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Thanks.Will you start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de Port? Then it would be a good idea to book the first etapas till you reach Pamplona. After that you will be ok, especially if you stop in the " in between stages " aka not the stages the Brierley guide advises.
Also take into consideration that as a couple booking a private pension /hostal will be not that more costly than two beds in an albergue.
Orisson is full up for our dates. Good to hear you didn't have issues last year.Started last year May 13th. Never had a problem getting a bed without reservation, despite all the talk about it being a problem and it being a holy year with record numbers. (Orisson is an exception if you want to stay there. Book that ahead)
Word of mouth... with forming friendships and using Whatapp... people who get ahead of the group often alert their Camino friends who are behind them of any accommodation issues ahead. We always seemed to know about bed shortages, the really cool albergue experiences, and great bars/restaurants (especially the Vegan places) in the upcoming days due to someone getting ahead of the group and letting us know. I experienced this on the Frances and the Norte/Primitivo."Camino Grapevine"???
Any combination of informal information gathering that you undertake. It could be hospitaleros keeping in touch with other hospitaleros a little ahead of where you are, fellow pilgrims who have walked ahead and are keeping in touch, and reporting 'LIVE' on this forum."Camino Grapevine"???
I was working on the Frances near Leon last year, 2nd half of April. Pilgrims passing through reported plenty of space in albergues although private accommodation was often full.Last year when I was there in May, people were sleeping on the street in SJPP - no beds - and I've seen pilgrims crying in Roncesvalles. I'd book SJPP, Orisson or Borda, Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Then, as someone else said, if you walk the "in between" stages and plan on finishing your day by 2 or 2:30 you should be ok.
No, this is not necessary. In every albergue you can find envelopes for the luggage transport, you write your name on it, your telephone # and your destination of that day. You put the money in it (in the albergue the hospitaleros know the prices) and leave your backpack there. That's all ... All along the Camino Frances Jacotrans will take care of your backpack.If you want to use a luggage transfer service (and at my age, I do!) then you need to book a few days ahead so you know where to send it.
Two people; two different experiences. As you probably know, there are "waves" of pilgrims. One day there are plenty of beds, and the next there are none. Also, April is pretty early in the season. With 20 stages from SJPP to Leon, those arriving must have begun quite early. I think there are probably more pilgrims beginning in May than in April, though I could be wrong.I was working on the Frances near Leon last year, 2nd half of April. Pilgrims passing through reported plenty of space in albergues although private accommodation was often full.
somewhat "in reverse" but my experience was that i was told to 'call specifically' to pick up your luggageNo, this is not necessary. In every albergue you can find envelopes for the luggage transport, you write your name on it, your telephone # and your destination of that day. You put the money in it (in the albergue the hospitaleros know the prices) and leave your backpack there. That's all ... All along the Camino Frances Jacotrans will take care of your backpack.
Or walk another route. This is why we have avoided the Frances for over 6 years. To many people, to many early morning walker's, I just don't want to worry about not finding bed's. There is plenty of beautiful sights to be seen.My wife and I keep hearing of more and more people walking the Frances this May and we am getting a bit nervous about finding a bed each night along the Way. We are planning to leave SJPP on April 21st to walk to Santiago and hopefully then to the coast. We have a flight booked home from Santiago on June 5th. We cancelled our plans to walk in 2020 due to Covid and have been looking forward to walking this year, but we want it to be a fun experience and not stressing over accommodations. What challenges do you think we will have this year finding accommodations with the anticipation of a high number of walkers?
To me, Orisson is the most critical reservation to make ahead of time. I had read of some people making a reservation only to find they did not. I think that would be very rare but I made my reservation ahead, then confirmed the reservation 1 to 2 weeks ahead AND 1-2 days ahead just to be sure.My wife and I keep hearing of more and more people walking the Frances this May and we am getting a bit nervous about finding a bed each night along the Way. We are planning to leave SJPP on April 21st to walk to Santiago and hopefully then to the coast. We have a flight booked home from Santiago on June 5th. We cancelled our plans to walk in 2020 due to Covid and have been looking forward to walking this year, but we want it to be a fun experience and not stressing over accommodations. What challenges do you think we will have this year finding accommodations with the anticipation of a high number of walkers?
When you say private accommodations were often full, are you talking about the private rooms in the albergues or places in hostales/pensiones?I was working on the Frances near Leon last year, 2nd half of April. Pilgrims passing through reported plenty of space in albergues although private accommodation was often full.
I have the same concerns, we are starting a week after you and I have only had luck booking accommodations ahead by emailing many places and then reserving whomever replied with availability. I recommend you doing the same and booking thru Zubiri as many experienced pilgrims have suggested.My wife and I keep hearing of more and more people walking the Frances this May and we am getting a bit nervous about finding a bed each night along the Way. We are planning to leave SJPP on April 21st to walk to Santiago and hopefully then to the coast. We have a flight booked home from Santiago on June 5th. We cancelled our plans to walk in 2020 due to Covid and have been looking forward to walking this year, but we want it to be a fun experience and not stressing over accommodations. What challenges do you think we will have this year finding accommodations with the anticipation of a high number of walkers?
Generally, you need to have a reservation at the destination albergue for your bag to be accepted and held there.No, this is not necessary. In every albergue you can find envelopes for the luggage transport, you write your name on it, your telephone # and your destination of that day. You put the money in it (in the albergue the hospitaleros know the prices) and leave your backpack there. That's all ... All along the Camino Frances Jacotrans will take care of your backpack.
I think that you should have a reservation, but I don't think that the albergue (or other accommdation) checks the bags to make sure that their owners have a reservation.Generally, you need to have a reservation at the destination albergue for your bag to be accepted and held there.
That did, in fact, happen to us last year. In addition to the time we were texted, one other time the person checking us in mentioned that the name on the bag didn’t match the reservation, but in that case they accepted it anyway. But they did check.I think that you should have a reservation, but I don't think that the albergue (or other accommdation) checks the bags to make sure that their owners have a reservation.
Thanks, that good information.That did, in fact, happen to us last year. In addition to the time we were texted, one other time the person checking us in mentioned that the name on the bag didn’t match the reservation, but in that case they accepted it anyway. But they did check.
As I recall, both of these incidents were at small, hostal-type places.
ETA: My husband and I have different last names. After those two incidents, we were careful that the name we used for the reservation matched the name we put on the bag.
Excellent to hear that, I met people who weee deciding over dinner whether to carryNo, this is not necessary. In every albergue you can find envelopes for the luggage transport, you write your name on it, your telephone # and your destination of that day. You put the money in it (in the albergue the hospitaleros know the prices) and leave your backpack there. That's all ... All along the Camino Frances Jacotrans will take care of your backpack.
I’m walking in May and I get the impression it’s going to be busy. I’m booking to Pamplona (nearly done now) and am expecting that as I plan to walk short distances I should be ok. I’ve been advised that the Camino provides. I like that, so caution to the winds. (Most likely)My wife and I keep hearing of more and more people walking the Frances this May and we am getting a bit nervous about finding a bed each night along the Way. We are planning to leave SJPP on April 21st to walk to Santiago and hopefully then to the coast. We have a flight booked home from Santiago on June 5th. We cancelled our plans to walk in 2020 due to Covid and have been looking forward to walking this year, but we want it to be a fun experience and not stressing over accommodations. What challenges do you think we will have this year finding accommodations with the anticipation of a high number of walkers?
This was not my experience. On the one occasion when I used this service I simply addressed the envelope and left it to be picked up. At the other end all bags were in a big pile and I had to look for my own as they were not sorted or arranged in any manner.Generally, you need to have a reservation at the destination albergue for your bag to be accepted and held there.
The world has almost always provided for those of us who go looking, but rarely for those who wait for a solution/opportunity to fall in their lap.I’ve been advised that the Camino provides
I meant commercial, ie run as a business and therefore bookable as opposed to municipales and donativos which don’t take reservations.When you say private accommodations were often full, are you talking about the private rooms in the albergues or places in hostales/pensiones?
The above is entirely up to you. Simply take for granted that everything will sort out in one way or another. Still be ready to accept your favorite albergue is completo and you are welcome to ask the locals where to spend a night. Take it as a part of Camino adventure, not as a stressful burden, and whole new experience will open in front of you. Buen Camino and in Camino we trust!…we want it to be a fun experience and not stressing over accommodations.
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