Hi
Below are the places we stayed in 2014, in case it is of any help in planning your stages. Sometimes the gites were full and so we had to stay in an hotel; at other times we just wanted our own space (and a soak in a bathtub), so we deliberately went to an hotel rather than find a gite.
By the way, the trail will often take you around a town or village, rather than through it. Bear that in mind when approaching settlements, or you will find yourself way past it, sans food and drink! (And facilities are very few and far between as it is.)
Montbonnet: Gite d’Etape Prive l’Escole, 31E DBBpp
Saugues: Centre d’Accueil La Margeride, 14E bed pp
Saint Alban sur Limagnole: Hotel du Centre (gite), 14E bed pp (we didn’t intend to walk over 30 kms when setting out on our third day, but we felt fit and strong, so just kept walking . . . . )
Aumont-Aubrac: Hotel Aubrac, E45 for a huge family room (4 beds) (their gite was “full”)
Nasbinals: Hotel la Route d’Argent, E36 for twin-bed room
Saint Chely d’Aubrac: Hotel des Voyageurs, E54 for twin-bed room
Saint Come d’Olt: Gite d’Etape del Romiou, E11 bed pp
Estaing: Albergue St Fleurat, E48 for twin-bed room
Espeyrac: Gite d’Etape Communal, E13 bed pp
Conques: Gite d’Etape Communal, E12 bed pp
Livinhac-le-Haut: La Vita e Bella (donativo), E27.50 DBB
Figeac: Hotel La Pyramide, E55 for twin-bed room (above a seedy bar in centre of town, but great!)
Grealou: Gite l’Atelier des Volets Bleu, E20 bed pp (they were “full”, but gave us a bed on the floor in the annex)
Limogne-en-Quercy: Gite Communal, E12.50 bed pp
Mas de Vers: Gite du Poudally, E14.50 bed pp
Cahours: Auberge de Jeunesse, E15 bed pp. (Entering Cahors, on the bridge, there is a pilgrim welcome office. We asked about accommodation. “Zut, alors!” (Oops, no reservation.) “Oh la la!” (It’s a holiday weekend, everywhere is fully booked.) They phoned the Youth Hostel for us. (Phew! Thank goodness, they have 2 spare beds.) Well, the place was practically empty, and we had a 10-bed female dorm to ourselves.)
Labastide-Marnhoc: Les Halles de Labastide, no charge, on their patio (we carried sleeping bags for such an emergency). Really nice restaurant owner, great pizzas.
Montcuq: Hotel du Parc, E50 DBB pp (2 kms, out of town, not recommended)
Lauzerte: L’Echoppe, E45 for 4-bed fully equipped apartment (ask in tourist office, fabulous)
Moissac: Gite d’Etape Ancien Carmel, E19.50 BB pp
Auvillar: Gite d’Etape Communal, E14.50 bed pp (really nice)
Castet-Arrouy: Gite d’Etape Communal, E15 BB pp
Lectoure: Gite d’Etape la Halte Pelerin, E16.90 bed pp
Condom: Gite les Relais de St Jacques, E20 BB pp (the best gite by far, fabulous)
Montreal du Gers: La Halte Rempart, E17 BB pp
Eauze: Hotel Café de France, E69 for large triple bed room
Nogaro: Hotel le Commerce, E50 DBB pp sharing
Barcelonne-du-Gers: Gite la Bastide du Cosset, E20 BB pp
Aire-sur-l’Adour: a 2-bed caravan at the campsite, E13 bed pp (spent the afternoon at the swimming pool!)
Sensacq: Ferme du Marsan, E13 bed pp
Arzacq-Arraziguet: Centre d’Accueil Communal, E11 bed pp
Arthez-de-Bearn: Gite de la Boulangerie Brousse, E15 BB pp (great breakfast at their bakery in town!)
Sauvelade: Gite le P’tit Laa, E13 BB pp
Navarrenx: Gite Etape Pelerin, E11.50 bed pp
Aroue: Gite la Tortue, E29 DBB pp (very casual; they overbook, so there are oddbods wandering around late afternoon looking for a bed that they say they have reserved; and you have to cook the dinner yourself!)
Ostabat: Gite d’Etape Izarrak, E32 DBB pp (demi-pension only, 44 people crammed into 3 long tables, and all the windows closed tight, very claustrophobic).
Saint Jean Pied de Port: we arrived with no reservation, but found a room at 15 Rue de la Citadelle, which had a sign outside for rooms to let, for E25 each; just knocked on the door; very welcoming landlady. The pilgrim office wanted to send us out to the suburbs, as “there is nothing available in town”.
Jill
so let's all have a wonderful camino!
