Are those fears reasonable?

[Augis]

I'm planning to start Camino in Roncevalles from ~June 16, but since it is the Holy year - I'm worried about the availability of accomodation - what if I reach an albergue and there's no free places to spend the night? What then? My budget is far too tight for an alternative of hotel, I'm also inexperienced and don't speak Spanish. Then I have to go to sleep in forest? I don't have a tent. And then what to eat? Similar worries keep haunting me and even give second thoughts about taking this up at all.

Could anyone already experienced clarify such things please?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The number of pilgrims arriving in Santiago is large. The May arrivals are above the normal August arrivals, the peak month for the arrival of pilgrims starting in June. One strategy would be to walk short days so that you can stop by about 1 p.m. If you walk until the late afternoon, you are very likely to find that albergues are full. It will be particularly bad in the last 100 km, when you will be the most eager to cover more distance.

 

[Augis]

Is it possible to get a place for sleep on the floor?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The Pilgrim Office issued 1,626 certificates today, Sunday. That is over 2 per minute and about 57,000 per month. June, July, and August are the big months.

Sleeping space on the floor violates Spanish safety codes, so is being discouraged. Newer albergues have occupancy limits and generally stick to them. Older albergues may be a bit looser with the rules. Schools and sports centers that are being opened in places may not have limits. You probably cannot count on finding floor space.

 

[Augis]

Then is it allowed to sleep under sky in a bivy bag, in case there are no space in albergues? No tent; but no garbage left behind, of course.

 

[Alan Pearce]

When you mentioned " free places to stay the night", did you mean available beds, or a bed that you don't have to pay for?

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[Augis]

When you mentioned " free places to stay the night", did you mean available beds, or a bed that you don't have to pay for?

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

No, I meant free space, not free of charge

So is sleeping outside ok?

 

[JohnnieWalker]

So is sleeping outside ok?

I think a lot of people will be doing just that!