I also prefer La Posada. I remember being seated at long tables with plenty of other pilgrims to talk with. At Casa Sabina we were seated at tables for four. At my table there was only one other English speaker at my table. We got by with gestures, but it wasn't as enjoyable.
Not unless it’s changed. You will get a paper dinner ticket when you arrive at the albergue. You might be allowed to pick at that time. I didn’t mind the table of four at Casa Sabina but it was my second time so I felt like I had had the La Posada experience which is also nice.
I booked for first week of April in Roncesvalles on their website. And it’s true sometimes « all booked » just means it may be too early to book ahead. That’s what happened to me with an albergue for SJPdP. Now it’s booked. But at the time it was too early. Buen Camino. Never too early to plan ahead, it’s so much fun.
The Roncesvalles albergue has been running their own online booking system for several years now. You cannot book a bed for their winter season (November-February) but you can currently already book a bed for next year's main season which runs from 8 March 2020 until 6 November 2020, so, yes, up to a year ahead.
I have a reserved booking for 4 NOV. Probably didn't need to, but did it anyway.
By early November you will probably encounter considerably less pilgrims on the Frances. Interesting to know how many will be at the albergue at Roncesvalles by then. I would be surprised if it was more than 50% occupied.
Don't overthink it. You cannot reserve a bed until 90 days before the fact. Getting a bed is not normally a problem between the convent and the restaurant where Martin Sheen stayed in the movie (100 yards away from the convent). Same is true for the dinner even though I do not believe they will accept a reservation.
I second this: the dinner is fun and worth booking ahead. My strong advice is to skip the breakfast, which is very busy and not terribly worthwhile (no aspersions cast, just the challenge of trying to feed so many at the same time) and walk the 2km or so to Burguete. There are a couple of good places to stop there, and if you’re not too early, also a little supermarket.
It might not be sold out: you may just be a bit early to book for next season. You could email them, but equally the albergue is very good.
Buen camino! / KerstinI started in September this year and was amazed at how hot and humid it still was for most of September. I don't want to put you off but be aware of the heat in July. An albergue in Los Arcos said they had no pilgrims during July and August because of heat.
Hello Annie,
@Washie, it sounds as if you did not complete the booking on their website: you fill in your details and your date of stay and press send; you then see a webpage with a summary of your booking request and you must press send again; you then see a webpage where you can enter your credit card details. Did you do all this? They accept bookings for their whole "season" which lasts from 8 March 2020 until 6 November 2020 this year.
I totally agree with everything. I would add that making a reservation is a must. They turn people away on most days and there are no alternatives. I’d also say thank goodness that albergues the rest of way are not like this quite impersonal one. And yes, breakfast was a disappointment. There is a nice family owned small store with good items about 30 min down the line.
