AussieSunnygirl
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF September 2022
CF April 2024
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Where have you looked to determine the availability of accommodation? Have you made direct contact or relied on booking.com?Hi All, I've posted a couple of questions with respect to our upcoming Camino next month and I've appreciated the feedback - thank you.
My friend and I would prefer private rooms (albergues/hostals/pensions) for our accommodation and as most advice on this forum suggests that booking ahead to Pamplona is a good idea, we have done this. Out of sheer curiosity, I have looked further ahead at approximate dates that we expect to be in certain towns/villages and have identified a lot of accommodation has had the 'eyes picked out of it'; for example only the overly expensive or lowly rated/poor reviews places still available or no private rooms left to offer at all.
One thing that neither my friend nor I relish, is the 'bed race' and the anxiety surrounding this - no way to enjoy our camino. My friend intends having her backpack forwarded each day due to an injury, which will mean we do have to start each day knowing where it will end.
Would it be too crazy/restrictive to book the entire Camino in advance? I'm in two minds; we like being organised and pre-arranged accommodation (with free cancellation) would take a load off - the idea of walking for the day and taking our time knowing we have somewhere to stay would be great. I know we could find ourselves delayed for any number of reasons. Do we 'free range' it, or book as much as possible to avoid the anxiety around finding accommodation each day and deal with the consequences should they arise?
I book at least 6 months in advance.Hi All, I've posted a couple of questions with respect to our upcoming Camino next month and I've appreciated the feedback - thank you.
My friend and I would prefer private rooms (albergues/hostals/pensions) for our accommodation and as most advice on this forum suggests that booking ahead to Pamplona is a good idea, we have done this. Out of sheer curiosity, I have looked further ahead at approximate dates that we expect to be in certain towns/villages and have identified a lot of accommodation has had the 'eyes picked out of it'; for example only the overly expensive or lowly rated/poor reviews places still available or no private rooms left to offer at all.
One thing that neither my friend nor I relish, is the 'bed race' and the anxiety surrounding this - no way to enjoy our camino. My friend intends having her backpack forwarded each day due to an injury, which will mean we do have to start each day knowing where it will end.
Would it be too crazy/restrictive to book the entire Camino in advance? I'm in two minds; we like being organised and pre-arranged accommodation (with free cancellation) would take a load off - the idea of walking for the day and taking our time knowing we have somewhere to stay would be great. I know we could find ourselves delayed for any number of reasons. Do we 'free range' it, or book as much as possible to avoid the anxiety around finding accommodation each day and deal with the consequences should they arise?
I would add to this to book conservatively. I am a seasoned hiker, and during my first Camino, my friend and I were unable to make the mileage we expected - you never know when blisters (I never got any) or foot/knee/ankle issues may arise, and having short days (or better yet, rest days) every few days, and projecting shorter regular days of walking is good insurance.You have received some great advice from the veterans above.......except for one thing. They all know what their walking pace will be, and can reasonably pre-book a Camino armed with that experience. You do not know what your walking pace will be (first timer, right?) and will wind up using a guidebook standard for selecting your daily distance. Not everyone walks that pace, some are quicker, many are slower. Pre-booking the whole route may become a ball and chain if you find your daily pace does not match your expectations once you start walking.
Book a few days ahead of time. If you are really concerned about availability, book the next ten days. After Logrono, people start injuring out, and the accommodation situation improves as people wind up cancelling. I cannot recommend booking a whole Camino in advance to a first timer. As you learn your pace, you can make your reservations a few days ahead of you as you go. Sure, its a busy time to walk in September from SJPP, but there is always something available, somewhere.
I've used a range of methods including, contacting the accommodation directly, as I can't understand enough Spanish to ensure I am booking correctly on their private site (as they had no English option). Booking.com is my first port of call, though, certainly not the only tool I use for booking; also My Pilgrim Bed, Gronze, and a host of other booking sites in the hope they may have availability as opposed to Booking which is so highly utilised (unfortunately, a lot of those just redirect you to Booking anyway)...Where have you looked to determine the availability of accommodation? Have you made direct contact or relied on booking.com?
This was what I was expecting too, Damien, but it seems this year really is something else with numbers of pilgrims.When I like to have a private room, 1-2 days in advance is sufficient, in my experience. But that is in May or Sept/Oct. I use booking.com mostly.
Same for me, or I'll even book something when I stop for lunch. I'm generally not too picky about the room - it's often luxury enough to have my own private room.When I like to have a private room, 1-2 days in advance is sufficient, in my experience.
If an English option is unavailable on a private site, try right-clicking within your browser and then choosing "translate to English."I've used a range of methods including, contacting the accommodation directly, as I can't understand enough Spanish to ensure I am booking correctly on their private site (as they had no English option)
Hi there, I have always booked my rooms in advance. Find it reassuring and an incentive to keep going. Bon CaminoHi All, I've posted a couple of questions with respect to our upcoming Camino next month and I've appreciated the feedback - thank you.
My friend and I would prefer private rooms (albergues/hostals/pensions) for our accommodation and as most advice on this forum suggests that booking ahead to Pamplona is a good idea, we have done this. Out of sheer curiosity, I have looked further ahead at approximate dates that we expect to be in certain towns/villages and have identified a lot of accommodation has had the 'eyes picked out of it'; for example only the overly expensive or lowly rated/poor reviews places still available or no private rooms left to offer at all.
One thing that neither my friend nor I relish, is the 'bed race' and the anxiety surrounding this - no way to enjoy our camino. My friend intends having her backpack forwarded each day due to an injury, which will mean we do have to start each day knowing where it will end.
Would it be too crazy/restrictive to book the entire Camino in advance? I'm in two minds; we like being organised and pre-arranged accommodation (with free cancellation) would take a load off - the idea of walking for the day and taking our time knowing we have somewhere to stay would be great. I know we could find ourselves delayed for any number of reasons. Do we 'free range' it, or book as much as possible to avoid the anxiety around finding accommodation each day and deal with the consequences should they arise?
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