Greetings from a newcomer

[jmarkow]

Greetings:
I will be beginning the Camino Frances on July 10th until Aug 12th 2010. I know it is both a holy year and the most populated time on the Camino but it is the only time I am able to go for that length of time. Does anyone have any words of wisdom who has had to battle the crowds? I am trying to book my first three nights (St. Jean, Orisson, Roncesvalles) but otherwise do not want to have a set agenda. Does anyone have any suggestions about a place to book in St. Jean and Roncesvalle?

I am doing this journey alone and am concerned that at the end of the day there will be no bed for me. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Jody
Toronto, Canada

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I stayed in L'Esprit du Chemin in SJPP and enjoyed it there very much- with a mix of people who had been on the road for a while in France already, and others who were just beginning. You can send them an e-mail to try and make a booking via an address on their website: http://www.espritduchemin.org/English/welcome.html
Margaret

 

[skilsaw]

In 2004, the last holy year, I bought a sleeping mat and light weight one person tent.
Then decided not to take them. Everything worked out OK.

If I was doing the Camino Frances in July and August of this year, I would probably take them.

David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[mrbillyto]

Hi Jody,

If you are unable to get into L'Espirit, I stayed at a little B & B called Errecaldia. It is right up the road from the Pilgrims office and was about 40 euro in September 2009.

As for Roncesvalles, there are only 2 small hostals...one called Casa Sabina and the other one called La Posada. It looks like they both take reservations. I was later in arriving in Roncesvalles so I had no choice but to stay in the Abbey. Another time and I would have reserved ahead at one of the hostals.

Buen Camino and if you need anything else, you can send me a private message.

Bill
Toronto

 

[Manny D]

Hi Jody,

I did the Camino last year June/July. The Pilgrims' Office in St. Jean Pied Pied-de-Port helped me find accomodations after I registered and paid only 8 euros breakfast included. The Pilgrims office will provide you with the credential (for a small fee) which you would need if you want to stay in an albergue and a list of albergues along the camino. To increase your chances of getting a place in the albergues, you might like to start walking early. There were times last year, when I walked as early as 5:30 am. Not only did I avoid the noonday sun which could be scorching but allowed me to arrive in the place I wanted to stay in by lunch time.

Here are some sites (among so many) that provided me with very helpful information about the Camino de Santiago de Compostela:

http://www.mundicamino.es/
http://www.santiago-compostela.net
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/
http://www.godesalco.com/plan/frances

God bless and Buen Camino,
Manny D