Sept Already Booked?

[JAO]

I looked into pre-booking in St Jean and Roncevailles for early Sept 2018 and was shocked to learn that many places were already fully booked. I had intended to stop in Orisson, but haven't got an answer yet. This means that in Roncevailles I would have to hope that the municipal hostel has space. I'm a slow hiker. Should I be worried?

 

[Deleted member 39850]

If you can't get into Orrison, seriously consider taking the Valcarlos route and staying over in Luzaide/Valcarlos.
I was worried about my capacity to walk in 2014 and sought a spot at Orrison but it was already booked 3 months ahead.
I learned on my first days that it's often a "mistake" to force yourself to be in a particular place at a particular time. I had pre-booked for my first night in SJPDP, but missed out because of travel problems out of Bordeaux, so that was money lost. When I arrived a day late to SJPDP, I was easily and happily welcomed at the municipal at the last minute.
I did walk all the way to Roncesvalles on the first day out, and it was fine --- stayed at the monastery which was lovely. The next day at Zubiri there wasn't a single bed in town because of a festival going on, but there was a man with a van and a casa rural up the hill, so 5 of us piled in and shared two rooms, had a lovely sunrise breakfast on a hilltop verandah....
Try not to worry too much; there are always alternatives to "the plan".

 

[trecile]

I looked into pre-booking in St Jean and Roncevailles for early Sept 2018 and was shocked to learn that many places were already fully booked. I had intended to stop in Orisson, but haven't got an answer yet. This means that in Roncevailles I would have to hope that the municipal hostel has space. I'm a slow hiker. Should I be worried?

Make sure that you have the correct email address for Orisson. It's refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi, JAO, and welcome to the forum....

I noticed that lodging, in general, in SJPdP was becoming more difficult to locate as I was looking at reservations for September 17 this year.... and that was back in February. St Jean is popular with both tourists and pilgrims during the fall season, which is why I had started looking at the lodging situation so early; I wanted to get a feel of how things were going. I remember posting about this back then as someone had talked about whether or not to book a room for early September, even though it we were just barely into 2018.

You can reserve a bed at the albergue in Roncesvalles.

http://www.alberguederoncesvalles.com/reservas.php

There are also lodgings in Burgette and Espinal, which are about 3 and 7 km further along from Roncesvalles, although Burgette, especially, is also popular; but fewer pilgrims plan on spending a night there. At any point along Camino that lodgings are fully booked at your planned daily stop, you can always take a taxi to the next town and then return to your stopping point the next morning, if you find yourself too tired to continue.

So, for example, if you get to Roncesvalles and the albergue is completo, then take a taxi (if the extra 3 km is too much for the day) to Burgette or Espinal, spend the night there, then taxi back to Roncesvalles the next morning.

 

[Monasp]

I looked into pre-booking in St Jean and Roncevailles for early Sept 2018 and was shocked to learn that many places were already fully booked. I had intended to stop in Orisson, but haven't got an answer yet. This means that in Roncevailles I would have to hope that the municipal hostel has space. I'm a slow hiker. Should I be worried?

Hi,
Don't be afraid the pilgrims office 39 rue de la Citadelle à SJPP will help you.

 

[MeandIan]

Hi,
Don't be afraid the pilgrims office 39 rue de la Citadelle à SJPP will help you.

Hi. We are arriving on Thursday 13 September and we are struggling to find accommodation in SJPDP. Are you able to to help us please? We are 62 and 68. Thank you

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I think you may have better luck if you tried contacting them directly:

PILGRIMS OFFICE
39, Rue de la Citadelle - 64220 St Jean Pied de Port
caminopa@hotmail.com
+33 5.59.37.05.09

 

[MeandIan]

I think you may have better luck if you tried contacting them directly:

PILGRIMS OFFICE
39, Rue de la Citadelle - 64220 St Jean Pied de Port
caminopa@hotmail.com
+33 5.59.37.05.09

Thank you. We’ve just sent an email

 

[GettingThere]

Hi. We are arriving on Thursday 13 September and we are struggling to find accommodation in SJPDP. Are you able to to help us please? We are 62 and 68. Thank you

Hi @MeandIan - I just had a look on Booking.com for the 13th and there seem to be several places showing with availability. Hostels and hotels.

 

[MeandIan]

Hi @MeandIan - I just had a look on Booking.com for the 13th and there seem to be several places showing with availability. Hostels and hotels.

Thank you. We are checking it

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi @MeandIan - I just had a look on Booking.com for the 13th and there seem to be several places showing with availability. Hostels and hotels.

I know most long time forum members know this, but for the newer members — if booking.com shows availability, that means there is probably a lot of availability. Booking and other websites only have access to a few rooms of each establishment.

Just because booking.com shows no availability, it doesn’t mean the town is full. It just means you will have to start contacting places directly.

And as an aside — several members have suggested that especially with smaller places, it is always a better deal for the owners to deal directly. They have to give booking a chunk that cuts into their profits. For the big chains, not a problem perhaps, but with these little ma and pa places all along the camino, it makes a difference.

Good luck to all September peregrinos, I know it has become an increasingly popular month.

 

[MeandIan]

I know most long time forum members know this, but for the newer members — if booking.com shows availability, that means there is probably a lot of availability. Booking and other websites only have access to a few rooms of each establishment.

Just because booking.com shows no availability, it doesn’t mean the town is full. It just means you will have to start contacting places directly.

And as an aside — several members have suggested that especially with smaller places, it is always a better deal for the owners to deal directly. They have to give booking a chunk that cuts into their profits. For the big chains, not a problem perhaps, but with these little ma and pa places all along the camino, it makes a difference.

Good luck to all September peregrinos, I know it has become an increasingly popular month.

Thank you. We’ll remember this. We’ve booked already. Ian said let’s wait till we get there. I panicked and said do it now for peace of mind. Maybe this is my first lesson to let The Way provide.

 

[Monasp]

I looked into pre-booking in St Jean and Roncevailles for early Sept 2018 and was shocked to learn that many places were already fully booked. I had intended to stop in Orisson, but haven't got an answer yet. This means that in Roncevailles I would have to hope that the municipal hostel has space. I'm a slow hiker. Should I be worried?

No problem ! Go to the pilgrim's office volunteers will help you. We have all the availabilities of all the Albergue of SJPP.

 

[npatz]

Thank you. We’ll remember this. We’ve booked already. Ian said let’s wait till we get there. I panicked and said do it now for peace of mind. Maybe this is my first lesson to let The Way provide.

Hi! I now too am getting worried...I arrive on the 17th in sjpp...where and how did you book? Thanks for the help!

 

[MeandIan]

Hi! I now too am getting worried...I arrive on the 17th in sjpp...where and how did you book? Thanks for the help!

Hi! I now too am getting worried...I arrive on the 17th in sjpp...where and how did you book? Thanks for the help!

We emailed a couple of places and they were full. We found a place on booking.com. On the net it said 81% was full in SJPDP so we looked for a place that was closest to the centre. Hopefully it will suffice and we’ll start our journey as it is meant to be. Having said that we’ve already had so many different experiences and lessons in the past week.

 

[trecile]

Just because booking.com shows no availability, it doesn’t mean the town is full. It just means you will have to start contacting places directly.

Not only that, just because booking.com doesn't show availability at a particular property doesn't mean that the property is full. Just that booking.com has filled their allotment of rooms/beds. You can sometimes contact the property directly and make a reservation. This happened to me this year in Finisterre. Booking.com showed very little availability, but when I contacted a pensión directly they did have a room for me for three nights. And I mentioned the place to some other pilgrims who were also able to get rooms.

 

[MeandIan]

Not only that, just because booking.com doesn't show availability at a particular property doesn't mean that the property is full. Just that booking.com has filled their allotment of rooms/beds. You can sometimes contact the property directly and make a reservation. This happened to me this year in Finisterre. Booking.com showed very little availability, but when I contacted a pensión directly they did have a room for me for three nights. And I mentioned the place to some other pilgrims who were also able to get rooms.

Thank you. We’ll remember this. I feel like an idiot

 

[Marbe2]

Thank you. We’ll remember this. I feel like an idiot

Seeking help is intelligent.

My advice is to book your stay in SJPdP and Roncevalles. (would be surprised if Orisson still has availability...on the Napoleon Route)...but you never know. I recently laughed when a newcomer, who is not a speedy walker, learned that the Camino provided for her by giving her the technological means to reserve ahead...especially the first week. If you do not mind getting to a town where there is a real possibility of not having any bed availability and are willing to sleep under the stars, or take a taxi and schlepp back with a taxi the next day then by all means go without care. If you have a reasonable idea of how far you want to go in a day and do not want to be scrambling or waiting on a line then book ahead till you are able to judge ongoing availability.

 

[Kanga]

Don’t forget that the wonderful people at the Pilgrims Office in SJPDP can almost always find you a room - thank you @Monasp !

No problem ! Go to the pilgrim's office volunteers will help you. We have all the availabilities of all the Albergue of SJPP.

 

[MeandIan]

Seeking help is intelligent.

My advice is to book your stay in SJPdP and Roncevalles. (would be surprised if Orisson still has availability...on the Napoleon Route)...but you never know. I recently laughed when a newcomer, who is not a speedy walker, learned that the Camino provided for her by giving her the technological means to reserve ahead...especially the first week. If you do not mind getting to a town where there is a real possibility of not having any bed availability and are willing to sleep under the stars, or take a taxi and schlepp back with a taxi the next day then by all means go without care. If you have a reasonable idea of how far you want to go in a day and do not want to be scrambling or waiting on a line then book ahead till you are able to judge ongoing availability.

Thank you. We’ve booked Orisson and Roncesvalles four months ago