Overnight in Biarritz or Bayonne to combat jet lag

AnneU · Jun 9, 2016

Hello,

I'm a newbie and am planning a Camino in June 2017. Looking at trying to gauge timelines and wondering if it makes sense to fly into Biarritz and then overnight there (or Bayonne) before traveling on to SJSPP to spend a day exploring. I'm going alone and know that the jet lag will hit me hard (flying from NYC) and want to be at my best when I start. And the thought of flying that much, taking a train, getting my credencial, and having hardly any time to explore SJSPP before tackling the Pyrenees the very next day is a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started out this way? Any advice??

Part of my "theme" is to slow down and savor experiences rather than rushing through everything at top speed to get to the next item on my list.

Thanks ahead of time.

C clearly · Jun 9, 2016

AnneU said:
Hello,

I'm a newbie and am planning a Camino in June 2017. Looking at trying to gauge timelines and wondering if it makes sense to fly into Biarritz and then overnight there (or Bayonne) before traveling on to SJSPP to spend a day exploring. I'm going alone and know that the jet lag will hit me hard (flying from NYC) and want to be at my best when I start. And the thought of flying that much, taking a train, getting my credencial, and having hardly any time to explore SJSPP before tackling the Pyrenees the very next day is a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started out this way? Any advice??

Part of my "theme" is to slow down and savor experiences rather than rushing through everything at top speed to get to the next item on my list.

Thanks ahead of time.

Many people do what you suggest (I have) especially if they don't have too tight a schedule.

whariwharangi · Jun 9, 2016

AnneU said:
Hello,

I'm a newbie and am planning a Camino in June 2017. Looking at trying to gauge timelines and wondering if it makes sense to fly into Biarritz and then overnight there (or Bayonne) before traveling on to SJSPP to spend a day exploring. I'm going alone and know that the jet lag will hit me hard (flying from NYC) and want to be at my best when I start. And the thought of flying that much, taking a train, getting my credencial, and having hardly any time to explore SJSPP before tackling the Pyrenees the very next day is a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started out this way? Any advice??

Part of my "theme" is to slow down and savor experiences rather than rushing through everything at top speed to get to the next item on my list.

Thanks ahead of time.

It depends on your timings. If you arrive relatively early in the day it would be worth continuing on for a couple hours and stay two nights in SJPdP. On the other hand ... if you are rushing to catch the last train of the day ... it would be worth it to stay the night in Bayonne.

The trains from Bayonne are all year and are 4 per day ... which makes Bayonne a better prospect than traveling via Pamplona. The bus from Pamplona to SJPdP is seasonal and there is only a morning bus in summer.

I did it Vancouver to Heathrow and bus to Stansted. Stayed the night in Stansted then on to Biarritz and train to SJPdP. I was on the last train because my flight arrived later as planned due to French Air traffic controller strikes. The train arrived late too. I ended up staying SJPdP in a single room for two nights.

Take your time ... its no fun feeling like you've been dragged backwards through a hedge.

naplesdon · Jun 9, 2016

Biarritz is a lovely place to unwind. Spend a few days there and then take the local bus to the Bayonne train station and take in SJPdP for a day before you head off.

domigee · Jun 9, 2016

AnneU said:
I'm a newbie and am planning a Camino in June 2017. Looking at trying to gauge timelines and wondering if it makes sense to fly into Biarritz and then overnight there (or Bayonne) before traveling on to SJSPP to spend a day exploring. I'm going alone and know that the jet lag will hit me hard (flying from NYC) and want to be at my best when I start. And the thought of flying that much, taking a train, getting my credencial, and having hardly any time to explore SJSPP before tackling the Pyrenees the very next day is a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started out this way? Any advice??

Part of my "theme" is to slow down and savor experiences rather than rushing through everything at top speed to get to the next item on my list.

Thanks ahead of time.

Hi AnneU! I'll be arriving in Biarritz in the afternoon and staying in Bayonne for the night. I don't even have jetlag to worry about but it makes for a nice, relaxing start and no fretting should my flight be delayed.
Biarritz is also a lovely city. Whichever you choose, enjoy and buen camino

PS I just saw you're planning for 2017! Plenty of time to organise things then

AnneU · Jun 10, 2016

whariwharangi said:
It depends on your timings. If you arrive relatively early in the day it would be worth continuing on for a couple hours and stay two nights in SJPdP. On the other hand ... if you are rushing to catch the last train of the day ... it would be worth it to stay the night in Bayonne.

The trains from Bayonne are all year and are 4 per day ... which makes Bayonne a better prospect than traveling via Pamplona. The bus from Pamplona to SJPdP is seasonal and there is only a morning bus in summer.

I did it Vancouver to Heathrow and bus to Stansted. Stayed the night in Stansted then on to Biarritz and train to SJPdP. I was on the last train because my flight arrived later as planned due to French Air traffic controller strikes. The train arrived late too. I ended up staying SJPdP in a single room for two nights.

Take your time ... its no fun feeling like you've been dragged backwards through a hedge.

AnneU · Jun 10, 2016

Thanks! My thoughts exactly!

VNwalking · Jun 10, 2016

I was flying from much further away and caught a connecting flight from CDG to Biarritz and then rode up to SJPP with Caroline at Express Bourricot. I had 2 nights there to rest and explore, and am so glad I did because it's a wonderful place and I was already on the Chemin/Camino.

Sharonih · Feb 7, 2022

AnneU said:
Hello,

I'm a newbie and am planning a Camino in June 2017. Looking at trying to gauge timelines and wondering if it makes sense to fly into Biarritz and then overnight there (or Bayonne) before traveling on to SJSPP to spend a day exploring. I'm going alone and know that the jet lag will hit me hard (flying from NYC) and want to be at my best when I start. And the thought of flying that much, taking a train, getting my credencial, and having hardly any time to explore SJSPP before tackling the Pyrenees the very next day is a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started out this way? Any advice??

Part of my "theme" is to slow down and savor experiences rather than rushing through everything at top speed to get to the next item on my list.

Thanks ahead of time.

Hi, we flew in to Barritz and then took the bus to Bayonne . Had dinner and in the morning took the bus to SJPdP to go to the Pilgrims Office, sign in as well as get a Passport and She’ll from there. Went to a close shop to buy poles and a Jack knife to cut bread?’, fruit and cheese then started walking by about 9:30 AM. Though it worked fine I wish we had taken another full day at rest to combat jet lag.

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Overnight in Biarritz or Bayonne to combat jet lag

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