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I tried doing it the "old way" when I went back to the Frances route in April of 2017 with three family members, which became a real problem. We then started emailing ahead day by day which worked quite well. Possibly a person alone showing up without a reservation would still have better luck at finding beds along the way.It appears to be a case of booking one day ahead according to many posts on this blog, although I did read comments from some diehards doing it the old way and just showing up and hoping for the best.
Hi Liam,Good morning all,
I am due to arrive in St Jean tomorrow Saturday. I have booked 3 other nights ahead on the way including a night in Pamplona.
What's the situation on the ground? I rather not book ahead and see how far a day brings me. But in these pandemic days is it necessary to have booked a week or more ahead?
Maybe just last minute butterflies!!
Thanks a million for all of the info.
LIam
I tried doing it the "old way" when I went back to the Frances route in April of 2017 with three family members, which became a real problem. We then started emailing ahead day by day which worked quite well. Possibly a person alone showing up without a reservation would still have better luck at finding b
Yes Zubiri has always been a 'pinch-point' with their municipal albergue that I have yet to see open..I fly out to Bilbao on Tuesday and arrive Logrono on Wednesday to restart my Camino. I have only booked 4 days ahead and that’s as much as I’m gonna do to be flexible. I do have a plan where I know where I intend to be each of my 36 days, but will only book 4 days ahead anyway.
When I started from SJPP in 2019 the only pinch point I had was Zubiri and from what I read on the forum it’s not much better in Zubiri this year.
if I was starting from SJPP this year, i would book up to and including Zubiri, just to find my feet.
Welcome to the forum and please provide updates on the ground as info is scarce to come upon.
I would stay ahead 3 days at the time if I were you. It is still busy. Advise to use the Gronze.con website they are very up to date with openings and closures of hostels. Buen CaminoGood morning all,
I am due to arrive in St Jean tomorrow Saturday. I have booked 3 other nights ahead on the way including a night in Pamplona.
What's the situation on the ground? I rather not book ahead and see how far a day brings me. But in these pandemic days is it necessary to have booked a week or more ahead?
Maybe just last minute butterflies!!
Thanks a million for all of the info.
LIam
Hi Liam,Good morning all,
I am due to arrive in St Jean tomorrow Saturday. I have booked 3 other nights ahead on the way including a night in Pamplona.
What's the situation on the ground? I rather not book ahead and see how far a day brings me. But in these pandemic days is it necessary to have booked a week or more ahead?
Maybe just last minute butterflies!!
Thanks a million for all of the info.
LIam
Hi Liam I’m on the Camino now. Started from St Jean on Tuesday (prebookEd St Jean, Orisson & Roncevaux). Zubiri was difficult to get, Albergue agreed to give me a top bunk as I’m sleeping in same form as the few who were lucky to get bed. Pamplona was impossible so myself and a camiga treated ourselves to hotel outside the city tonight (inexpensive ). Word is best to call around but we feel it’s busy now on the way, hostels say the same, it’s a tad easier if you can stay outside the towns and divert from the traditional stages (this is the advice we are getting from pilgrims who are ahead of us). Pilgrim office in St Jean will give a list of Albergues, it’s not complete though as many more on Gronze. Anything else please let me know.Good morning all,
I am due to arrive in St Jean tomorrow Saturday. I have booked 3 other nights ahead on the way including a night in Pamplona.
What's the situation on the ground? I rather not book ahead and see how far a day brings me. But in these pandemic days is it necessary to have booked a week or more ahead?
Maybe just last minute butterflies!!
Thanks a million for all of the info.
LIam
I wanted a top bunk near the door…took me three days to figure out I could probably get one without begging. The lady in the third albergue must have thought “another crazy American” when I asked with my best pleading pilgrim face if a top bunk might still be availableI have been very fortunate to only have a bunk bed three times on my five Caminos. For me, the problem is climbing up and down the ladders with those killer rungs.....pure torture on my feet! Ouch!!!
Well you are a sparrow...and birds like to be up high on a limb.I wanted a top bunk near the door
And it seems that you are right.I would expect it to be busy. September has been THE most popular month to start from SJPDP in recent years, and I wouldn't expect this year to be different.
Confirm that... and I would add that being in contact with pilgrims who walk further than me places are increasingly booked out up to Logroño . Very advisable to email at least a day ahead to reserve.. there were pilgrims sleeping outside last night in Zubiri !!And it seems that you are right.
The Pilgrims Office in SJPP reported a record day on Saturday, September 4, with 331 pilgrims passing through the office (that's both arrivals and departures). Note: a record day for 2021. Their absolute record days are in the range of 500+ pilgrims per day.
On FB, a pilgrim reports that yesterday, Tuesday, September 7, they arrived at Roncesvalles a 2pm. Quote: "Not everyone that arrived late got a bed and had to take the bus, glad I booked and paid online".
This means that it is busy in the early sections of the Camino Frances right now in these early weeks of September. It doesn't mean that it is equally busy everywhere along the 800 km trail.
In April 2017 I was walking with three family members so I had booked ahead through Pamplona. When we arrived in Zubiri a large bus was being loaded up with backpacks underneath and the bus looked completely filled with pilgrims. I have no idea where they were being transported to.there were pilgrims sleeping outside last night in Zubiri !
Hi Liam, as I arrived to SJPDP onHi Liam,
Like you I was hoping to wing it and find a bed when I’d had enough for that day.
It is getting challenging to find a free bed or room and I’m having to (reluctantly) book at least for the following night.
It may improve, but in Puente la Reina the Albergues are taking time off! The one I’m in tonight says they won’t open tomorrow or the following day as they reached their 50% target. This was my fourth call with the others saying they were closed or no answer when called, and recalled later!
Good luck and Buen Camino
Bob
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