Accommodation Sarria - Santiago in May

[eamann]

The first and last time I walked from Sarria to Santiago was in 2005. Since then I have always avoided that route by walking to Santiago via Ourense.

In the coming month of May I plan to follow the Sarria path once more, for old time's sake, this being perhaps my last camino. Being concerned about the difficulty in finding accommodation, I have just studied on Gronze the list of albergues in the various towns and villages along the Way and I am flabbergasted at the wealth of accommodation on offer! To take an example, in Villafranca del Bierzo there are eight albergues and twelve hostales/pensiones.

Would I be right to deduce from the above that, even though there will be a lot of walkers on the Way in the first half of May, it should not be too difficult to find accommodation, especially if I avoid the Brierly guide end of stages and, if need be, pay extra for a bed in a hostal or pension?

Thanks in advance for sharing your (recent) experience with me!

 

[good_old_shoes]

You'll probably get a lot of advice to book every night in advance.

But I'll say "just walk".

I've walked that section several times now since 2015, including main season (walked it july 2017, walked it august 2022, walked it may 2015) without any problem. 2019 had to skip from Ponferrada by train because I didn't have enough time, walked into an albergue in Santiago (in july!) at almost 10pm, got a bed at first albergue I tried.

The only troubles I ever had were last year, because I had a cat with me which I had found before Cebreiro, and many albergues didn't allow that of course.

But even *with* the cat I found accommodation on that path with some effort. And that was in august with the wild hordes walking in a constant conga line!

If you're fine with all kinds of accommodation (albergues including those with only mattress on the floor, pensiones, hotels...) I'd say you'll be fine, especially since you seem to be an experienced pilgrim. May is not *that* busy. I think you'll be okay.

Buen Camino peregrino!

 

[henrythedog]

The first and last time I walked from Sarria to Santiago was in 2005. Since then I have always avoided that route by walking to Santiago via Ourense.

In the coming month of May I plan to follow the Sarria path once more, for old time's sake, this being perhaps my last camino. Being concerned about the difficulty in finding accommodation, I have just studied on Gronze the list of albergues in the various towns and villages along the Way and I am flabbergasted at the wealth of accommodation on offer! To take an example, in Villafranca del Bierzo there are eight albergues and twelve hostales/pensiones.

Would I be right to deduce from the above that, even though there will be a lot of walkers on the Way in the first half of May, it should not be too difficult to find accommodation, especially if I avoid the Brierly guide end of stages and, if need be, pay extra for a bed in a hostal or pension?

Thanks in advance for sharing your (recent) experience with me!

Yes, I think that’s a reasonable deduction. Everything that’s planning on opening this year will be fully open in May and, whilst you’ll certainly not be lonely, it’s not usually the busiest time of year.

 

[Vince Rollason]

The first and last time I walked from Sarria to Santiago was in 2005. Since then I have always avoided that route by walking to Santiago via Ourense.

In the coming month of May I plan to follow the Sarria path once more, for old time's sake, this being perhaps my last camino. Being concerned about the difficulty in finding accommodation, I have just studied on Gronze the list of albergues in the various towns and villages along the Way and I am flabbergasted at the wealth of accommodation on offer! To take an example, in Villafranca del Bierzo there are eight albergues and twelve hostales/pensiones.

Would I be right to deduce from the above that, even though there will be a lot of walkers on the Way in the first half of May, it should not be too difficult to find accommodation, especially if I avoid the Brierly guide end of stages and, if need be, pay extra for a bed in a hostal or pension?

Thanks in advance for sharing your (recent) experience with me!

Hello
I walked Morgarde to SDC May/June 2022 with my son-in-law and 2 granddaughters. We did not book ahead and found accommodation every night. The only place we had to walk on from was Palas de Rei as all the alberques were pretty full and could not take 4. I would mention that this was on a particularly rainy day so I think more people decided to stop there for the day but there were several places with space within 3 to 5 kilometres.
Buen Camino
Vince

 

[eamann]

Thank you all for sharing your experience with me.