I am all sorted for beds until I get to Pamplona, is that enough planning?

[grumpygit]

I am arriving in SJPDP this coming Thursday morning(11th) and start my pilgrimage Friday morning.
I have a bed for SJPDP and I am in the process in the next 20 minutes of also booking a bed for Roncesvalli and the next night in Zubri.
I have heard things are very busy and have a friend in England who has a cousin near Leon who also has a albergue and she also says things are busy.
I am hoping that I will get a good start with my first 3 days walking now planned and then by the time I get to Pamplona I can start playing it by ear and hopefully I would have met some helpful pilgrims/friends.

I really do not want this over planned and that is part of the experience for me, have I done enough for now?

 

[deano5]

Alit are booking ahead but we have seen plenty of pilgrims playing it by ear, there are beds. It may be your comfort level in finding rooms each night that decides to reserve or not.

 

[Lexicos]

Depends. Pamplona can book out very quickly if there’s a festival or public holiday. And if there is, your options will be hotels, well out of the centre and a lot more expensive than any albergue. So, just check what’s going on in Pamplona at the time of your arrival and book/plan accordingly.

 

[rogersoncharles1951]

I am arriving in SJPDP this coming Thursday morning(11th) and start my pilgrimage Friday morning.
I have a bed for SJPDP and I am in the process in the next 20 minutes of also booking a bed for Roncesvalli and the next night in Zubri.
I have heard things are very busy and have a friend in England who has a cousin near Leon who also has a albergue and she also says things are busy.
I am hoping that I will get a good start with my first 3 days walking now planned and then by the time I get to Pamplona I can start playing it by ear and hopefully I would have met some helpful pilgrims/friends.

I really do not want this over planned and that is part of the experience for me, have I done enough for now?

Really best plan is no plan but with it being so busy so far this year I would be booking 2 days ahead all time .I've found it more relaxing knowing I've reserved a bed ahead let's you take a more leisurely pace and enjoy the country views etc more .I'm leaving Pamplona this year to Astorga to enjoy another Camino in this fantastic country.Buen Camino.

 

[grumpygit]

Alit are booking ahead but we have seen plenty of pilgrims playing it by ear, there are beds. It may be your comfort level in finding rooms each night that decides to reserve or not.

I am really not bothered about the quality of the bed as long as I have a bed and roof

 

[grumpygit]

Really best plan is no plan but with it being so busy so far this year I would be booking 2 days ahead all time .I've found it more relaxing knowing I've reserved a bed ahead let's you take a more leisurely pace and enjoy the country views etc more .I'm leaving Pamplona this year to Astorga to enjoy another Camino in this fantastic country.Buen Camino.

Yep I have just been thinking the same thing
Looks like there are some OK places just on the outskirts

 

[isawtman]

Just because it's busy now in Leon doesn't mean it's going to be busy when you get there. My suggestion is to book the first 3 nights. If Zubiri is all jammed up with pilgrims on the night before Pamplona, then book Puente la Reina on the night after Pamplona. How can you tell if Zubiri is all booked up. There will be pilgrims walking around Zubiri trying to find a bed. I met two ladies that came late and couldn't find a bed. They even called Larrasoana, and they were filled. Not sure what happened to the two ladies. Maybe they took a taxi to Pamplona

 

[J Willhaus]

Just be aware that since you are starting on a weekend, that there may be more pilgrims walking than if you started on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If you find yourself in a "wave" of pilgrims you may need to speed up or slow down to avoid the "stage" towns where lots of pilgrims are staying.

 

[Texas Walker]

Just be aware that since you are starting on a weekend, that there may be more pilgrims walking than if you started on a Tuesday or Wednesday. If you find yourself in a "wave" of pilgrims you may need to speed up or slow down to avoid the "stage" towns where lots of pilgrims are staying.

Or just change your stop points. Not being hamstrung by reservations, or catching up to a pack that was sent ahead, can be very liberating. If you get to the "stage town" and it's too early to stop, you don't have to. If you find your day has gone slower than expected, you don't have to kill yourself making it to the preplanned place. If you discover that you would like to be in Santiago a day or two earlier than planned, perhaps because you'd like to be there the weekend of Corpus Christi, you can go a little farther several days in advance, and have flexibility to change your mind later.
Can you tell I'm not one of the people who wants to have reservations a long ways ahead? Though I am in favor of calling ahead when approaching a large city. YMMV.
BC

 

[LindaPG]

I am arriving in SJPDP this coming Thursday morning(11th) and start my pilgrimage Friday morning.
I have a bed for SJPDP and I am in the process in the next 20 minutes of also booking a bed for Roncesvalli and the next night in Zubri.
I have heard things are very busy and have a friend in England who has a cousin near Leon who also has a albergue and she also says things are busy.
I am hoping that I will get a good start with my first 3 days walking now planned and then by the time I get to Pamplona I can start playing it by ear and hopefully I would have met some helpful pilgrims/friends.

I really do not want this over planned and that is part of the experience for me, have I done enough for now?

I book the day before, sometimes have to call a couple of places but always found a bed. Am now in Naverette day 9.

 

[LindaPG]

I am arriving in SJPDP this coming Thursday morning(11th) and start my pilgrimage Friday morning.
I have a bed for SJPDP and I am in the process in the next 20 minutes of also booking a bed for Roncesvalli and the next night in Zubri.
I have heard things are very busy and have a friend in England who has a cousin near Leon who also has a albergue and she also says things are busy.
I am hoping that I will get a good start with my first 3 days walking now planned and then by the time I get to Pamplona I can start playing it by ear and hopefully I would have met some helpful pilgrims/friends.

I really do not want this over planned and that is part of the experience for me, have I done enough for now?

I am travelling alone but ringing one day ahead always found a bed. Now day 9 in Navarette