I'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
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I don't usually book in advance but if you are feeling anxious then reservations might be the best thing to do. Knowing for sure that you have a bed at the end of the day may make your journey less tense. I've been reading posts suggesting that the Camino is busy at the moment.I'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
Yes, including quite a number of Xunta albergues that don't accept reservations. I counted 15 Xunta albergues in this stretch.
You need to look a bit more carefully into the accounts of these difficulties. In May (and September), there can be difficulties in the first few days from St Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. In July and August there can be difficulties in the Sarria to Santiago section.reading about difficulties getting a bed
Book ahead…. Depending on what type of accommodations you’re willing to take. I did this walk March 20-29 all places were not open yet and I didn’t want to stay in albergues. Every hotel or B&B or apt I stayed in was fully booked for the season. I read this App a lot - I see many who say it’sI'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
i walked March 20-29 this section. Lots of places had not opened yet. That said, I would encourage (especially if you’re wanting to stay in little hotels/private Hostals) to make reservations. I’m the sort of person who finds the thought of just letting go and hoping for the way to provide is too stressful.I'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
I’m the sort who doesn’t want the stress of finding a bed. I’m also not a fan of albergues. That said I would (if staying in private hostals small hotels etc is part of your plan) definitely reserve. I did this route March 20-29 a considerable number of places had t opened yet. That said all the small hotels, private casas, etc were fully booked for the season. I think it’s going to be a very busy time.I'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
I always aim for albergues outside the normal stops. From Sarria, I would stop just short of Portomarin. There are a couple of good albergues and if you can time your walk to arrive around lunch time you should get a bed. Try places further along like Ligonda before Palas de Rei or Xan Julien just after it. If stopping in Melide try the first albergue off to the right, tends not to fill up early. If by passing this town try Boente. Final stretch try Salceda, Lavacolla and Monte do Gozo. I always started around 6:30, walked for 6 to 7 hours and stopped at first albergue I came to. That way you are stopping at lunchtime when many pilgrims will walk on. If you have not booked your first night, I would suggest A Pedra albergue and hostel at the entrance to Sarria. Many pilgrims go for beds on the way out and the first one coming in is often late to fill up. OK, it means you gotta climb the huge set of steps out of Sarria first thing in the morning which many prefer to have behind them. this has been successful for me but its pre pandemic last time I was there. Booking everything in advance seems to be a something of a penchant these days so may not work anymore. But, trust in whatever you trust in and enjoy. Buen CaminoI'm leaving for Sarria next week and getting a little concerned reading about difficulties getting a bed. I'm a slow walker and will probably stop in towns outside the "typical™ daily destinations. Any thoughts about ways to ease my mind? Thanks!
Thanks! This is kind of my plan;glad to see I was on the right track!I always aim for albergues outside the normal stops. From Sarria, I would stop just short of Portomarin. There are a couple of good albergues and if you can time your walk to arrive around lunch time you should get a bed. Try places further along like Ligonda before Palas de Rei or Xan Julien just after it. If stopping in Melide try the first albergue off to the right, tends not to fill up early. If by passing this town try Boente. Final stretch try Salceda, Lavacolla and Monte do Gozo. I always started around 6:30, walked for 6 to 7 hours and stopped at first albergue I came to. That way you are stopping at lunchtime when many pilgrims will walk on. If you have not booked your first night, I would suggest A Pedra albergue and hostel at the entrance to Sarria. Many pilgrims go for beds on the way out and the first one coming in is often late to fill up. OK, it means you gotta climb the huge set of steps out of Sarria first thing in the morning which many prefer to have behind them. this has been successful for me but its pre pandemic last time I was there. Booking everything in advance seems to be a something of a penchant these days so may not work anymore. But, trust in whatever you trust in and enjoy. Buen Camino
So in general the Primitivo is pretty free of crowds now? Did you have to book ahead? Leave at dawn and never dawdle in order to get a bed the next night? What was it like? I was planning to start at Somport on Tuesday, join the main route at Puente la Reina, and then do the Invierno. But with the reports of insane numbers on the main route, I'm now considering heading up to Oviedo to start the Primitivo if it gets too crazy on the main route.I'm on the stretch from Melide right now finishing the Primitivo and there are lots of spaces outside the main towns - there were 6 of us in the Albergue-Pension in Boente on Sunday and only a handful in my Salceda pension ladt night. Didn't see too many people while I was walking either.
From last year on the Frances, I'd recommend the albergue in Ferreiros and Casa Molar in Ventas de Naron (the latter had really comfy beds with cotton sheets!)
The Primitivo was relatively quiet up till when I finished last Wednesday and no problems in getting accommodation- I did book ahead sometimes, but there was no real need to and didn't hear of anywhere being full so no need for the bed race.So in general the Primitivo is pretty free of crowds now? Did you have to book ahead? Leave at dawn and never dawdle in order to get a bed the next night? What was it like? I was planning to start at Somport on Tuesday, join the main route at Puente la Reina, and then do the Invierno. But with the reports of insane numbers on the main route, I'm now considering heading up to Oviedo to start the Primitivo if it gets too crazy on the main route.