Crossing from France to Spain.

[Travellingman]

Further to posts on another thread, has anyone recent experience of travelling by land between France and Spain?
Arrivals by air have to complete entry form, with contact details, flight number etc - I am booked to land Biarritz airport, then bus to Pamplona via San Sebastian. At present France does not require landing forms, so in theory anyone arriving at Biarritz and crossing to Irun or St Jean wouldn't need an entry form??

 

[Pilgrim_95]

You dont fill the form for bus and train connection, so you just take the bus and it should be okay.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

I just postponed my hotel reservation in St Jean from Sept 2020 to Sept 2021. The owner of the hotel said there is a good chance that the border between France and Spain will close again if COVID 19 cases increase again.

 

[Deleted member 91789]

I had zero problems crossing from biarritz to irun
Just train and bus. No one looked at anything.

 

[Tincatinker]

No one looked at anything.

Ain't that the truth. No one saw it coming, no one saw it pass, no one is responsible, for anything that has...

happened

 

[Deleted member 91789]

Ain't that the truth. No one saw it coming, no one saw it pass, no one is responsible, for anything that has...

happened

I agree. I made a mistake coming here. This country is clearly still healing and desperate to accelerate that healing when it isn't ready. That's why I'm going home with thousands of dollars lost learning that lesson.

 

[Tincatinker]

@mrpeanutisclassy I wish you better roads next time and Buen Camino meanwhile

 

[jsalt]

That's why I'm going home with thousands of dollars lost learning that lesson.

THOUSANDS of dollars?
How did that happen?
How did you get into Spain?
And how are you getting out again?
Sorry for asking, just really curious, considering the current situation.

 

[Deleted member 91789]

THOUSANDS of dollars?
How did that happen?
How did you get into Spain?
And how are you getting out again?
Sorry for asking, just really curious, considering the current situation.

Lol it's ok. I'm travelling from Canada on a one way ticket because I wasnt sure of the situation. I was very aware that I'd have to come home before completing so at least I wasn't in lala land like a lot of people I've met. So planes to and from on a one way, over a round trip are pricey. Going home is 1600 alone. Coming here was 800. There wasnt albergues open for most of the route I walked.. so 150 a night for a bed. Hard to find grocery stores open so a lot of eatting out. Grocery i did find .. albergues and hostels didnt provide communal space for cooking. It is very.. very... VERY hard to walk right now. People should definitely know that lol. Data on my phone. Albergues hostels and pensions all say wifi is avaliable but it isnt. wifi is NOT avaliable at most places. Booking dot com has a lot of claims that aren't true during these times. Air france lost my bag and I had to pay for a few nights in expensive biarritz waiting for them to find.. lots of factors... the chance you take to maybe make it to santiago without annoying locals .... is near impossible. I'm not an annoying locals kinda person.

 

[catheriam]

I am so grateful that Ivar kept us daily ... I sometimes think it was hourly ... postings to this Forum from the beginning of the clearly horrific impact of coronavirus on Spain. Normally my Camino would begin in April, but a deep sense even back in late 2019 warned me this would not happen. And into Spring, maybe, perhaps September 2020? Ever more clear with coronavirus statistics reeling back and forth through USA and no let up in travel restrictions of Americans to Europe, I surrendered. Not 2020. And for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which would be becoming a potential carrier to a people and a land I have grown to love, I might be putting myself as an added burden for care in a hospital in Spain. Hopeful for 2021 but absolutely, positively, not 2020. So abiding within Forum mandates for courtesy, respect and consideration for the views of others, I read your post and I am at a loss for further comment.

 

[Former member 49149]

Lol it's ok. I'm travelling from Canada on a one way ticket because I wasnt sure of the situation. I was very aware that I'd have to come home before completing so at least I wasn't in lala land like a lot of people I've met. So planes to and from on a one way, over a round trip are pricey. Going home is 1600 alone. Coming here was 800. There wasnt albergues open for most of the route I walked.. so 150 a night for a bed. Hard to find grocery stores open so a lot of eatting out. Grocery i did find .. albergues and hostels didnt provide communal space for cooking. It is very.. very... VERY hard to walk right now. People should definitely know that lol. Data on my phone. Albergues hostels and pensions all say wifi is avaliable but it isnt. wifi is NOT avaliable at most places. Booking dot com has a lot of claims that aren't true during these times. Air france lost my bag and I had to pay for a few nights in expensive biarritz waiting for them to find.. lots of factors... the chance you take to maybe make it to santiago without annoying locals .... is near impossible. I'm not an annoying locals kinda person.

I wish you a safe journey home.

 

[trecile]

I agree. I made a mistake coming here. This country is clearly still healing and desperate to accelerate that healing when it isn't ready. That's why I'm going home with thousands of dollars lost learning that lesson.

I'm sorry that you had to pay a high price (not just monetarily, but emotionally too) for the lesson that Spain is probably not ready for many pilgrims and tourists this year. Thank you so much for reporting back on your experience as a cautionary tale for others. I wish you a safe journey home.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

I'm sorry that you had to pay a high price (not just monetarily, but emotionally too) for the lesson that Spain is probably not ready for many pilgrims and tourists this year. Thank you so much for reporting back on your experience as a cautionary tale for others. I wish you a safe journey home.

I was very aware that I'd have to come home before completing so at least I wasn't in lala land like a lot of people I've met. ...lots of factors... the chance you take to maybe make it to santiago without annoying locals .... is near impossible. I'm not an annoying locals kinda person.

Yes...definitely a 'bigger picture' lesson here.
It's a complex situation; we want to support the people & businesses of a country so special to all of us...but...we can also do more harm than good, both to ourselves & the very people we're trying to support.
Aussie borders are still closed & likely to remain so for the rest of the year so there's no question of travelling in 2020 for us but even 2021 feels dicey. I plan & dream but have zero confidence in booking anything anywhere.

 

[Travellingman]

Well, I think my original post is now academic....especially with the latest advice/restrictions announced by UK govt last night. Pamplona - here I (do not) come

 

[Ernesto.IT]

I agree. I made a mistake coming here. This country is clearly still healing and desperate to accelerate that healing when it isn't ready. That's why I'm going home with thousands of dollars lost learning that lesson.

I don't like to repeat myself but please take notice.
Hi, I don't want to put people off but as I care, my advice to would be peregrino is for this year at least, keep clear of it because there is a danger to end up that you some ware on the way and in different region will have to stop for quarantine as the corona 19 has not ended and is flaring up in different spots of Spain. It would be a peaty after you have spent money and time to get there to in the end have to go back home, not having time to quarantine. To be clear this is only my opinion, please do as you like!
Ultreia,
Ernesto

 

[kdenogla]

I understand the pandemic and trying to reduce restrictions on movement are going to cause difficulties but I’m a little confused as to why you stopped your walk. Was the crossing between France and Spain blocked or were you stopped from crossing?

Regardless, l’m sorry to read your post and I feel your disappointment.