Esplette gîte closed until further notice

[NualaOC]

The Municipal Gîte pour pèlerins in Esplette has been closed (again) due to bedbugs. The Voie du Baztan Facebook page says that it will be closed until at least Spring 2018. This also happened last year.

For anyone walking this route, the very nice Hotel Euzkadi does a pilgrim rate. It was €50 per person sharing for dinner, bed and breakfast in May of this year. Food in Esplette is quite expensive (it's a tourist town), so this rate is good value.

 

[timr]

Thanks @NualaOC . Sad to hear that. When I went last year it was closed......for bedbugs! I was going to go for a quick Baztan week again this autumn, (originally on Wednesday of this week, but I have already had to put that off).
I stayed in the hotel, which was expensive-ish for one, and extremely comfortable I must say, and very friendly. I had looked forward to a cheaper stay at the gite and splurging more on the meal in the hotel (as the restaurant looked interesting). In the inclusive pilgrim special it was a set meal somewhat in the mould of pilgrim menu!
The tourist office had a list of other B&Bs but I had not been able to get a reply from them while I was walking.

 

[NualaOC]

Thanks @NualaOC . Sad to hear that. When I went last year it was closed......for bedbugs! I was going to go for a quick Baztan week again this autumn, (originally on Wednesday of this week, but I have already had to put that off).
I stayed in the hotel, which was expensive-ish for one, and extremely comfortable I must say, and very friendly. I had looked forward to a cheaper stay at the gite and splurging more on the meal in the hotel (as the restaurant looked interesting). In the inclusive pilgrim special it was a set meal somewhat in the mould of pilgrim menu!
The tourist office had a list of other B&Bs but I had not been able to get a reply from them while I was walking.

Hi @timr , hope you're well!

If/when I walk the Baztán again, I probably won't stop in Esplette. Not because I don't like Esplette; just because I've stayed there twice already (first in the gite and then in the hotel). I might stay in Souraïde instead, but I'm also thinking of walking to Ustaritz the day I arrive (rather than spending a night in Bayonne). It has a hostel and could be a good starting point for a walk to the Urdax monastery albergue the next day. This would give the added advantage of tackling the hill out of Urdax in the morning, rather than at later in the day. It could also make it possible to stay exclusively in albergues, rather than private accommodation.

Happy Camino planning/dreaming!

 

[VNwalking]

Thanks for updating those of us not on FB, Nuala!

I'm also thinking of walking to Ainhoa the day I arrive

Ainhoa? It would be a super-short day. Maybe you meant Ustaritz? The place where we went into that bar like wet rats?
Doing the hill out of Urdax in the morning would definitely be an improvement!

 

[NualaOC]

Thanks for updating those of us not on FB, Nuala!
Ainhoa? It would be a super-short day. Maybe you meant Ustaritz? The place where we went into that bar like wet rats?
Doing the hill out of Urdax in the morning would definitely be an improvement!

Oops, yes you're right, I meant Ustaritz. Thanks for the correction! About 14kms from Bayonne, so an easy afternoon walk following a flight to Biarritz or a train to Bayonne. Ustaritz to Urdax the next day would be 21km, with that long hill at the start.
I've amended my post.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks for updating those of us not on FB, Nuala!
Ainhoa? It would be a super-short day. Maybe you meant Ustaritz? The place where we went into that bar like wet rats?
Doing the hill out of Urdax in the morning would definitely be an improvement!

Oops, yes you're right, I meant Ustaritz. About 14kms from Bayonne, so an easy afternoon walk after a flight to Biarritz. Ustaritz to Urdax the next day would be 21km, with that long hill at the start.

Are you two conspiring to walk another camino de Baztán without me?

 

[NualaOC]

Are you two conspiring to walk another camino de Baztán without me?

Of course not!!!!

 

[VNwalking]

Oh no. No way!!

 

[peregrina2000]

Of course not!!!!

Oh no. No way!!

That was a splendid walk, and I'd love to do it again!

 

[VNwalking]

That was a splendid walk, and I'd love to do it again!

It was. So you're on! One of these days before feet fail us. But let's walk the Vasco Interior first...........
Just a thought.