First time on a Camino

[JMessenger1]

Hello everyone,
I'm planning my first Camino this later this year and would like some advice on Hostels please. I would like to stay a night at the Monasterio de Zenarruza - Are you able to book or do you just turn up and try your luck? Also, what happens if you get to an albergue and there are no beds left, where do you stay?
Many thanks, JasonM

 

[lettinggo]

Hello everyone,
I'm planning my first Camino this later this year and would like some advice on Hostels please. I would like to stay a night at the Monasterio de Zenarruza - Are you able to book or do you just turn up and try your luck? Also, what happens if you get to an albergue and there are no beds left, where do you stay?
Many thanks, JasonM

Hola

Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza | Albergue de Peregrinos en Ziortza | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza, en Ziortza: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

http://www.monasteriozenarruza.net/camino-de-santiago/

I can't see if it is possile to reserve but you could call them and ask if you speak some Spanish?

I will look a little more to see if I find something.
Normally though, it is not possible to reserve at Donativos.

-

You will learn as you go
If you are in reasonable shape and walk from morning until 12-14-15 in the afternoon, most often you will have no problem getting a bed.
If you arrive at your end destination at 18-20-... then most probalby all the beds at the albergues will be taken (depending on the season you walk).

One thing to learn is that pilgrims have been walking on the Caminos for 1000 years...
Pilgrims are in the local Spanish songs, festivals and much more.
I have experienced myself that a woman drove 2 pilgrims to another town, no charge ofcourse, to help them as there were no more free beds..
The local people are friendly and understand the life of the pilgrims.

Don't worry to much.
At worse you have to take a taxi to another town and it may cost you some Euros, but I bet it will not break your budget.

Else,... if you are on a budget and you don't have a bed for the night, go to the Firestation/firemen, "Bomberos" in Spanish.

The firemen will set you up so you can sleep on the floor at the firestation.
It is an old Spanish tradition. (Policemen will also help if you approache them).

Everything flows.
Flow with it.

I hope this helps.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

 

[Jackcoo007]

Hola

Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza | Albergue de Peregrinos en Ziortza | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza, en Ziortza: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

http://www.monasteriozenarruza.net/camino-de-santiago/

I can't see if it is possile to reserve but you could call them and ask if you speqk some Spanish?

I will look a little more to see if I find something.
Normally though, it is not possible to reserve at Donativos.

-

You will learn as you go
If you are in reasonable shape and walk from morning until 12-14-15 in the afternoon, most often you will have no problem getting a bed.
If you arrive at your end destination at 18-20-... then most probalby all the beds at the albergues will be taken (depending on the season you walk).

One thing to learn is that pilgrims have been walking on the Caminos for 1000 years...
Pilgrims are in the local Spanish songs, festivals and much more.
I have experienced myself that a woman drove 2 pilgrims to another town, no charge ofcourse, to help them as there were no more free beds..
The local people are friendly and understand the life of the pilgrims.

Don't worry to much.
At worse you have to take a taxi to another town and it may cost you some Euros, but I bet it will not break your budget.

Else,... if you are on a budget and you don'ty have a bed for the night, go to the Firestation/firemen, "Bomberos" in Spanish.

The firemen will set you up so you can sleep on the floor at the firestation.
It is an old Spanish tradition. (Policemen will also help if you approache them).

Everything flows.
Flow with it.

I hope this helps.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

Great advice buddy!

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @JMessenger1
Welcome to the Camino Forum. You will find that this is quite possibly to greatest Camino resources centre on the planet. You have already seen an example in the response from @lettinggo and @Jackcoo007 . Over the next months if you cannot get the search function to provide the answer you are most welcome to come back here and ask. (There are no Stupid Questions - but there might be a few funny answers). Lastly Buen Camino.

 

[dick bird]

Ironically, as more and more pilgrims have taken to booking ahead, the traditional albergues are finding they are not always as full as they used to be. If the muni or donativo is full (some towns have both), there will be private albergues and budget hotels nearby, or you can walk on to the next stop on the route. At least on the Francés there will be alternatives not too far away. If you download an app such as Gronze (in Spanish but you can google translate) you will be able to locate the nearest place to stay. If an albergue is full, the hospitaler@ will almost certainly help you find a place or at least tell where you can try.

 

[WalkingLester]

You can email the Monasterio. I think they would appreciate you letting them know you are coming. I showed up there with two friends at 1800. The priest was not happy with us 😊

 

[Damien Reynolds]

I only have one comment, and it may be a generalization, and some people may think it inappropriate.

"Monasteries are dirty and convents are clean."

Just based on personal experience. YMMV.

 

[Terenia]

Hello everyone,
I'm planning my first Camino this later this year and would like some advice on Hostels please. I would like to stay a night at the Monasterio de Zenarruza - Are you able to book or do you just turn up and try your luck? Also, what happens if you get to an albergue and there are no beds left, where do you stay?
Many thanks, JasonM

The website Gronze.com has a list of all accommodations along the various caminos.

 

[trecile]

. If you download an app such as Gronze (in Spanish but you can google translate)

Other than their new map app which is still in beta and only thus far for Android, there is no Gronze app to download. But you can bookmark the site on your phone.

El Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

Bienvenido a Gronze, tu Guía del Camino de Santiago: Información práctica, actualizada y participativa de los principales Caminos de Santiago.

www.gronze.com

As @dick bird said, it's only in Spanish, but if you view it in the Chrome browser it will automatically translate to English or the language of your choice.

 

[dick bird]

2023 edition: From St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela (W/FREE Passport)

Camino Forum Store Special! 1 FREE Camino Passport (from the Cathedral in Santiago) per Guide Book ordered. This is the 2023 edition of this book. Welcome to El Camino that leads from the foothills of the Pyrenees in France to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia – a distance of 791 km (490...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

The monastery the OP refers to is on the Camino del Norte, presumably they know this although this link would be helpful for anyone walking the Francés.

 

[C clearly]

what happens if you get to an albergue and there are no beds left, where do you stay?

You have a discussion with the hospitaleros and ask what they suggest. If you are left without a bed, there will likely be other pilgrims with the same problem. If all else fails, you take a taxi to the nearest lodging.

The firemen will set you up so you can sleep on the floor at the firestation.
It is an old Spanish tradition.

This may be an old Spanish tradition, but I haven't heard of it happening in Spain in recent years. However, I have heard of it in Portugal.

 

[trecile]

This may be an old Spanish tradition, but I haven't heard of it happening in Spain in recent years. However, I have heard of it in Portugal.

I don't know how recently it has happened in Portugal either.

 

[RJM]

The monastery the OP refers to is on the Camino del Norte, presumably they know this although this link would be helpful for anyone walking the Francés.

Fixed

2023 & 2022 edition: A Camino del Norte Guide from Irun to Santiago (W/FREE Passport)

Each book ordered will include (at no extra cost): 1 "Camino Passport" (from the Cathedral in Santiago) Select the edition you are interested in (2023 or 2022). Nearly 10 years after the first web edition went live, and 5 years after the first mobile app for the camino was published, the time...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

 

[JMessenger1]

Hola

Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza | Albergue de Peregrinos en Ziortza | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Zenarruza, en Ziortza: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

http://www.monasteriozenarruza.net/camino-de-santiago/

I can't see if it is possile to reserve but you could call them and ask if you speak some Spanish?

I will look a little more to see if I find something.
Normally though, it is not possible to reserve at Donativos.

-

You will learn as you go
If you are in reasonable shape and walk from morning until 12-14-15 in the afternoon, most often you will have no problem getting a bed.
If you arrive at your end destination at 18-20-... then most probalby all the beds at the albergues will be taken (depending on the season you walk).

One thing to learn is that pilgrims have been walking on the Caminos for 1000 years...
Pilgrims are in the local Spanish songs, festivals and much more.
I have experienced myself that a woman drove 2 pilgrims to another town, no charge ofcourse, to help them as there were no more free beds..
The local people are friendly and understand the life of the pilgrims.

Don't worry to much.
At worse you have to take a taxi to another town and it may cost you some Euros, but I bet it will not break your budget.

Else,... if you are on a budget and you don't have a bed for the night, go to the Firestation/firemen, "Bomberos" in Spanish.

The firemen will set you up so you can sleep on the floor at the firestation.
It is an old Spanish tradition. (Policemen will also help if you approache them).

Everything flows.
Flow with it.

I hope this helps.

Buen Camino
Lettinggo

Thank you all for your help. It is reassuring.

 

[JMessenger1]

Fixed

2023 & 2022 edition: A Camino del Norte Guide from Irun to Santiago (W/FREE Passport)

Each book ordered will include (at no extra cost): 1 "Camino Passport" (from the Cathedral in Santiago) Select the edition you are interested in (2023 or 2022). Nearly 10 years after the first web edition went live, and 5 years after the first mobile app for the camino was published, the time...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

Thank you for this

 

[JMessenger1]

You have a discussion with the hospitaleros and ask what they suggest. If you are left without a bed, there will likely be other pilgrims with the same problem. If all else fails, you take a taxi to the nearest lodging.

This may be an old Spanish tradition, but I haven't heard of it happening in Spain in recent years. However, I have heard of it in Portugal.

Thank yo7 for this