Albergues on the Camino Frances

[jennysa]

All the lists of albergues seem to be somewhat outdated and much has probably changed since Covid. Which website has the most up-to-date information? The information on Gronze is quite comprehensive but I wonder how current it is. Also, has anyone ever compiled a list of donativo albergues? I am enquiring for a friend who will be walking for the first time on the 1 September.

 

[hawkeyepierce]

Between Gronze, Google Maps and Wise Pilgrim you can get a reasonable view of which albergues are open.

 

[wisepilgrim]

I can vouch for the info on wisepilgrim. I mean there are bound to be a number of discrepancies (few albergues give notice when the change a price mid summer) but it is pretty darn close.

 

[Susan Peacock]

I walked fall of 2021 and summer of 2022 and found Gronze very reliable. Obviously, the situation has been in flux and I would guess that there aren’t any perfect resources.

 

[ELHS220]

This is a copy of the albergue booklet that we were giving out at the Pilgrim Office in SJPP in May when I was a volunteer. It had supposedly been updated as of April. It must be SOMEWHERE on line, but we couldn’t seem to locate it.

 

[lt56ny]

All the lists of albergues seem to be somewhat outdated and much has probably changed since Covid. Which website has the most up-to-date information? The information on Gronze is quite comprehensive but I wonder how current it is. Also, has anyone ever compiled a list of donativo albergues? I am enquiring for a friend who will be walking for the first time on the 1 September.

I can vouch for the info on wisepilgrim. I

I think between WisePilgrim and Gronze you will be covered. Also starting on September 1 I tend to doubt any albergue listed as open will be closed.

 

[Don Kim]

Anyone searching recently the albergues in Pamplona for the month of September?
I did and found all albergues including a municipal albergue{Jesus y Maria) are completando
in the entire Pamplona areas. The email from the municipal albergue is saying from May through the September are completo. I was able to book for the night of 9/17/2022 at the Obel pension in Villava about 2.5 miles before the Pamplona yesterday. so anyone having the same problems that I had?

 

[C clearly]

Anyone searching recently the albergues in Pamplona for the month of September?
I did and found all albergues including a municipal albergue{Jesus y Maria) are completando
in the entire Pamplona areas.

This seems to be an inaccurate statement that will create rumours and unfounded alarm for many people.

How did you search?

I have just used booking.com (which we know has only a fraction of the accommodation available) and I checked all 30 days in September - one by one - to look for accommodation. There was albergue lodging available on every single day, except for two Saturdays - the 17th and 24th. On those days there was other reasonably-priced accommodation, but admittedly quite limited selection there on booking.com.

The email from the municipal albergue is saying from May through the September are completo.

What exactly did they say? That they were filled every day from May 1 through September 30? I don't know how recently the website of Pamplona turismo has been updated, but it says something quite different. This is something that could cause confusion in translation but on the website, the English and Spanish versions are consistent:

Bookings. The hostel offers a booking service for pilgrims and tourists alike, except for the period from 1st May to 30th September, both inclusive. During this period, no prior booking will be accepted and the places available will be occupied on a first-come first-served basis. ​

 

[Grousedoctor]

The information on Gronze is quite comprehensive but I wonder how current it is.

I have used Gronze extensively for finding accommodations on my Caminos. Just walked the Portugués por la Costa in April/May. Gronze was spot on regarding prices. If they quote a range (i.e., €12-15), I found the bed/room rate was more likely to be toward the middle to the higher end of the range.

 

[Kathar1na]

Anyone searching recently the albergues in Pamplona for the month of September?
I did and found all albergues including a municipal albergue{Jesus y Maria) are completando
in the entire Pamplona areas. The email from the municipal albergue is saying from May through the September are completo. I was able to book for the night of 9/17/2022 at the Obel pension in Villava about 2.5 miles before the Pamplona yesterday. so anyone having the same problems that I had?

I don't see the same problem.

Since the first half of September is approaching which is THE peak period for pilgrims in the section SJPP to Pamplona and both you and the OP's friend and numerous other forum members will be walking, it is worth having a close look. The other peak period for pilgrims in this area is the first half of May.

Acoording to Gronze.com, there are 6 albergues in Pamplona, meaning that they offer a bed for less than €20 a night in shared dormitories. There are 20 pensions, hostals (note the 'a' in the name) and hotels with prices ranging from €25 to €150 for a single bed.

Of the 6 albergues, 4 are on Booking.com. As are nearly all the other 20 establishments. 2 albergues - Casa Paderborn and Jesús and Maria - cannot be booked. Paderborn never and J&M not during September (and other months), according to online information. They are not "completo" for all of September at this point in time.

Of the same 6 albergues, only 2 are exclusively for pilgrims, namely Paderborn and Pamplona-Iruñako Aterpea. The other 4 accept non-pilgrims, too.

You wanted to stay in Pamplona on the 17th of September. It is as Saturday. Pamplona sees a high influx of visitors during weekends. Hence, demand for beds is highest on Friday and Saturday.

Booking.com allows you to see a monthly overview with daily prices for each establishment. Below is a summary of the current situation for the 4 bookable albergues with prices under €20 for a bed in September. Note that these dates are mostly Saturdays, with a few Fridays and one Sunday. This reflects only the situation on Booking.com; there may be availability when you contact the albergue directly.

Plaza: Full on 3, 17, 23 and 24
Iruñaka: Full on 16, 17, and 24
Ibarola: Full on 17, and 23-25
Aloha: Full on 3, 16, and 17. On the 24th, price is €60 instead of the usual €20.

I've posted all these details because I hope that it will be useful for others planning to walk soon and stay in Pamplona and to make them aware that demand for beds is high on weekends but much less so on other days of the week. Pamplona is rarely "completo".

 

[lt56ny]

This seems to be an inaccurate statement that will create rumours and unfounded alarm for many people.

How did you search?

I have just used booking.com (which we know has only a fraction of the accommodation available) and I checked all 30 days in September - one by one - to look for accommodation. There was albergue lodging available on every single day, except for two Saturdays - the 17th and 24th. On those days there was other reasonably-priced accommodation, but admittedly quite limited selection there on booking.com.

What exactly did they say? That they were filled every day from May 1 through September 30? I don't know how recently the website of Pamplona turismo has been updated, but it says something quite different. This is something that could cause confusion in translation but on the website, the English and Spanish versions are consistent:

Bookings. The hostel offers a booking service for pilgrims and tourists alike, except for the period from 1st May to 30th September, both inclusive. During this period, no prior booking will be accepted and the places available will be occupied on a first-come first-served basis. ​

did and found all albergues including a municipal albergue{Jesus y Maria) are completando
in the entire Pamplona areas.

I too believe your information is incorrect.
Casa Paderborn clearly states no reservations accepted:

Casa Paderborn - english - Freundeskreis der Jakobuspilger Paderborn

The Albergue „Casa Paderborn” in Pamplona Dear pilgrim friends, the albergue CASA PADERBORN has been reopened on the 1st of March! The “Casa Paderborn” is a municipal Albergue.… Weiterlesen

jakobusfreunde-paderborn.com

To confirm what CCleary stated Jesus y Maria does not accept reservations between May 1 and September 30:

Jesus and Mary Hostel

The Jesús y María Hostel is a very complete public hostel located in the capital of the Navarre region, Pamplona, in the historical centre of the city.

viajecaminodesantiago.com

I also put in some random dates in September and Hosel Ibarralo, Plaza Cathedral Irunako and Aloha (all hostels/albergues listed in Gronze) have availability.

 

[hueppi]

Anyone searching recently the albergues in Pamplona for the month of September?
I did and found all albergues including a municipal albergue{Jesus y Maria) are completando
in the entire Pamplona areas. The email from the municipal albergue is saying from May through the September are completo. I was able to book for the night of 9/17/2022 at the Obel pension in Villava about 2.5 miles before the Pamplona yesterday. so anyone having the same problems that I had?

Casa Paderborn in Pamplona is open for instance and will be until late October. No reservations possible.
According to the German society running it, occupancy is about 70% in average.
In September you should have Avery good chance to find a bed there.
More Information on Facebook:
Casa Paderborn / Pamplona

Buen camino!

 

[markie6]

Many ( if not all ) municipal albergues will not allow reservations at all. Many albergues ( private types) will keep back some beds for those arriving tired and on foot. Weekends in major towns and cities will mean an influx of visitors , pilgrims and tourists alike and beds will be at a premium.

 

[caminka]

This is a copy of the albergue booklet that we were giving out at the Pilgrim Office in SJPP in May when I was a volunteer. It had supposedly been updated as of April. It must be SOMEWHERE on line, but we couldn’t seem to locate it.

there have been changes since april. some albergues listed were closed, but many listed as closed were open or were opening in july.

I always check gronze's comments section of each albergue I plan to stay in. if there are recent comments, it's open.

I updated my camino list since I returned from my may/june camino with info I gathered on the route but I wasn't checking every albergue out there. it's here if you are interested.