Accommodations on the Norte

[asl]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

 

[chronicwalker]

Never had ANY problem when walking in 2019 the Norte.
good luck
chronic walker

 

[chronicwalker]

and it is MUCH MUCH nicer than the Frances!

 

[donalomahony]

Have you looked after the accommodation options in Gronze?

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

I have walked in Norte during that time frame and yes, accommodation can be tight. San Sebastian and Deba are 2 bottlenecks, I experienced.

 

[David with new Kit!]

We walked the Norte the same period last year and did not have a problem booking individual nights.

The Norte can be busy with Spanish tourists, especially at the weekend when prices are raised.

 

[mattythedog]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

I walked the Norte starting 21 Sep last year, and the larger cities and beach towns along the coast were still full of surfers and beachgoers due to the warm weather. There are much less pilgrim support services, and many towns have no albergues, although you might find hostels, pensions and hotels. I typically do not book ahead until well after lunch for same day, so in several instances I had to walk an extra 10-15 km over what I had planned. Still, I was able to get accomodations every night for reasonable prices.

 

[asl]

Have you looked after the accommodation options in Gronze?

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

I have walked in Norte during that time frame and yes, accommodation can be tight. San Sebastian and Deba are 2 bottlenecks, I experienced.

Thanks for the suggestion, yes, have utilized Gronze's suggestions and that's how I learned of the multiple day stay requirement for a number of places.

 

[asl]

Have you looked after the accommodation options in Gronze?

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

I have walked in Norte during that time frame and yes, accommodation can be tight. San Sebastian and Deba are 2 bottlenecks, I experienced.

With San Sebastian an early stage, I'm comfortable going ahead and pre-booking. Appreciate the guidance.

 

[PhilB]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

I share your concern. We are walking in July and early August. Pre booked San Sebastián and Bilbao. Others could be difficult too. Beun Camino.

 

[Vacajoe]

Deba was the bottleneck in 2021, but accommodations were easily available a short taxi ride away from the coast. The places that require a two night minimum gladly will let you stay one night if they have that gap between two longer stays OR you are asking in the afternoon and they have a room available (I speak from experience)

 

[Marianne Hansen]

Norte accommodation in May and some of June any problem with availability. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[asl]

In perusing Gronze for places to stay in Markina and I noted that 1 of the 2 options (Hostel-Rural House Intxauspe) temporarily closed. Emailed them and will share any updates.

 

[trecile]

In perusing Gronze for places to stay in Markina and I noted that 1 of the 2 options (Hostel-Rural House Intxauspe) temporarily closed. Emailed them and will share any updates.

I stayed there in 2018 and again last year. It's a nice place to stay, with a good communal dinner. Last year they didn't respond to my WhatsApp message, but I was able to reserve via email. There website wasn't working then or now.

 

[trecile]

I can recommend Albergue Izarbide, which is about 5 km past Deba. They take reservations via phone or WhatsApp.

INICIO | izarbide

izarbideaterpetxea.wixsite.com

 

[mattythedog]

I can recommend Albergue Izarbide, which is about 5 km past Deba. They take reservations via phone or WhatsApp.

INICIO | izarbide

izarbideaterpetxea.wixsite.com

I second Izarbide. Nice facilities, great meal and hospitality. Made reservation by phone a couple hours prior to arrival last fall.

 

[asl]

Good news, received word back from Casa Rural Intxauspe that they will open for the season on March 20.

​

 

[Jon53]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

Hi, I walked the del Norte from Irun last September into early October with a small group of friends. Albergue accommodation was difficult in places early on, Deba and Castro Urdiales were examples, and we were warned that there was literally nothing available in Gernika. It wasn’t like that all the way, but until mid September, you’ll be in coastal holiday season as you know, and it’s likely to be busy. It was unseasonably warm too last year which meant the beaches remained popular later than normal.
We mixed and matched accommodation along the way using Albergues, small pensions and Airbnbs. We shared rooms to keep the cost down but if you’re travelling on your own, that may not be feasible. Mid September onwards it became easier partly due to the holiday season drawing to a close plus the fact that we were past Bilbao and the numbers thinned out.
My advice would be to try to get to your planned Albergue destination by about 2pm each day unless you’ve managed to book ahead. You can do that in a number of cases. Doing so takes away some of your flexibility but you don’t then have the stress of trying to find somewhere to sleep when you’re tired and hot after a long walk. The Wise Pilgrim app provides info on where you can book Albergues ahead.
We didn’t encounter minimum stay duration requirements in any of the small pensions/ b&bs/hotels we stayed in. Likewise the Airbnbs we stayed in were generally single night stays and there was no problem. Good luck with your planning. Some stunning scenery to look forward to!

 

[Marianne Hansen]

Norte accommodation in May and some of June any problem with availability. Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Diane Owens]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

Hi I am also walking the Norte in mid August.This is my third time and I have booked every night mostly via booking.com and direct.I have found it is very busy with holiday makers as well as pilgrims

 

[asl]

Curious, where do you prefer to start from?

 

[Diane Owens]

I am planning to walk the Norte beginning in mid-August thru September. While the timing lines up with another trip, its also right in the middle of holiday season for Spaniards. Starting to get a little worried about availability of accommodations as the support system is not as robust as on the Frances, and options like pensions and hotels are requiring multiple night stays.

Hi I am walking Norte in mid August from Santander and tI have walked this Camino in full twice before.I have booked every night as it is holidays and accommodation is tight already this far ahead.I like to know I have a bed.But you could take your chances.Buen Camino!

 

[PhilB]

Hi I am walking Norte in mid August from Santander and tI have walked this Camino in full twice before.I have booked every night as it is holidays and accommodation is tight already this far ahead.I like to know I have a bed.But you could take your chances.Buen Cami

Hi I am also walking the Norte in mid August.This is my third time and I have booked every night mostly via booking.com and direct.I have found it is very busy with holiday makers as well as pilgrims

Good advice. We are walking the Norte starting in Irún in mid July finishing in mid August. I have only booked accommodation in the main centres. I wanted some degree of spontaneity and flexibility in day kilometres. Based on your advice I may revise that plan.

 

[trecile]

Curious, where do you prefer to start from?

I started my Camino del Norte in Biarritz last year, and highly recommend starting there or Bayonne. You get in two days of fairly flat walking before starting the climbs on the route in Spain.

Gronze has information about these early stages:

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

 

[asl]

I started my Camino del Norte in Biarritz last year, and highly recommend starting there or Bayonne. You get in two days of fairly flat walking before starting the climbs on the route in Spain.

Gronze has information about these early stages:

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

Thanks! Thinking of spending a day in Bayonne then walking from Biarritz to shorten 1st day.

 

[hfox]

I walked from Irún last year from July to August. After a challenging first two days (San Sebastián and zarautz), I ended up booking ahead for the remainder. I would just find a place the night before and call ahead to make a reservation. I really liked that system because there typically wasn’t a fee if I had to change plans and go shorter or longer. I also never felt like I was in a rush or a bed race.

I second the albergue in izarbide after deba, it was one of my favorites. If you want to go a little long the next day, I also really love the monastery at zenarruza!

 

[donalomahony]

I started my Camino del Norte in Biarritz last year, and highly recommend starting there or Bayonne. You get in two days of fairly flat walking before starting the climbs on the route in Spain.

Gronze has information about these early stages:

Camino del Norte | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

%

 

[Canche]

and it is MUCH MUCH nicer than the Frances!

Got that right. It's fabuolous. You picked the right Camino.