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Yes. Especially if you want a specific albergue and/or you're trying to get an albergue in the large cities or the typical stages. The easiest way to book ahead is to call the albergue directly. Last year, on the Portuguese Camino, in Portugal, even a municipal albergue required reservations...
You can find maps to both on Camino ninja to help you decide where to go. I'm not an experienced hiker and did find. I did need my no he map as the signage is not good on the literal.
I found that last summer, on the CF, with covid restrictions, if I was in an albergue in a place where there were no open stores/restaurants, that the albergue would provide a meal--for a charge. Usually about 10 E.
This past August, Mande just automatically came out of my mouth most times. And that didn't seem to be a problem. When I remembered, I'd ask como or que.
Many albergues do not use booking.com and will only accept reservations by calling ahead. Camino Ninja app has these albergues with private rooms that are not on booking.com.
I am 63 and just did my first camino this past summer--the Frances. I just read everything I could and then bought airplane tickets and went. I walked about 10 miles a day and stayed in albergues--in the dorms. Did it on the cheap. There are plenty of seniors out there doing the camino...
I walked this past July-August. I'm from Phoenix/Las Vegas. I need the heat. Even then, at times, it was a little too cool for me. So depends on what you want/need.
I'm here right now doing the Camino and only had a one way ticket. They did asked me when I planned to return and I gave them a guesstimate if two months.
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