to book accomodation or not to book

[jenny hall]

I arrive in SJPdP on 29th April and plan on staying one night before my big adventure begins just wondering if I should book accommodation for that night now or wait till I arrive if I book can someone advise me of a good place to stay that is easy to find from the train station and easy to make my way from the next morning Thanks

 

[Thomas1962]

A little more information is needed for good advice. What kind of accomodation are you looking for? Hotel, hostel, cheapest or not? Where are you arriving from? If you arrive with a jetlag I would prefer a hotelroom.
In general SJPdP is quit a small place. Nearly al the accom are close to train station en close to the start.

Wish you a good camino!

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

I arrive in SJPdP on 29th April and plan on staying one night before my big adventure begins just wondering if I should book accommodation for that night now or wait till I arrive if I book can someone advise me of a good place to stay that is easy to find from the train station and easy to make my way from the next morning Thanks

Hy Jenny , when you arrive late the best thing you can do is book accomodation.Look at the reply off Thomas. I wish you a Buen Camino , Peter .

 

[SYates]

As the others have said, if you arrive late it would be advisable to have a reservation. I also would suggest to bring / get a Credencial from home. If these two things are already sorted you will have a far stress-freer Camino start. Buen Camino, SY

PS There is a list of all CF albergues here in the resources section, you could have a look at that one and see which albergue options are available.

 

[jenny hall]

thank you I will have a think about it and might book before I leave home. I have my Credencial all ready little keen but at least I have it one less thing to panic about when I get there

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Here is a site for pilgrim accommodations:

http://www.saintjeanpieddeport-pays...&village=SAINT-JEAN-PIED-DE-PORT#.VOMtgi6guKs

They have the advantage of meeting others at the start. The same site lists hotels if you want one.

 

[Ian Afloat]

Hello
I'm starting my first Camino at the end of July and won't be arriving in St Jean until about 19.30 after a 12 hour train journey from London. I have already booked my first night's accommodation in a private hostel and shall possibly book the second night in Burguete as I'm worried that Roncesvalles might be a little packed on the eve of the feast day. After that I'll be playing it by ear as I intend to stay in between the recognised stages most of the time.
Enjoy your walk

 

[Thomas1962]

Hello
I'm starting my first Camino at the end of July and won't be arriving in St Jean until about 19.30 after a 12 hour train journey from London. I have already booked my first night's accommodation in a private hostel and shall possibly book the second night in Burguete as I'm worried that Roncesvalles might be a little packed on the eve of the feast day. After that I'll be playing it by ear as I intend to stay in between the recognised stages most of the time.
Enjoy your walk

Feel free to do as you want but don't be afraid Roncevalles might be full. There are 100ds of places, if these are full there is an overflow. Unles someone does correct me, I don't think the place was ever full.

 

[Ian Afloat]

Feel free to do as you want but don't be afraid Roncevalles might be full. There are 100ds of places, if these are full there is an overflow. Unles someone does correct me, I don't think the place was ever full.

Thanks. I'm guessing that the extra 3 klicks will feel like a lot more!

 

[Mark Lee]

Thanks. I'm guessing that the extra 3 klicks will feel like a lot more!

Nah, it's an easy 3 clicks....flat and level.
On my first Camino I stayed in Roncesvalles. It was okay, but really not much to see or do there. Last summer on my second Camino I stopped in Roncesvalles for a break and a beer and then continued on to Burguete. Stayed at the Hotel Burguete, Ernest Hemingway's old hang-out. It was pretty cool.

 

[Mark Lee]

thank you I will have a think about it and might book before I leave home. I have my Credencial all ready little keen but at least I have it one less thing to panic about when I get there

Yeah, if you arrive late in SJPdP you should definitely have made a reservation somewhere. As said before, it's not a very big town, and only about a 15 minute walk down from the train station. You can't miss it, and the whole town is close to the Camino...you can't miss that either.
I wouldn't sweat the credential thing. I picked mine up from the pilgrim's office there on both my Caminos, which were during the peak season. Neither time was there a queue (line) to get the credentials, and it took no time at all. Maybe ten minutes. To me picking up the credential there and registering kinda seems like all part of the experience. Besides, I like the credential they give you. It's made with nice thick paper, and they stamp it. Really nice people running the place.
Believe me there is nothing to panic about when walking the Camino. Piece of cake.

 

[SYates]

Feel free to do as you want but don't be afraid Roncevalles might be full. There are 100ds of places, if these are full there is an overflow. Unles someone does correct me, I don't think the place was ever full.

The new albergue in Roncesvalles has 184 beds, the overflow (the old albergue) 120 beds, if more pilgrims are expected (for example in Holy Years, but no fear the next one is in 2021) the local government puts up a tent city. So, no panic about beds / places to sleep in Roncesvalles necessary! Buen Camino! SY

 

[jenny hall]

Yeah, if you arrive late in SJPdP you should definitely have made a reservation somewhere. As said before, it's not a very big town, and only about a 15 minute walk down from the train station. You can't miss it, and the whole town is close to the Camino...you can't miss that either.
I wouldn't sweat the credential thing. I picked mine up from the pilgrim's office there on both my Caminos, which were during the peak season. Neither time was there a queue (line) to get the credentials, and it took no time at all. Maybe ten minutes. To me picking up the credential there and registering kinda seems like all part of the experience. Besides, I like the credential they give you. It's made with nice thick paper, and they stamp it. Really nice people running the place.
Believe me there is nothing to panic about when walking the Camino. Piece of cake.

Thank you Mark I am looking forward to the experience these next week are going to drag can't wait to be starting !