two companies, to my knowledge, covering the route from STPdP to Orisson in any case. St Jean is in France, which hopefully doesn’t come as news to many, whilst shortly after Orisson one expects to be in Spain. From there on there are more options.

A number of donativos, municipales and parochial albergues do not accept any transported luggage for perfectly sound reasons based on their long-established definition of pilgrimage.

There is a list of transport providers here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/bag-transport-companies-on-the-camino-a-list.80252/#post-1278458

Many thousands of users engage each of them for their entire holiday or on a day by day basis.

There is no need to over-think the process or come up with some cunning strategy to deal with a problem that doesn’t exist. If you’re shipping your bag and pre-booking a private room it’s all been sorted for you and providing you follow the simple instructions it will work, like any package holiday.

 

[Scooby2]

I used them from SJPDP to Borda.Worked grea

Hi Annw, Did you carry your bag from Borda? I was hoping to carry my pack to Borda from SJPdP and then have it transported to Roncesvalles, but I may be overcomplicating things. I'm leaning toward transport the first day, but from my interactions with EB (I'm getting a ride from Biarritz with them as well), it didn't sound as if they picked up at Borda. Pardon my butting in on another's thread, I'm getting pre-Camino excitement/jitters.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

The link at the top of this page to Donkey Service doesn't work for me. Here's a new link.

DONKEY SERVICE - Accueil-en

Home | People transport | Luggage transport | Contact & reviews

sites.google.com