Book accommodations?

[hikerox]

Four of us will be starting the Portuguese Camino from Porto May 10th. We want to stay in hotels or private rooms.
Do we need to prebook our accommodations due to the larger group?
I kind of wanted the flexibility to walk longer or shorter but as time gets closer I’m worried we might not find a place.

 

[Vacajoe]

it all depends on how many accommodations exist in the places you stop. Impossible for anyone to advise correctly, otherwise. Which route in Portugal (there are three main ones and many variants)? Are you looking for four private rooms? Or you’ll share with each other? Is it crucial to get your own rooms or just a “nice to have”?

May will be busy. YOU have to balance flexibility in walking distance with inflexibility or accommodation needs. There’s no right answer

 

[dougfitz]

Like @Vacajoe, I'm going to give you an 'it depends' answer. I walked the CP in May 2022, and in preparation, booked for my arrival and the rest days that I planned. These were all done using booking.com using properties that allowed for cancellations without charge, even if that might have been a bit more expensive than not using the cancellation arrangements. Once on the road, I would check availability for the places I wanted to stay that allowed bookings for the next couple of days. This allowed me to make any adjustments to my planned stages should there be no places available where I wanted to stay.

From Porto, I stayed in:

• two Xunta albergues, one of which took bookings, and neither had private rooms, although because I was using a CPAP, in one the hospitalera put me in in a small room and didn't need to put anyone else in with me.
• three private albergues, one of which had a private room which was used by another pilgrim couple, the others didn't have private rooms
• one association albergue which didn't take bookings, and didn't have private rooms.
• three hotels, and one casa rural. They all took bookings, and I stayed in private rooms.

There is no easy answer to retaining flexibility over how far you walk than to avoid booking too far in advance. I found the pattern I used worked well enough for me, but for my next camino, I will be returning to finding my accommodation without booking around the middle of the afternoon, when I know how much further I want to walk that day.

For four of you, it might be more difficult. Have you discussed having to split the group over two or even more places, or is keeping the group together at night a higher priority? You don't say whether you are individuals or are there one or two couples that would clearly not want to be separated. Or would they?

This sounds a bit scattered, but it seems the answer lies in the willingness of the group to explore what your priorities are, as well as different options. While my advice would be to only book ahead a day or so, it really is up to you how tolerant you will be individually and as a group to the uncertainty this will bring.

 

[hikerox]

Like @Vacajoe, I'm going to give you an 'it depends' answer. I walked the CP in May 2022, and in preparation, booked for my arrival and the rest days that I planned. These were all done using booking.com using properties that allowed for cancellations without charge, even if that might have been a bit more expensive than not using the cancellation arrangements. Once on the road, I would check availability for the places I wanted to stay that allowed bookings for the next couple of days. This allowed me to make any adjustments to my planned stages should there be no places available where I wanted to stay.

From Porto, I stayed in:

• two Xunta albergues, one of which took bookings, and neither had private rooms, although because I was using a CPAP, in one the hospitalera put me in in a small room and didn't need to put anyone else in with me.
• three private albergues, one of which had a private room which was used by another pilgrim couple, the others didn't have private rooms
• one association albergue which didn't take bookings, and didn't have private rooms.
• three hotels, and one casa rural. They all took bookings, and I stayed in private rooms.

There is no easy answer to retaining flexibility over how far you walk than to avoid booking too far in advance. I found the pattern I used worked well enough for me, but for my next camino, I will be returning to finding my accommodation without booking around the middle of the afternoon, when I know how much further I want to walk that day.

For four of you, it might be more difficult. Have you discussed having to split the group over two or even more places, or is keeping the group together at night a higher priority? You don't say whether you are individuals or are there one or two couples that would clearly not want to be separated. Or would they?

This sounds a bit scattered, but it seems the answer lies in the willingness of the group to explore what your priorities are, as well as different options. While my advice would be to only book ahead a day or so, it really is up to you how tolerant you will be individually and as a group to the uncertainty this will bring.

Thank you, we are 4 women and we are willing to all share a room or split up. I’m actually walking from Lisbon on my own and meeting my 3 friends in Porto. So I will have supplies to stay in aberques. However they wanted to book a planned trip and I said I could plan for everyone. They are also willing to be flexible. I just feel responsible if we have problems finding a place. I originally thought I’d do as you suggested look for accommodations day before or morning as we walk. Thanks for advice. We are starting on coastal route and then crossing over to central route I think it’s by Vila do Conde. Don’t have my notes handy.

 

[lt56ny]

We are starting on coastal route and then crossing over to central route I think it’s by Vila do Conde.

If you are going back to the central route from Vila do Cande than almost your entire walk with your friends will be on the central. When you have 4 people walking you have 4 chances for blisters, injuries or fatigue. Not to be a downer. I have no idea what the stamina, training or experience your friends have or how much time you have allowed to get to Santiago so planning ahead may be very tricky. I would just book the first night or two and then play it by ear. Remember that those first few days from Porto on the coast are not physically demanding at all as you walk on the coast. Although the Central is one of the "easier" caminos to walk in terms of terrain and hills it can be challenging to many especially early on. Just my thoughts.

 

[hikerox]

If you are going back to the central route from Vila do Cande than almost your entire walk with your friends will be on the central. When you have 4 people walking you have 4 chances for blisters, injuries or fatigue. Not to be a downer. I have no idea what the stamina, training or experience your friends have or how much time you have allowed to get to Santiago so planning ahead may be very tricky. I would just book the first night or two and then play it by ear. Remember that those first few days from Porto on the coast are not physically demanding at all as you walk on the coast. Although the Central is one of the "easier" caminos to walk in terms of terrain and hills it can be challenging to many especially early on. Just my thoughts.

Thank you, we should all be pretty fit by May. My 3 friends all downhill ski and are in a cycling group that does 50 plus miles on weekends in the summer months. I live in a different state so I hike or walk 6 plus miles almost daily. But day after day walking can bring up many ailments. Appreciate your advice.

 

[SabsP]

Four of us will be starting the Portuguese Camino from Porto May 10th. We want to stay in hotels or private rooms.
Do we need to prebook our accommodations due to the larger group?
I kind of wanted the flexibility to walk longer or shorter but as time gets closer I’m worried we might not find a place.

I can recommend this albergue in Caldas de Reis. Perfect to have a room for the four of you.

Albergue O Cruceiro | Albergue de Peregrinos en Caldas de Reis | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue O Cruceiro, en Caldas de Reis: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

 

[Albertinho]

If you want two rooms in Casa Fernanda or 4 beds in the dorm between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima send me a PM and I ask my friends Fernanda and Jacinto if there is still place for you four around the 16th of May, depending on your pace and distances per day you will walk together

Furthermore I advice you asap to find a place in Rubiães ( the day after Ponte de Lima after climbing the Alto do Portelo Grande mountain. It will be a long day and Rubiães is just a very tiny village . Look on Booking.com or so .

 

[Albertinho]

I can recommend this albergue in Caldas de Reis. Perfect to have a room for the four of you.

Albergue O Cruceiro | Albergue de Peregrinos en Caldas de Reis | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue O Cruceiro, en Caldas de Reis: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

Hope they do not turn left after Pontevedra for the Variante Espiritual if so they will miss this nice Cruceiro hotel/albergue.

 

[lt56ny]

Thank you, we should all be pretty fit by May. My 3 friends all downhill ski and are in a cycling group that does 50 plus miles on weekends in the summer months. I live in a different state so I hike or walk 6 plus miles almost daily. But day after day walking can bring up many ailments. Appreciate your advice.

Buen camino and I am sure you all know to listen to your body not your head!

 

[henrythedog]

Four of us will be starting the Portuguese Camino from Porto May 10th. We want to stay in hotels or private rooms.
Do we need to prebook our accommodations due to the larger group?
I kind of wanted the flexibility to walk longer or shorter but as time gets closer I’m worried we might not find a place.

If you’re looking for four separate rooms in the same place, that’s quite an ask. Book them or compromise would be my opinion.

 

[hikerox]

Buen camino and I am sure you all know to listen to your body not your head!

Haha as an ex-marathon runner. I struggle with that. Burn Camino

 

[lt56ny]

Haha as an ex-marathon runner. I struggle with that. Burn Camino

Having a good friend that is an ex ultra marathoner I am sure you do struggle with that!!!!!!!

 

[hikerox]

Hope they do not turn left after Pontevedra for the Variante Espiritual if so they will miss this nice Cruceiro hotel/albergue.

No we are staying on the central route, once we get on it.

 

[hikerox]

If you’re looking for four separate rooms in the same place, that’s quite an ask. Book them or compromise would be my opinion.

No, we will either all share a room or do 2 rooms. Thanks

 

[hikerox]

If you want two rooms in Casa Fernanda or 4 beds in the dorm between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima send me a PM and I ask my friends Fernanda and Jacinto if there is still place for you four around the 16th of May, depending on your pace and distances per day you will walk together

Furthermore I advice you asap to find a place in Rubiães ( the day after Ponte de Lima after climbing the Alto do Portelo Grande mountain. It will be a long day and Rubiães is just a very tiny village . Look on Booking.com or so .

Thank you, I have us being there on the 14th but I want to add in a couple of rest days. So I will work on walk again and let you know the correct date. I’ve read a lot about their place and wanted to stay and if they have private room even better!!
Thanks I’ll get back to you.