Accommodations. Need to bk in advance?

[Christinamc]

Hi. I only have 7 days and will be walking from Irun to Bilboa end of April, first week of May. Aside from booking ahead in San Sebastián and Bilbao, do I need to book in advance or will I have ample options to choose from on the ground when I arrive. In other words, can I wing at this time of the season?

Huge thanks for any and all advice.

Christina

 

[trecile]

You can probably wing it, but this section of the Norte is pretty sparse on inexpensive pilgrim accommodation. For example there is no albergue or hostel in Gernika.

I usually use Gronze to identify places to stay, but there is at least one that I know of that's not on Gronze, and that's Albergue Izarbide, which is a few km after Deba. If you decide to stay there you should have a reservation, because you face a long uphill walk to Markina if they are full.

INICIO | izarbide

izarbideaterpetxea.wixsite.com

 

[Christinamc]

Thank you Trecile!!! Really appreciate this helpful advice. Enjoy your day and thanks again.

 

[Suzanne S.]

You can probably wing it, but this section of the Norte is pretty sparse on inexpensive pilgrim accommodation. For example there is no albergue or hostel in Gernika.

I usually use Gronze to identify places to stay, but there is at least one that I know of that's not on Gronze, and that's Albergue Izarbide, which is a few km after Deba. If you decide to stay there you should have a reservation, because you face a long uphill walk to Markina if they are full.

INICIO | izarbide

izarbideaterpetxea.wixsite.com

And, at least in 2019, that Albergue was wonderful.

 

[Christinamc]

Thank you Suzanne. Much appreciated.

 

[Lexicos]

Hi. I only have 7 days and will be walking from Irun to Bilboa end of April, first week of May. Aside from booking ahead in San Sebastián and Bilbao, do I need to book in advance or will I have ample options to choose from on the ground when I arrive. In other words, can I wing at this time of the season?

Huge thanks for any and all advice.

Christina

At that time of year I'd say you could wing it. I often don't book ahead even in busy times and I've never been left out in the cold! If you have a healthy budget it's even easier of course, if pilgrim accommodation is full, which is unlikely.

 

[Christinamc]

Big thanks Lexicos! Appreciate you taking the time.

 

[jabrown]

If you stay in Markina Z, I would recommend booking ahead.

 

[Christinamc]

Thank you! Very helpful

 

[Simperegrina]

You can probably wing it, but this section of the Norte is pretty sparse on inexpensive pilgrim accommodation. For example there is no albergue or hostel in Gernika.

I usually use Gronze to identify places to stay, but there is at least one that I know of that's not on Gronze, and that's Albergue Izarbide, which is a few km after Deba. If you decide to stay there you should have a reservation, because you face a long uphill walk to Markina if they are full.

INICIO | izarbide

izarbideaterpetxea.wixsite.com

One of the many reasons why I love this forum…!

Thank you @trecile

Just starting to put together a plan for the Norte / Primitivo

 

[TravellingMan22]

Whenever I see a thread about booking hotac I always think there is a world of difference between booking a ‘non refundable’ bed/room, and a ‘cancellable’ room/bed. I only book via booking . com but most places tend to have a non refundable rate and a cancellable rate and the difference is negligible, usually around 15-20%. So I book a week in advance and keep on top on the cancellation timescales/ penalities and replan where necessary .