Astorga lodging hard to come by

[MDuffy]

Hi All,
My mom and I are planning our first 12 day camino and looking to start in Astorga Aug 19..I've been to booking.com, agoda.com, and cannot find one place available for our arrival date! Is this normal? I'm worried that after an international flight and a 5 hour bus from Madrid we won't have any place to stay... any advice? If we just show up in the early evening 5-6pm and walk around will we be able to find a place? Thank you!!

 

[alexwalker]

I just checked www.hotels.com . There are hotel rooms available for your date. I would strongly advice that you prebook: August is very busy, you arrive very late, it is on a Saturday (!, many weekend walkers in addition to all the pilgrims). Book as soon as possible, and then rely on room in albergues from there

Remember that online booking companies have a limited no. of rooms at different hotels/hostels. There may be rooms but they may not show up on the booking sites' websites. If so, call the hotel directly or your their own online booking mechanism.

All the best, and Buen Camino!

 

[Tincatinker]

Booking.con and others only ever have limited availability. It is worth contacting establishments directly. The page on Gronze lists the accommodation options in Astorga https://www.gronze.com/etapa/villar-mazarife/astorga

 

[SabsP]

And the yearly festivities for the local Saint will be going on.
This explains the full bookings.

http://leonocio.es/event/fiestas-en-astorga/

http://www.aytoastorga.es/turismo-y-ocio/ferias-fiestas-y-tradiciones/fiestas.html

Might be more interesting to take a taxi to San Justo de la Vega or Murias de Rechivaldo.

 

[alexwalker]

On a closer look, there seems to be scarce supply. Could you consider a place in Madrid for a night's sleep, and start early on Sunday? Or check directly with hotels in Tinkatiner's list?

 

[nidarosa]

Websites like booking.com don't have access to all the rooms available in the hotels either! Try calling or sending an email to some of the places and there might still be room. Good luck!

Oops! Beat me to it!

You could also consider staying at Santa Catalina?

 

[SabsP]

Yes saw that all is booked in Murias but you might try your luck, like Nidarosa says , in Santa Catalina.
This albergue also has private rooms.

http://www.elcaminante.es/Frameset.html

 

[alexwalker]

@SabineP has pointed out a very important thing: The festival in Astorga that very Saturday. If it was me, I would have relaxed in Madrid and go by bus/train to Astorga on Sunday.

 

[SabsP]

@SabineP has pointed out a very important thing: The festival in Astorga that very Saturday. If it was me, I would have relaxed in Madrid and go by bus/train to Astorga on Sunday.

But then again on sunday there is only one train from Madrid to Astorga, arriving in afternoon making it maybe a bit too late for starting to walk that day.
There is a bus that arrives around 12 noon in Astorga so a short etapa is still possible.

Another option is to go a bit further back by taxi to Villares de Orbigo where my fellow countrywoman Christine owns the albergue and takes bookings.

http://alberguevillaresdeorbigo.es/

 

[alexwalker]

There is a bus that arrives around 12 noon in Astorga so a short etapa is still possible.

Another option is to go a bit further back by taxi to Villares de Orbigo where my fellow countrywoman Christine owns the albergue and takes bookings.

http://alberguevillaresdeorbigo.es/

Very good advice from @SabineP : I would definitely take that bus, then decide wether to start walking a little on, or stop for an albergue in Astorga (my recommendation).

 

[Katia Taam]

We always stay at Astur Plaza in Astorga. Its very confortable and has a wonderfull breakfast! There are rooms available on booging.com.
Katia

 

[MDuffy]

thanks to everyone who replied! I did not realize there is a festival that day - explains a lot! we've opted for our plan B that includes Finisterre and starts a little closer to Santiago. Thanks everyone!!

 

[alexwalker]

thanks to everyone who replied! I did not realize there is a festival that day - explains a lot! we've opted for our plan B that includes Finisterre and starts a little closer to Santiago. Thanks everyone!!

What this forum is for. "Where past pilgrims share, and future pilgrims learn". Molinaseca and Ponferrada springs into my mind for a start. Or Rabanal del Camino. After your Camino, come back and pay it forward.

Buen Camino!

 

[HedaP]

Not sure this will help but when booking.com does not work I try trivago.com and lastminute.com and any other booking site I can think of. Hotels seem to allocate rooms across a range of online booking services. Just did a search on trivago and there was a twin room available for Au$141 at Temple Pradorrey 4.6 km from Astorga city centre on 19 August 2017. A bit far out but better than zip.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

Have you tried airbnb as well? Another worthwhile source to check when things are tight on the other booking sites.

 

[Not Good At User Names]

@MDuffy If you decide to book with Hotels.com, send me a private message and I will send you a discount code to save you a little money. I work for Expedia, which owns Hotels.com and I am happy to help you out. I am starting my journey in Leon on the 17th, so who knows, I may run into you at some point!

Charles

 

[Jersey]

What this forum is for. "Where past pilgrims share, and future pilgrims learn". Molinaseca and Ponferrada springs into my mind for a start. Or Rabanal del Camino. After your Camino, come back and pay it forward.

Buen Camino!

Molinaseca is a great place to spend a night before starting off.

 

[wisepilgrim]

On top of the local celebrations, and the peak time of the year for domestic travel, as well as the fact that Astorga is both a common starting point AND the junction with one of the Via de la Plata variants, I am going to go out on a limb and say that if accommodation in Astorga is hard to come by then it will be similarly difficult in all of the surrounding towns.

Madrid is a good option if, like me, flying east for more than an hour turns your world upside down. Another option is Léon, where you can take in some serious history and still be on the camino. An early morning train or bus (alsa and renfe) will get you to Astorga in under an hour.

 

[jrm]

we too the bus from Madrid to Astorga and walked to Rabanal that first night. Got there in the late afternoon... it was great!

 

[Thornley]

Hi All,
My mom and I are planning our first 12 day camino and looking to start in Astorga Aug 19..I've been to booking.com, agoda.com, and cannot find one place available for our arrival date! Is this normal? I'm worried that after an international flight and a 5 hour bus from Madrid we won't have any place to stay... any advice? If we just show up in the early evening 5-6pm and walk around will we be able to find a place? Thank you!!

Could pilgrims PLEASE get a copy of MMDD or similar which have the DIRECT e mail address or contact number well in advance for any commencement AFTER Leon if you wish to stay in good accommodation.
There are many tour groups now booking numbers into these places .

 

[jo webber]

AFTER Leon if you wish to stay in good accommodation.
There are many tour groups now booking numbers into these places .

Are they booking through August? Or into / through Sept?
Thanks.

 

[Thornley]

Are they booking through August? Or into / through Sept?
Thanks.

Sept is very popular for all , not just groups.