Walking Camino Frances during Easter 2017

[Santiago17]

My sister (67)and I (71) will be walking from SJPP to Santiago beginning April 12, 2017 and reaching Santiago on May 20, 2017. The first week includes Easter Sunday. We have made lodging plans for SJPP, Orisson 4/12 and Roncesvalles 4/13 but am wondering how Easter vacation might impact lodging after Roncesvalles. We were hoping to plan lodging on a day to day basis after Roncesvalles but unsure of length of the Easter holiday and wisdom of reserving spots for the next week or two. I have been following this forum for awhile and have found so many helpful threads. Thanks in advance for any feedback offered to this first-time pilgrim.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I have been walking three times during Easter week. I never had a problem with pilgrim accommodations. There are a lot of ceremonies, but I don't think they generate a lot of out-of-town tourists. They mostly are local participants. Hotels may be fuller, but there are a lot of hotels in the cities. Booking two weeks in advance will have the drawback of setting your daily destination long before you will know if it is attainable! Booking a day in advance is about all you need to do. Let your phone do the bed finding instead of your feet. Hospitaleros can help with the calls. Buen camino.

 

[Santiago17]

Thank you, falcon269. Your answer is reassuring and helps put my mind at ease.

 

[Old Gringo]

Assuming things haven't changed in the intervening years since I was on the CF during Easter. . . accommodations tend to fill up in the early afternoon . . . plan to get where you're going no later than 3 PM. Spain will be in holiday for an entire week. Many Spaniards (sometimes whole families) do a piece of the CF every year at this time so for that one week there is a moderate swell of people. That said I enjoyed their company enormously, chatting during meals, exchanging stories, etc.

 

[gregorygwilliams]

I am leaving SJPP on April 11, just a day before you! I hope to see you along the way. I also had the same concerns about the Holy week (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday-- April 9-16) (Semana Santa) so I decided to get a reservation for each night before April 16. For what it is worth, I had no problem getting reservations (SJPP was the hardest). The fact that I had no problem getting reservations could possibly be an indication that it in fact wasn't necessary to get them in the first place. Buen Camino!

 

[cher99840]

It's exciting to see how many of us on this forum alone are leaving around Easter. My friends and I will be behind you just a few days. It sounds like it will be a busy time. My last CF was in the fall. Can't wait to see how spring looks.

 

[nichollsb]

I too will be on the Camino that week (the Primitivo), and I was wondering what it would be like for accommodations. Last time I did the Primitivo, it was October, and I would call ahead for hotels when I didn't want to stay in an albergue. It worked out well. But now I'm wondering how far in advance I should book. I think my primary concern is Lugo, when I'll be there the 13th and 14th, if I stick with my intinerary.