- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23
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In Roncesvalles it is much busier than it was in the same period in 2019, the last pre-covid year. Many pilgrims and many reservations, nearly every day full house.
i'm now in leon. it started getting quite obviously busier when I hit burgos. there is usually a single spot available in an albergue but sometimes need to look at more than one to find a bed.
i guess many albergues are now allowing pilgrims to book ahead! I checked the Booking.com to see what that situation is like for my upcoming days into galicia, and most places are booked solid over the next couple weeks so that's iffy.
if you want to book private accommodations I recommend doing it well in advance.
from Roncesvalles to Burgos it was pretty easy-going but now it seems there is a wave of pilgrims catching up! I am a slow walker so it's hard to stay ahead of the wave lol. it is a great bunch and so very enjoyable one way or the other. should be interesting up ahead!
hope this is helpful.
(this is my first camino so i dont have anything to compare it to)Thanks. It's interesting to hear how the situation is.
I wonder if there are actually fewer beds now?
I'm sure quite a few accommodation places of all types might have gone out of business in the last couple of years.
Any insights on that @ivar ?
I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com" reservation?i'm now in leon. it started getting quite obviously busier when I hit burgos. there is usually a single spot available in an albergue but sometimes need to look at more than one to find a bed.
i guess many albergues are now allowing pilgrims to book ahead! I checked the Booking.com to see what that situation is like for my upcoming days into galicia, and most places are booked solid over the next couple weeks so that's iffy.
if you want to book private accommodations I recommend doing it well in advance.
from Roncesvalles to Burgos it was pretty easy-going but now it seems there is a wave of pilgrims catching up! I am a slow walker so it's hard to stay ahead of the wave lol. it is a great bunch and so very enjoyable one way or the other. should be interesting up ahead!
hope this is helpful.
I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com
if it's an albergue i call to reserve and if i know i will be late i call that afternoon to confirm. if it is some different accomodation i just rely on the booking.com info.I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com" reservation?
Booking.com reservations are guaranteed. Often the owner will ask what your estimated time of arrival is, because most places - not just albergues have limited check in times.I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com" reservation?
Booking.com only is allotted a percentage of the beds. Don’t give up checking because Booking.com has none available.We are in Logrono - and staying mainly in Pensions which, for a couple, are not that more expensive than a double albergue room. So far we have managed to find rooms booking 2-3 days ahead. Booking.com is reliable - but when showing no rooms available, I have phoned and got one.
Given recent misunderstandings in another thread, this calls for a bit of clarification, I feel.I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com" reservation?
Hi, I am struggling to find a double room in Pampolona fir 2 nights in September. Getting lots of "sorry we are fully booked already" replies...For those walking the Camino Frances right now, or recently, how is the bed situation?
Any difficulty finding a bed?
Are people booking ahead more?
I'm sure the regular 'choke points' like Zubiri are still a challenge, but what about elsewhere?
For those who walked pre Covid, would you say the numbers are now 'back to normal' or even higher?
(recognising we are not through Covid yet of course)
Just curious what it's like as I probably won't get back out there till next year.
Hi, I am struggling to find a double room in Pampolona fir 2 nights in September. Getting lots of "sorry we are fully booked already" replies...
Thank you for being specific about the type of accommodation that you are looking for. Sometimes posters (not you) find what you found and then post statements indicating that they were unable to find any accommodation/beds. It may well be that it is hard to find double rooms in Pamplona in September on the dates that you are looking but this does not mean that there are no bunk beds or dormitory beds available in Pamplona in September on those dates.Hi, I am struggling to find a double room in Pampolona fir 2 nights in September. Getting lots of "sorry we are fully booked already" replies...
Trying everything.. using info from booking.com and emailing hotels/ hostel etc directly.. trying to keep under the €50 per night as hoping to complete 15 stages .Wow. How are you trying to book? booking.com ?
Try Hostal Navarra on Booking.comHi, I am struggling to find a double room in Pampolona fir 2 nights in September. Getting lots of "sorry we are fully booked already" replies...
Think we are too old and set in our ways to use the dormitories. Was thinking 2 nights as we hopefully will have walked from SJPP. We have managed to get accommodation in Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Think two nights in Pamplona should see us recovered enough to continue our journey. Thank you for your replyThank you for being specific about the type of accommodation that you are looking for. Sometimes posters (not you) find what you found and then post statements indicating that they were unable to find any accommodation/beds. It may well be that it is hard to find double rooms in Pamplona in September on the dates that you are looking but this does not mean that there are no bunk beds or dormitory beds available in Pamplona in September on those dates.
BTW, have you looked on AirBnB?
I have never had a problem with a reservation made through booking .com. Been using them for many years. The only thing I noticed different on the Camino is sometimes when I arrived - they cancelled the booking .com reservation and had me pay in cash (these were not pre-paid).I was wondering do you feel that your "booking.com" reservations are strong or do you have to check with the albergues themselves to verify a "booking.com" reservation?
This is quite right, not all albergues want to do booking.com and many albergues keep beds out of their total for those who don't want to reserve, plus it costs c. 16% to be on booking.com anyway.Booking.com only is allotted a percentage of the beds. Don’t give up checking because Booking.com has none available.
I’m on the CF right now, and the bed situation is bad, very bad. It’s my third time, always walked during very popular times, and I have never seen anything like this. I have never walked during a holy year, however.For those walking the Camino Frances right now, or recently, how is the bed situation?
Any difficulty finding a bed?
Are people booking ahead more?
I'm sure the regular 'choke points' like Zubiri are still a challenge, but what about elsewhere?
For those who walked pre Covid, would you say the numbers are now 'back to normal' or even higher?
(recognising we are not through Covid yet of course)
Just curious what it's like as I probably won't get back out there till next year.
I’m on the CF right now, and the bed situation is bad, very bad. It’s my third time, always walked during very popular times, and I have never seen anything like this. I have never walked during a holy year, however.
I would hope so. I also hope that perhaps some folks who wish to stay only in private rooms, or not have to book ahead, will consider delaying their caminos until things balance out again, whenever that may be.Hopefully things will find a natural balance in the coming years as Supply adjusts to meet demand.
If beds are really that scarce, and stay that way, I'm sure people will take the opportunity to buy, rent, reopen some of those closed down Albergues?
For what it is is worth, the municipal albergue in Villafranca Montes de Oca has been closed for 5 years. I remember years ago before Covid-19 and Holy Years, perhaps even in April, it was impossible to get a private room in Villafranca. I can't remember how long beforehand I tried to book but it was more than a few days.I think some of the choke points we have seen, like in Atapuerca, have resulted from the municipal in Villafranca being closed
Thanks, I didn’t know how long it had been closed. Nevertheless, something was causing a huge bottleneck in the Agés and Atapuerca area last week, when in mid-September of 2019, also a busy time, we had no problem booking a private room one day out. IME, that is not possible anywhere along the CF at this time, but that particular area was very tight.For what it is is worth, the municipal albergue in Villafranca Montes de Oca has been closed for 5 years. I remember years ago before Covid-19 and Holy Years, perhaps even in April, it was impossible to get a private room in Villafranca. I can't remember how long beforehand I tried to book but it was more than a few days.
I think it just depends on where you are. I met at least two pilgrims in O Pedrouzo who could not find beds.Yes I read your comments on @Anniesantiago 's thread!
Hopefully things will settle down a bit in time,
What I have experienced over the last three weeks isn’t a wave. Sometimes beds go empty at Orrison because people don’t show up for their reserved and paid for beds for whatever reason. It happens. I don’t put much stock in reports of a few empty beds there.Must be a wave. Pilgrims reporting from SJPDP that Orrison not full when they stayed this week.
Today I've chosen albergue outside the busier towns and staying in Boente - only half full. Since Burgos it has otherwise been full of pilgrims everywhere. In villefranca del bierzo every albergue, pension & hotel was completo. Also in Triacastela & portomarin. I've booked for o pedrouzo & santiago and the beds are going fast for the coming days. And nearly everybody I've met have booked more or less the whole way.I think it just depends on where you are. I met at least two pilgrims in O Pedrouzo who could not find beds.
There were 2151 Compostelas issued yesterday and 2077 today. To me that suggests that it is extremely busy in the later stages of the Frances. I strongly dislike reserving accommodation and prefer to be free to stop whenever I feel like it. But in your situation I think I would be looking far ahead too. A pity that pressure of numbers makes spontaneity such a gamble.We've been walking in relative solitude but today, we had over 40 pilgrims in sight at one point, and every open cafeteria / bar was busy.
If you can only find a room for one night in Pamplona, consider booking something in Cizer Menor for the second night. It’s only 5 km from Pamplona and your Pamplona hostery will likely hold your bags for the day.Think we are too old and set in our ways to use the dormitories. Was thinking 2 nights as we hopefully will have walked from SJPP. We have managed to get accommodation in Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Think two nights in Pamplona should see us recovered enough to continue our journey. Thank you for your reply
For what it is is worth, the municipal albergue in Villafranca Montes de Oca has been closed for 5 years. I remember years ago before Covid-19 and Holy Years, perhaps even in April, it was impossible to get a private room in Villafranca. I can't remember how long beforehand I tried to book but it was more than a few days.
This is consistent with a wave of pilgrims that started in SJPdP at the beginning of May.It's started to get very busy around Portomarin. I suggest people arrive very early or book ahead.
Yes, some people seem to understand the limitations of booking.com, but not everyone. I use it as a starting point. But this time on the CF, there have been a number of times when looking for beds in dorms a few days ahead that I have telephoned anywhere from 5 to 10 albergues, or everything listed on Gronze that takes reservations, and every single place has said they are completo. Nearly every accommodation that we have stayed at this time has had a sign out that they are full or has said so when we checked in. Many of those were not on booking.comI think people should look more broadly than booking.com. There are places that have not yet succumbed to the iron grip that booking seems to have on the Camino accommodations market. A friend of mine who owns an albergue on the Camino Francés (which also has several private rooms) reports that they have had availability consistently. They are not on booking, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see that they feel they have no choice but to sign up.
There is no doubt about one thing — as booking gets more and more entrenched, prices are going to continue to rise. So this is kind of a self-inflicted price increase, in addition to what comes with covid, energy pinch, inflation, etc……
I haven’t seen any panic about beds, though I have seen some frustration - and felt some myself.I just read in another Camino forum (german one) reports from pilgrims on the CF right now who said that they noticed a lot of panic about beds, but they personally had not much problems, even as walk-ins in the afternoon. But they apparently prefer non-bookable munis and parroquials, so maybe that's the difference?
I'd find it interesting to get more info from pilgrims staying mainly at those kind of places.
Zubiri last night, no reservations. I arrived at 1430 and first place I checked [Albergue Zaldiko] had a bottom bunk for 14 euro. Today I walked into Albergue Jesus y Maria at 1405 and again got a bottom bunk.For those walking the Camino Frances right now, or recently, how is the bed situation?
Any difficulty finding a bed?
Are people booking ahead more?
I'm sure the regular 'choke points' like Zubiri are still a challenge, but what about elsewhere?
For those who walked pre Covid, would you say the numbers are now 'back to normal' or even higher?
(recognising we are not through Covid yet of course)
Just curious what it's like as I probably won't get back out there till next year.
Stayed at Orisson 2 days agoMust be a wave. Pilgrims reporting from SJPDP that Orrison not full when they stayed this week.
Jakue has the space and several options for the types of rooms you can book.Just booked Alojamientos Olga in Pamplona..Now on to Peunte la Reina.All recommendations gladly received.
They had problems getting bed in Roncesvalles And had to go to Burkette
Approaching Zubiri the talk on The Way wa that Zubiri was complet
That’s as likely the early to mid-May “wave” from StJdP / Pamplona moving on through. Give it a few days after and they’ll be wondering where all the Pilgrims have gone. The “un book able” are still reporting plenty of beds. The Camino has not yet adjusted to the concept of the masked pilgrim in need of 10 sq/m of personal spaceI would note though that several hostels in Triacastela are already saying completo for Thursday 9
The only place that was full was Pamplona but I arrived at 17:30 that was on 30th April. Starting from there to o’cebreiro I stayed in mixture of albergues . From o’cebreiro all the way to Finistera I stayed in municipal albergues . (Municipal Albergue in Finistera is closed during weekends and holidays at least that was the case when I arrived last Sunday).For those walking the Camino Frances right now, or recently, how is the bed situation?
Any difficulty finding a bed?
Are people booking ahead more?
I'm sure the regular 'choke points' like Zubiri are still a challenge, but what about elsewhere?
For those who walked pre Covid, would you say the numbers are now 'back to normal' or even higher?
(recognising we are not through Covid yet of course)
Just curious what it's like as I probably won't get back out there till next year.
Oh yes, the 30th of April in Pamplona which was a Saturday night and a long weekend because the Monday was a public holiday in many regions of Spain. No surprise if Pamplona had many visitors who needed a bed.The only place that was full was Pamplona but I arrived at 17:30 that was on 30th April.
The numbers this year are no more than 2019 and possibly less.Very interesting and helpful thread. It will not be my first Camino but was considering getting myself to Burgos and walking for 10-14 days in mid June depending on logistics. Having walked the Frances, Portuguese and part of the Del Norte before and never pre-booked a bed. This was part of the magic of the Camino as sometimes out of adversity and not getting your 1st or 2nd choices sometimes some of the best experiences and friendships were made. If it is just going to be a stressful bed race then perhaps I'll have consider not bothering this year. This will be disappointing as I particularly wanted to come over to support the infrastructure of the Camino by walking some of it.
Travelling alone and happy to stay where ever is available does have its advantages so I'll keep an open mind on it for a week or so.
Never walked during a Holy Year before so that must be considered of course.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, that has made me feel a bit more optimistic and as I hinted at before my previous Camino experiences have been 'go with the flow' and you will be alright and the next positive experience is just round the corner. Just considering jumping on a flight to Bilbao from Bristol either 9th or 14th of June, are there any Spanish/French public holidays around that time as I have experienced a pilgrim surge before in 2019 when I was repeating the Frances but this time in stages and walked from St Jean to Burgos. But that was a schoolboy error on my behalf. Found it easy to get from Burgos to Bilbao so intend to do the same in reverse and continue from Burgos.The numbers this year are no more than 2019 and possibly less.
The people complaining about a lack of beds are the people who only stay in reserved, private rooms.
In addition, many of the people who are complaining have not walked during early May before and don't realise that they are walking in a large wave of other people like themselves. They don't realise that the wave drops off quite quickly.
I suspect that these people are also using guide books and staying in all the most popular stopping towns.
If you have the same approach as you have had in prior years then you are unlikely to have a problem.
Nothing is guaranteed. For me, that is part of the attraction.
By the end of the year, the albergue of Logroño is even hopeful to reach a higher number of pilgrims staying there but so far they have not yet reached that level, only around 85% of their 2019 pilgrims figures.
My impression is that fewer beds are available post-Covid with the permanent or temporary closure of some albergues and hostals. Raw pilgrim numbers themselves don't fully explain the situation. Is the balance of supply and demand different this year?This is totally similar to the figures in Roncesvalles: up till now we had 86% of the amount of pilgrims in 2019.
This may well be true. Also, changing demographics and lingering health concerns may be causing a (relative) greater shift to beds in private rooms instead of bunk beds in dormitories.My impression is that fewer beds are available post-Covid with the permanent or temporary closure of some albergues and hostals. Raw pilgrim numbers themselves don't fully explain the situation.
Los Arcos at 2 o clock afternoon, AlbergueFor those walking the Camino Frances right now, or recently, how is the bed situation?
Any difficulty finding a bed?
Are people booking ahead more?
I'm sure the regular 'choke points' like Zubiri are still a challenge, but what about elsewhere?
For those who walked pre Covid, would you say the numbers are now 'back to normal' or even higher?
(recognising we are not through Covid yet of course)
Just curious what it's like as I probably won't get back out there till next year.
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