Accommodation June 2024; need to pre-book?

[tommycamino]

Hello everyone. I know that pre-booking accommodation has been discussed many, many times, so apologies but I wanted to be quite specific. We are walking from Irún to Bilbao in the first week of June 2024 so no holidays to avoid and hopefully not quite peak season but could still be busy. I have booked a Pensión for Irún. We don't mind staying in municipal albergues but just worried about getting caught out.

Is it worth pre-booking a room in San Sebastián or would we likely be able to get into the municipal albergues?
Likewise, what about the main stages beyond that? Would you recommend booking in advance?
Would also love to stay in a monastery if that were possible. Can anyone recommend anywhere?

 

[trecile]

Whether or not to prebook depends a bit on the route. The Camino del Norte goes through many popular tourist areas, and their is a serious lack of pilgrim infrastructure, especially on the early stages. I would definitely prebook San Sebastián - there is no municipal albergue there.

There are a few monasteries, including Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza.

Ziortza, Vizcaya | Albergues y Hoteles | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

 

[Peto]

My wife and I hiked the Camino del Norte last year, starting May 15th from Irun. We pre-booked the whole way in local pensions. We were so happy we did. We didn't have to worry about racing to find a spot in an albergue. The first day we ran into a fellow Pilgrim who had hiked in from France, and she couldn't get into the local albergue. She ended up hiking with us for a few days and staying in pensions. Based on what I've read and heard, the Camino del Norte will be at least as crowded this year as last, and you are leaving later than we did. I'd be wary of not pre-booking.

 

[Peto]

P.S. We'd be happy to share our itinerary with you if it would help (and thoughts on the stages and places to stay). We are both "mature" hikers (over 60) if that is relevant. Just PM me.

 

[NancyZ]

My wife and I hiked the Camino del Norte last year, starting May 15th from Irun. We pre-booked the whole way in local pensions. We were so happy we did. We didn't have to worry about racing to find a spot in an albergue. The first day we ran into a fellow Pilgrim who had hiked in from France, and she couldn't get into the local albergue. She ended up hiking with us for a few days and staying in pensions. Based on what I've read and heard, the Camino del Norte will be at least as crowded this year as last, and you are leaving later than we did. I'd be wary of not pre-booking.

Do you have list of pensions you could share? I’m walking with my husband end of September. Thank you!

 

[Peto]

Nancy,

I'm happy to share our itinerary, I just have to figure out how to personal message you. Hmmm ...

Pete

 

[trecile]

I just have to figure out how to personal message you. Hmmm ...

Just click/tap on their name then choose "start conversation."

 

[tommycamino]

My wife and I hiked the Camino del Norte last year, starting May 15th from Irun. We pre-booked the whole way in local pensions. We were so happy we did. We didn't have to worry about racing to find a spot in an albergue. The first day we ran into a fellow Pilgrim who had hiked in from France, and she couldn't get into the local albergue. She ended up hiking with us for a few days and staying in pensions. Based on what I've read and heard, the Camino del Norte will be at least as crowded this year as last, and you are leaving later than we did. I'd be wary of not pre-booking.

Thank you. Did you hear of many people being stranded?