We are a non-driving, self-catering, senior couple who will be visiting the Pyrenees for the first time this fall. Have you ever based in Luz St. Sauveur and what were your impressions? Our plan is to spend a couple of weeks taking taxis plus public buses to easy-hike daytrips. Will also be doing same on the Spanish side for the previous 2 weeks - exact same query has been posted there.
I am done. The end.
Posted by
Loire Valley
761 posts
You might find it almost impossible to use taxis as a reliable form of transport in a town that only has a couple of taxis, all of which double as ambulance transport. Instead I would look at somewhere that's in the middle of the mountains and work out from there.
For instance, we stay in Cauterets. From there you can catch a bus to Pont d' Espagne, where there are 3 or 4 walks you can do. From Cauterets itself there are half a dozen walks of varying difficulty. The big chairlift from the middle of town probably won't be operating when you're there (it shuts the first week of September) but there would still be plenty to do
Posted by
Paris
6905 posts
Cauterets was my first thought, I second Simon's suggestion!
It is a charming small town in its own right, too.
Posted by
424 posts
The beginning..
We spent 3 nites in Luz, hiked Gavarine, Cirque d’Estaube, drove to Col de Tourmalet and Pic du Midi. Luz was pretty quiet in April. Very problematic without wheels. Same on the Spainish side. The driving is very easy. Arreau area is worth a look. Brad
Posted by
OP
620 posts
Merci tous. I always do copious research and part of that process involves afterwards asking fellow travelers about their experiences. Compare and contrast, then decide: that's our thought process.
*We always budget some extra $ for taxis and combine that with local buses. My wife and I have based in rural France a number of times and are aware that most rural taxis are basically hospital transfers. Whenever the local bus routes are scant, and bases are rather small, we realize those facts well ahead of arriving.
Cauterets seems a great idea. But we're leaning to Ainsa and (crossroads) Luz as bases, small places to be sure. But in both cases, we've found tour van/4x4 possibilities: a gal operating out of Lourdes plus a rugged outfit based in Escalona (nearby Ainsa). They each have a bit of competition, so I'm confident that things will work out. For the first time, I may just send each a token deposit to them - even though its hard to pin down precise daytrip dates this far ahead.
We went to St Jean back in '88- -matter of fact my foto of its iconic bridge is matted and framed on the wall right above me now!
*PS I have not driven since '79 and Mrs Z hasn't been behind the wheel since about 911. Neither of us has ever owned a car. After years of renting trucks and vans as leader of our rock band, I opted to instead save $ by using Toronto taxis and our extensive public transit.
Again thanks to all.
I am done. The post that Brad has read twice.