This is my pre-trip report for the Best of Basque Country- France and Spain that my wife and I and another couple took in October, 2022. It is detailed and opinionated, and not so much of a travelogue but a story of experiences and lessons learned from the trip abroad. I hope that you can cull something useful from this report. Otherwise, feel free to skip it. If you are a local or have done this trip before, feel free to add your comments on how we could have done it better.
The Rick Steves’ Best of Basque country tour starts in Bayonne, France. The nearest airport is in Biarritz, 8 kilometers from the city center. From San Francisco, the best route for us was to fly into Paris, and then take a domestic one hour flight to Biarritz.
Transfer time in Paris to Biarritz (Airport Concerns)
Our major concern for the flight over, was the short 60 minute connection time between landing in CDG Paris Terminal 2E and getting to Terminal 2G for the short domestic flight to Biarritz. We had to go through customs find our way to Terminal 2F, go through security again and then take a shuttle bus to Terminal 2G.
We tried to get Air France to book us onto an earlier flight arrival or a later departure time to Biarritz. But because the tickets were non-refundable, they refused. We were prepared to make the dash between terminals with our carry-on. Fortunately, after Air France notified us that there would be a schedule change that allowed only 45 minutes to catch our connection, we complained and they let us cancel and refunded our non-refundable tickets.
We booked an earlier fight on Delta into Paris, which allowed for a 3 hour leisurely connection time. Delta code shares with Air France and the plane was an Air France plane. It was the same flight and schedule we were trying to change to with Air France.
Our traveling companions had a different flight into Paris and barely made the 60 minute connection time and if it weren’t for a delayed flight to Biarritz, they would have missed it.
Our Rogue taxi experience in Biarritz
We always fly into our destination early to get over the jet lag and to give us extra time in our starting destination. After doing my research, I came to the conclusion that extra days were NOT needed in Bayonne, and Biarritz had no appeal to us, so we decided to spend the extra days pre-tour in Saint Jean de Luz, a small seaside town, 17 kilometers (30 minute drive) south from the Biarritz airport and 22 kilometers south (45 minute drive) of Bayonne.
I don’t shy away from using public transport when I can, but with luggage and being jet lagged, I opted to take a taxi from Biarritz airport to SJDL. The airport is very small and there’s only one main exit/entrance. We followed the signs to the taxi stand.
As we were heading out to the taxi stand, a young man asked us in English, where we were going and I told him SJDL. I knew he wasn’t an official taxi, and despite every warning from travelers on these forums, I asked him how much it would cost? I already knew that the official taxi would cost around €50-60 and I had the euros in cash ready to use. He asked for the location. I gave it to him and he pulled out his smart phone and looked it up. I could see from his screen that he had both an uber and lyft app. He told me €40. And it is at this moment I made the snap decision, (whether right or wrong- let me know in your comments) that I said, OK. His car had uber and lyft stickers on it, but we weren’t using either of those services. So it appeared he was free lancing while waiting for an uber or lyft booking.
Continued