Necessary to book albergues ahead of time?

[bmac123]

Hey all!

I've decided to walk the Primitivo from Lugo to Santiago and then continue onward to Muxia and Finisterre. The dates I will be doing this is July 21-31 or so. Is it necessary to book my accommodation ahead of time, or will I be able to find municipal albergues along the route without reservation? Thoughts? I have booked one for Santiago because I know it'll be packed that day.

Thank you!

 

[davebugg]

Flexibility is the key.

If you are dedicated and dead-set on only staying in Albergues within the town you stop at for the night, then yes, if they take reservations be sure and do that.

However, If you are willing to stay in other lodging choices as needed, like a hotel or a casa rural OR if you are willing to take a taxi or bus to spend the night where an Albergue has space, returning by bus or taxi the next morning to where you left off, then no, you probably do not need to make any reservations.

 

[Thomas1962]

You seem to aim on being in Santiago on Sint James day. It will be the most busy week of the year and I suppost that will be the most busy week ever.
I would reserve for sure, or take another week for your camino.

 

[JoAnn Reyes]

Regarding Booking ahead in Santiago - What is happening the weekend of June 17-20? Everything is booked from Albergues to hostales to hotels to Airbnb....Those that are available are over $300 for that weekend only! Is there a huge event happening?? I could only find lodging 20Km outside of Santiago in a hostal for $80 dollars per night.

 

[Former member 49149]

Excuse me, is there a huge event happening? A very much anticipated Holy year, and in the days prior to the feast day of Santiago...

 

[davebugg]

For those relying on a Booking.com type site to make reservations, be aware that lodging facilities do not typically list all bed or hotel space online. The best bet is to either call or email the lodging directly, or look for their online site to try and book. .

 

[dbier]

Hey, bmac!
My husband and I went from Sarria to Santiago, arriving on the Saturday before the Feast of St James last year. (24 July 2021).

We booked everything. And, beginning in Melide, more and more peregrinos were concerned and complaining about not finding rooms. And Covid restrictions were worse then.

The other thing that I am grateful that
we did was spend the first day in Santiago getting our Compostelas, and the second going to Mass through the insane crowds. You may want to reverse A and B, but by all means plan 2 nights in Santiago to get everything accomplished.

Buen Camino!

 

[WalkingLester]

Flexibility is the key.

If you are dedicated and dead-set on only staying in Albergues within the town you stop at for the night, then yes, if they take reservations be sure and do that.

However, If you are willing to stay in other lodging choices as needed, like a hotel or a casa rural OR if you are willing to take a taxi or bus to spend the night where an Albergue has space, returning by bus or taxi the next morning to where you left off, then no, you probably do not need to make any reservations.

This is a topic that we discuss endlessly on this forum. I love to yammer on about it. This post here by @davebugg is the most succinct and informative take I have read! It says it all, I believe.

 

[JoAnn Reyes]

Excuse me, is there a huge event happening? A very much anticipated Holy year, and in the days prior to the feast day of Santiago...

I found out there is a 3 day outdoor music concert in Santiago from 16 to 18 June. Expected attendance over 100,000!! Hence the shortage of accommodation.

. So I took a deep breath, regrouped and booked a hostal in O Pedrouzo ($80 euros) 20 km out of Santiago on the Frances route. So I'll walk in to Santiago as planned on the Portuguese route, enjoy the day in Santiago and then take a 25 min, 4 Euro bus ride there and back as I choose.

 

[Former member 92300]

I found out there is a 3 day outdoor music concert in Santiago from 16 to 18 June. Expected attendance over 100,000!! Hence the shortage of accommodation.

. So I took a deep breath, regrouped and booked a hostal in O Pedrouzo ($80 euros) 20 km out of Santiago on the Frances route. So I'll walk in to Santiago as planned on the Portuguese route, enjoy the day in Santiago and then take a 25 min, 4 Euro bus ride there and back as I choose.

You made me nervous - but I should not arrive before June 20- so hopefully I will be OK! (That is if I do Frances fast - 28 days)

 

[iangc]

Hey, bmac!
My husband and I went from Sarria to Santiago, arriving on the Saturday before the Feast of St James last year. (24 July 2021).

We booked everything. And, beginning in Melide, more and more peregrinos were concerned and complaining about not finding rooms. And Covid restrictions were worse then.

The other thing that I am grateful that
we did was spend the first day in Santiago getting our Compostelas, and the second going to Mass through the insane crowds. You may want to reverse A and B, but by all means plan 2 nights in Santiago to get everything accomplished.

Buen Camino!

What time should we arrive on feast day of st James to get a place for mass

 

[dbier]

I am afraid that I can't tell you. Last year, they rescheduled every Mass on the Feast Day to accommodate the King of Spain and the local dignitaries (1030 and noon Masses were closed to the public, and we waited in line for 4 hours to get into the last Mass of that day...Covid). I only found that out when we got to the Cathedral by asking an English guide/door watcher. Perhaps the Cathedral's website had that information....but my Spanish wasn't that good.

 

[dbier]

My point was, if we'd also had to fit in the 5 hours it took us the previous day to get our Compostelas (40 min on queue after the QR code to get our ticket numbers, then 4 hours and 20 minutes for our numbers to come up)...we would have had to skip one or the other.

If you're arriving in Santiago either on or just before the Feast Day, do yourself a favor and plan 2 nights in Santiago.