Problems booking accommodation ahead of Camino walk

[Bretom]

Hi travellers, my husband and I are starting our Camino journey in September. I am trying to book accommodation in advance as we would prefer not to stay in shared dorms. It seems so many places are booked up already. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to stay somewhere near Zubiri but can't find anywhere reasonable. Just need private room and bathroom...Does booking. com take over all available accommodation? Stay safe
Breda

 

[LilleTyksak]

Hi Breda,
It’s early to book for September, and booking.com haven’t taken over.

I will suggest that you email the accommodation or call. Sometimes the places want your card info, sometimes they ask you to confirm a few days before arrival, sometimes they ask you to book closer to the arrival date - and sometimes the booking is accepted immediately.

First of booking.com usually only have access to a few of the rooms, second they charge the hotels quite a lot…

Buen camino

 

[Kathar1na]

I am looking to stay somewhere near Zubiri

Welcome to the forum, @Bretom! Use the list on Gronze.com to contact albergues and pensions with private rooms directly. If there is no email or website in the list, use WhatsApp and their mobile phone number. WhatsApp is very useful to have in Spain for this purpose.
https://www.gronze.com/etapa/zubiri/pamplona

BTW, Hotel Akerreta is very nice. A former Basque farmhouse. It may be a little far though. Just as an example, they are on Booking.com but they also have their own online booking system. As you can see (below), their own system has more availabilities for 2 persons than Booking.com has. Also, they are relatively more expensive than I remember ... Some dates in September are already fully booked. Note that September, especially the first weeks, are peak pilgrimage season in this section of the Camino Frances (SJPP to Pamplona). Buen Camino!

 

[mspath]

I agree with Kathar1na in post 3.
Have you tried emailing directly some of the places listed on Gronze. Even albergues may have private rooms+ensuite. Scan each entry for more data.

 

[Former member 49149]

The above two posts might indeed alleviate your anxiety. By all means use booking.com as a starter, but then try to contact the establishments directly. Work out a text that you perfect ! to ask the questions you have. I find it works if I say: Soy extranjera. Soy jubilada. Se puede hablar menos rapidamente? That even works with officialdom!
(I am a foreigner. I am retired. Could you speak a little more slowly? They understand that I am decrepit!!! ) Who cares, if it serves the purpose.

 

[Harry Key]

Hi travellers, my husband and I are starting our Camino journey in September. I am trying to book accommodation in advance as we would prefer not to stay in shared dorms. It seems so many places are booked up already. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to stay somewhere near Zubiri but can't find anywhere reasonable. Just need private room and bathroom...Does booking. com take over all available accommodation? Stay safe
Breda

Many albergues do not like or use Bookings.com. My favourite apps for the Caminos I have walked are the Wise Pilgrim apps.They provide you with great information including all types of accommodation.

 

[rappahannock_rev]

You might edge a bit upscale, and contact Wiktoria @ the Camino Travel Center to book accomodations. Doesn't usually book into albergues, but hotels and pensions. Can recommend.

 

[NancyZ]

Hi travellers, my husband and I are starting our Camino journey in September. I am trying to book accommodation in advance as we would prefer not to stay in shared dorms. It seems so many places are booked up already. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to stay somewhere near Zubiri but can't find anywhere reasonable. Just need private room and bathroom...Does booking. com take over all available accommodation? Stay safe
Breda

I just came off the camino; When booking.com had no rooms , I sent a message through WhatsApp or emailed the accommodation that were on booking. I also used the apps gronze, my camino bed, wise pilgrim and buen Camino to find accommodation and again if no rooms were available I sent a message or emailed them. It worked for me. I hope this helps. Buen Camino!

 

[Harry Key]

Many albergues do not like or use Bookings.com. My favourite apps for the Caminos I have walked are the Wise Pilgrim apps.They provide you with great information including all types of accommodation.

You will find that lots of private albergues have private rooms at low cost.

 

[kamleman]

Hi travellers, my husband and I are starting our Camino journey in September. I am trying to book accommodation in advance as we would prefer not to stay in shared dorms. It seems so many places are booked up already. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to stay somewhere near Zubiri but can't find anywhere reasonable. Just need private room and bathroom...Does booking. com take over all available accommodation? Stay safe
Breda

We are staying at albergue palo de avellano. They have rooms with attached bathroom. Google them. They have their own website that you can book on.

 

[kamleman]

We are staying at albergue palo de avellano. They have rooms with attached bathroom. Google them. They have their own website that you can book on.

By the way, although albergues do use booking.com, and it is a very handy way to book, none of them give all their rooms to booking.com. It’s always worth calling out writing to the albergue directly to check if they have space.

 

[tlandry]

Contacting directly works in most cases, found another site; onlypilgrims.com I was able to get double rooms through them

 

[Anniesantiago]

I have everything booked for September.

 

[Former member 101562]

I booked through Pilgrim. Prices are good and they are amazing. +34 912 913 756
reservas@pilgrim.es

 

[sdill]

You might edge a bit upscale, and contact Wiktoria @ the Camino Travel Center to book accomodations. Doesn't usually book into albergues, but hotels and pensions. Can recommend.

Wiktoria helped me with my "last 100 km" in March and was great. I am having trouble getting her to respond to my request for help with planning for a group of 10 people in May 2023. I hope she is ok!