Oxford Alice
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- (Bits of) Camino Frances (2001)
Camino Frances (2014)
Camino Frances (2018)
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Good advice!Sorry to read of the mix-up.
If you have a computer or smartphone available try checking your spam file for the confirmation. In the past other pilgrims in a similar situation have had it arrive there.
Good luck and best wishes for better days ahead on a Buen camino!
Last night both the new and overflow accommodation was completo. I walked today with three chaps who slept in a doorway and they weren’t the only ones who did. Because of the May Day holiday on Tuesday, many Spanish people are taking a day off Monday to create a four-day weekend. Perfect to do a couple stages of the Camino!Sorry to hear about your frustrating and expensive situation. I just booked there today online for May 14th and I did get an email immediately plus the online reservation that downloads a PDF with one click. I have both saved now in my phone thanks to your warning. I hope they try to work out your situation for you with the evidence you have in hand. Is the Albergue full or close to it?
Yes, I finally did.Did you get a bed?
@A Good Wander. I booked for 5 May in December and only received a form with the conformation number. Yesterday at 21:00 Spanish time I sent an email requesting confirmation, hoping for a reply today. Within 30 minutes they replied that yes, I had a confirmed reservation.
When I arrived I just told them I had a reservation and my name and that was it. No problem whatsoever. I did have a printout of confirmation email but did not need itArrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
Margaret Meredith, please please write your book.
Yes please do. You have so much to impart to others, so many stories to tell. It would keep many a pilgrim, past, present or future enthralled with all your travels.Margaret Meredith, please please write your book.
With theamount of pilgrms about i would double check. I arrived on saturday at a bout 2pm and was lne of the last beds they had. It took basic to a new level but it was a bed. Others taxied to pamplona to find a bed.Thanks for the heads-up @Oxford Alice! I booked a bed for May 3rd way back in December and also didn't receive a confirmation email. I did take a screenshot of the reservation number on the website after it was processed, took another screenshot of the payment on my Visa invoice when it arrived and have now sent all of it off to them in an email and a FB message requesting confirmation. Hope it works.
It did happen on the 28th.I am a hospitalero in RONCESVALLES.
When was you there? I was there in 13 april till 27 april and can not believe what is happend.
Well done, Alice. Delighted to hear Zabaldika was kind to you, I have a vested interest in it! Now, walk tall!Many thanks to the forum for supplying this place to record experiences and help each other. Since sharing this one I have had so many blessings along The Way. The stay in Zabaldika was particularly inspiring and healing. Roncesvalles is truly in the rear view mirror —and now I concentrate on the road ahead, and for me it’s best to leave this thread and push on. Ultreia!
I am a hospitalero in RONCESVALLES.
When was you there? I was there in 13 april till 27 april and can not believe what is happend.
I am the planner of the hospitalero in RONCESVALLES.
I can ASK too Edurne.
Buen camino
The Camino is really busy. I am in los arcos and everyone is booking ahead.Last night both the new and overflow accommodation was completo. I walked today with three chaps who slept in a doorway and they weren’t the only ones who did. Because of the May Day holiday on Tuesday, many Spanish people are taking a day off Monday to create a four-day weekend. Perfect to do a couple stages of the Camino!
Did they provide a bed even if they did not have your reservation? Did you have to pay double, or did they eventually recognize your advance payment with a refund? It is valuable to know the overall level of service!Many thanks to the forum for supplying this place to record experiences and help each other.
That happened to me in SJPP. Turns out I was supposed to confirm the confirmation I received when I made the reservation. The room had been given to someone else even though I was there at 5:00 pm.Arrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
Edure, you have been wonderful replying to me!! Thank you for being concerned and hopefully easing other pilgrims concerns.I am the planner of the hospitalero in RONCESVALLES.
I can ASK too Edurne.
Buen camino
Would you mind sharing where you stayed in Zabaldika, it sounds truly wonderful.Many thanks to the forum for supplying this place to record experiences and help each other. Since sharing this one I have had so many blessings along The Way. The stay in Zabaldika was particularly inspiring and healing. Roncesvalles is truly in the rear view mirror —and now I concentrate on the road ahead, and for me it’s best to leave this thread and push on. Ultreia!
Therein lies the problem that has been created by reservations -- no-shows cost the albergues money, so they do not hold beds without limit. In the "good old days" when no one took reservations, it was not a problem. Fill the beds, collect the money, put up the completo sign. Now hospitaleros need internet, a phone, a reservation book, and a lot of tolerance of pilgrims who feel entitled. Then after all the effort and expense, pilgrims simply do not show up and the bed goes empty and unpaid! On some occasions, those pilgrims complain publicly in the Forum about places that have not held, or do not take, reservations in an effort of revenge. Hospitaleros work seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. for a compensation that many of us would sneer at in our home countries. Honestly, if you want tourist service, stay in hostales that book through something like booking.com, where they get your money if you are a no-show. For a crummy eight Euros, take what you are given...That happened to me in SJPP. Turns out I was supposed to confirm the confirmation I received when I made the reservation.
Would love to read your book...I have read many of your entries on your blog and found them both spiritual and practicalA 1000 likes. One of the few books regarding Camino and Life I would actually find worthy to read!
Therein lies the problem that has been created by reservations -- no-shows cost the albergues money, so they do not hold beds without limit. In the "good old days" when no one took reservations, it was not a problem. Fill the beds, collect the money, put up the completo sign. Now hospitaleros need internet, a phone, a reservation book, and a lot of tolerance of pilgrims who feel entitled. Then after all the effort and expense, pilgrims simply do not show up and the bed goes empty and unpaid! On some occasions, those pilgrims complain publicly in the Forum about places that have not held, or do not take, reservations in an effort of revenge. Hospitaleros work seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. for a compensation that many of us would sneer at in our home countries. Honestly, if you want tourist service, stay in hostales that book through something like booking.com, where they get your money if you are a no-show. For a crummy eight Euros, take what you are given...
Sorry Jacobus. I am not talking about you, but I needed a quote from a previous post.
I booked and paid for a reservation in January for this coming August and received a copy of my receipt as a pdf, but I didn't receive an email. Hmmmm...That does sound frustrating. I booked Roncesvalles this morning and haven't received an email. I do have a PDF confirmation which I got from a link on the final page of the online booking process. I hope that'll be OK.
I hope the rest goes a little more smoothly. ¡Buen Camino!
I could not agree more! We mostly just use booking.com for Albergues as well. However, when we use direct reservations, some albergues indicate we do not need to send deposit. I think it is unconscionable to stiff any Albergue...knowingly having more than one reservation and not canceling in a timely fashion IMO may be stealing...often from people who are trying to eek out a living! For shame!AMEN! and a THOUSAND LIKES! BC SY
I cancelled my reservation at the albergue because I discovered after the fact that they would not allow my transport service (CaminoFacil) to pickup my gear inside because they have an exclusive arrangement with another company. I booked a room next door at Casa Sabina instead. Problem solved.Arrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
Zabaldika is a parrochial albergue about 9km before Pamplona. It is on the top of a hill right of the Camino. It is a steep walk up to the church and easier to get to if you take the paved road and avoid the dirt path. They serve a simple communal dinner and breakfast and usually welcome pilgrims to participate in the preparations. There is a short vesper service in the church before dinner. There is a large grassy area in front of the church and it is a great place to stretch out and sit in the sun after getting over the Pyrenees.Would you mind sharing where you stayed in Zabaldika, it sounds truly wonderful.
I cancelled my reservation at the albergue because I discovered after the fact that they would not allow my transport service (CaminoFacil) to pickup my gear inside because they have an exclusive arrangement with another company. I booked a room next door at Casa Sabina instead. Problem solved.
CaminoFacil told me that although they could do the drop off, they could not come inside for the pickup because of am exclusive arrangement with another transport service. I was going to have to meet their pickup car outside at a particular time. This sounded like a screwup waiting to happen so I cancelled the albergue reservation amd booked a private room at Casa Sabina who honors all transport services. This situation struck me as illogical, but I did not want to spend any more time messaging back and forth about it. My goal was to have this excursion go as smoothly as possible, and it did! Much better than my Camino in 2015.I've always had Caminofacil pick up my bags at Roncesvalles. Casa Sabina is a lot more expensive than the albergue. Where did you hear your bags could not be picked up by Caminofacil?
This would not have been a topic a decade ago!they could not come inside for the pickup because of am exclusive arrangement with another transport service.
This would not have been a topic a decade ago!
I am 72 years old and my backpacking days are behind me, hence the sherpa service. Same with sleeping in a bunkbed. I made reservations in advance so that I didn't get stuck without accommodations. I did not want to add snxiety on top of the stress of hiking long miles.We never made a reservation (except for Orrison) in 2015 and 2016. Has it changed so much. We carried our own stuff too.
I am 72 years old and my backpacking days are behind me, hence the sherpa service. Same with sleeping in a bunkbed. I made reservations in advance so that I didn't get stuck without accommodations. I did not want to add snxiety on top of the stress of hiking long miles.
@mspathMargaret Meredith, please please write your book.
I agree except for walking the extra 5 kmWe had a problem with accommodations only once (when we walked late into the evening, but it worked out fine-- we just walked another 5 km.) I loved that we could stop where we wanted as we walked, and am sad to think that has changed.
Yes, that was a bit trying. We could have walked 2km back, but I just couldn't see walking back.I agree except for walking the extra 5 km
Agreed again! Walking back 2 km and then walking forward again those same 2 km equals 4 extra kilometers. It makes sense to walk forward 5 instead which is only one more km. Plus you would have to walk them anyway the next day.Yes, that was a bit trying. We could have walked 2km back, but I just couldn't see walking back.
Arrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
Hi. We have booked a few a long the way using Booking.com. Just wondering if you used it as well?Arrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
Whenever I have booked through either Bookings.com or Hotels. com, I have never had a problem with a reservation. However when booking directly with the proprietor it always seemed problematic: one even told me that if I didn't arrive by 3pm he would feel free to give my room to another peregrino. This takes the fun out of hiking at your own pace. Next time I will book all posadas through a booking agency that guarantees the room or even takes payment in advance in dollars.Hi. We have booked a few a long the way using Booking.com. Just wondering if you used it as well?
Good MorningTherein lies the problem that has been created by reservations -- no-shows cost the albergues money, so they do not hold beds without limit. In the "good old days" when no one took reservations, it was not a problem. Fill the beds, collect the money, put up the completo sign. Now hospitaleros need internet, a phone, a reservation book, and a lot of tolerance of pilgrims who feel entitled. Then after all the effort and expense, pilgrims simply do not show up and the bed goes empty and unpaid! On some occasions, those pilgrims complain publicly in the Forum about places that have not held, or do not take, reservations in an effort of revenge. Hospitaleros work seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. for a compensation that many of us would sneer at in our home countries. Honestly, if you want tourist service, stay in hostales that book through something like booking.com, where they get your money if you are a no-show. For a crummy eight Euros, take what you are given...
Sorry Jacobus. I am not talking about you, but I needed a quote from a previous post to segue into this, and the hospitalero request to reconfirm seemed like a good start.
I walked in 2014 and I didn't make a reservation at Roncesvilles. I guess things have changed?
I walked in 2014 and I didn't make a reservation at Roncesvilles. I guess things have changed?
I walked in 2014 and I didn't make a reservation at Roncesvilles. I guess things have changed?
I heard of people with similair problems its a bad and long systemArrived at the Albergue with a reservation and confirmation code but they didn’t have my booking. I was able to show them that the money for dinner and bed had been taken out of my bank account, but without a confirming email they won’t budge. I don’t think they sent me an email — it was just the online confirmation. They have no facility for entering the confirmation code into their system. So frustrating. Absolutely no one here seems to care about my situation. Would strongly advise anyone who has booked ahead be prepared to show a confirming email which is what they want.
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