Reserving rooms

[Long Hiker]

My wife and I are planning to do the Camino del Norte in the summer. We were looking at some of the hotels along the way. We are planning to stay in mostly private rooms either in a hotel or albergue that has private rooms. How do most people reserve rooms? Do people just wing it as they go or do they reserve rooms far in advance? What do you recommend?

 

[trecile]

My wife and I are planning to do the Camino del Norte in the summer. We were looking at some of the hotels along the way. We are planning to stay in mostly private rooms either in a hotel or albergue that has private rooms. How do most people reserve rooms? Do people just wing it as they go or do they reserve rooms far in advance? What do you recommend?

I recommend booking just a day or two ahead, so that you know your pace. One place that I can recommend is Casa Rural Intxauspe in Markina, which is at the end of one of the most difficult stages on the Norte. It's a lovely spot, with loungers under shade trees in their garden. I stayed in the albergue portion, but they do have private rooms. And they have a nice dinner. And if you want to break up the first stage from Irun to San Sebastian, there is a guest house called Casa Txurdin in Pasajes. It's 25€ for a private room/shared bath and breakfast. The phone number is +34685475733, and the owner is on WhatsApp. I made a reservation by text through WhatsApp.

 

[andycohn]

We reserved rooms all the way, but only did it a day in advance. There were never any problems. However, that was in May. In summer, you’ll be competing with the beach tourists, so I would suggest reserving a few days in advance. However, you probably don’t want to reserve too much in advance because then you’re locked in, and s—t happens. Also, if you use booking.com (for example) and you try to make reservations months in advance, they’ll tell you that there’s no availability, when, in fact, places don’t release rooms to the booking sites that far in advance. Another tip: the more inexpensive places, like pensions, don’t list on booking.com at all, and you can reserve them best with a phoe call or an email. These places are often listed on gronze.com or in the Wiise Pilgrim / Wisely apps.

 

[trecile]

I did the Norte in July, and I didn't always reserve ahead, but when I did it was usually just a day ahead. I found the most expensive town that I stayed in was Ribadesella. There is no albergue there, and many people were having trouble finding a place to stay.

 

[Long Hiker]

Thanks for your responses. That's been very helpful.

 

[Kay Farinazzo]

We stayed at Casa Family Astur (just Google it). In Cadavedo. A really lovely B&B. Sumptuous breakfast and the host Alicia and her family are extremely helpful.
We really enjoyed our stay there. We booked a few days in advance but that was back in 2015. Things will be busier now I should think.

 

[NaimaA]

My wife and I are planning to do the Camino del Norte in the summer. We were looking at some of the hotels along the way. We are planning to stay in mostly private rooms either in a hotel or albergue that has private rooms. How do most people reserve rooms? Do people just wing it as they go or do they reserve rooms far in advance? What do you recommend?

I would not reserve too far in advance....let the camino guide you.....

 

[Redvespablur]

We had booked our first week and filled in a week ahead on rest days when we got better feel for how much waking was best for us balanced with our time constraint.

 

[Long Hiker]

We had booked our first week and filled in a week ahead on rest days when we got better feel for how much waking was best for us balanced with our time constraint.

That is exactly what we have done so far. We have our first week, or at least first four days booked. Then, I guess we'll see. We are staying primarily in hotels. We have used booking.com to book our rooms. Did you use something different to book rooms?

 

[Redvespablur]

We used booking.com for most of time on Norte - but as switched over to Primitivo many hotels in my Buen Camino App were not avail except through their websites. Google translate helped draft emails and responses were prompt to reservation requests.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

I did the entire Norte in July/August 2018 and used Booking.com the entire way and booked the entire trip in advance. This just fit my comfort level to know I would not have to "Scramble" at the last minute to find somewhere to stay in a foreign country with limited Spanish speaking abilities.
By doing this it also kept me on pace to complete my Camino within the amount of time I had to do so.
Many just go day by day and that is good if it fits you.

 

[mariatdw]

I am doing the Del norte in the beginning of Oct. Any recommendations for Albergues in the following towns: Zarautz, Deba, Markina, and Gernika? traveling solo- maria

 

[mariatdw]

My wife and I are planning to do the Camino del Norte in the summer. We were looking at some of the hotels along the way. We are planning to stay in mostly private rooms either in a hotel or albergue that has private rooms. How do most people reserve rooms? Do people just wing it as they go or do they reserve rooms far in advance? What do you recommend?

Please let me know which alberques you stay in during the beginning of your trip. That is if you like them. I am going in Oct. maria

 

[Luka]

Could you specify 'summer'? In July it will be a little bit easier to find a room than in August. Especially in August, be prepared for hotels to be completely booked out (probably weeks in advance) in the popular beach towns (like Zarautz, Castro Urdiales, Llanes, Ribadesella...) and be prepared for paying peak season prices.

 

[mariatdw]

In need of recommendations for alberques in the following towns: Zarautz, Deba, Marikina, Gernika and Lezama.... traveling single female- solo!!