Pasajes San Juan accommodation

[Anne Mclennan]

Hi all
A friend and I start from Irun in 6 June. We’re planning to stay at the alberque in Pasajes San Juan. However a recent post indicates there has been large numbers (30 or more ) starting on a single day from Irun. There are only 14 beds at the alberque. Can anyone who is on the trail at the moment update me on how busy it is and if there’s been challenges getting a bed at the Alberque there?
Thanks

 

[trecile]

I'm not currently on the Norte, but most people starting from Irun go straight through to San Sebastian and do not stay at Pasajes.

 

[Josefus]

Look at this:

 

[trecile]

Look at this:View attachment 147130

That's the place that @Anne Mclennan is talking about with 14 beds.

 

[Pacific NW pilgrim]

I'm about to start next week, and hope to stay there. I'd also be interested in knowing what time it fills up. (Yes, I know it opens at 16:00, but on my previous Caminos, at other albergues but on multiple occasions, there was already such a long line waiting when an albergue opened that people who had stood in line got turned away.)

 

[lt56ny]

My recommendation if you want to stay there is leave very early in the morning. Put everything away in your backpack before you go to sleep. Carry your pack out into the area that you checked in and put the rest of your things away and get going. Buy some food and have alot of water. There is nothing from Irun to Pasajes.

 

[Pacific NW pilgrim]

My recommendation if you want to stay there is leave very early in the morning. Put everything away in your backpack before you go to sleep. Carry your pack out into the area that you checked in and put the rest of your things away and get going. Buy some food and have alot of water. There is nothing from Irun to Pasajes.

Is this based on current conditions, or just a general approach to take? I know how to get an early start, but I'm wondering if this is currently necessary for that particular albergue. Thanks!

 

[lt56ny]

Is this based on current conditions, or just a general approach to take? I know how to get an early start, but I'm wondering if this is currently necessary for that particular albergue. Thanks!

I have no idea as the number of pilgrims starting every day varies. But having walked 7 caminos it is better to err on the side of caution. When you get to the albergue in Irún you will get an excellent idea of how many pilgrims are walking that day.

 

[aussieredhat]

Start early & like others have commented majority of walkers go on to San Sebastián.

I did this as a day walk ( not a camino) while staying in San Sebastian,
ascent and descents are steep and stopping at Passage is an excellent idea especially if you’re not time poor,

Another recommendation is on the top of the hill before you descent into San Sebastian is a youth hostel, which is in a very beautiful setting so that could be a fallback option

mount ulía. https://www.gronze.com/pais-vasco/guipuzcoa/monte-ulia/albergue-juvenil-ulia

Donostia.eus - 1. Albergues Municipales

www.donostia.eus

 

[RosaStorm]

I stayed here last week and my experience was as follows: we arrived at 13:30. By then we were no. 5 and 6 in queue. Slowly more people arrived and we waited for it to open at 16:00. In the end, not all beds were filled and we could have been more chill. I also saw spare mats and mattresses.

I heard later from another pilgrim that these spare mattresses were indeed used on another day, and after housing 6 or so extra people someone was sent away, but they arrived late (like 18:00 or so, 2 hours after it opened).

My recommendation based on my experience and what I heard from others, is to trust that you will find your bed there. Plan to arrive between 15:00 and 16:00. A lot of people go straight to San Sebastián and potentially take a rest day there. Others don’t like staying in (non-bookable) albergues, or stay only in hotels. Please don’t rush your first day, it is wonderful! Especially the climb to mount Jaizkibel. Just take your time and enjoy your first day!

Oh and context: there were around 40-50 people in the municipal albergue in Irún my first day.

 

[Anne Mclennan]

I stayed here last week and my experience was as follows: we arrived at 13:30. By then we were no. 5 and 6 in queue. Slowly more people arrived and we waited for it to open at 16:00. In the end, not all beds were filled and we could have been more chill. I also saw spare mats and mattresses.

I heard later from another pilgrim that these spare mattresses were indeed used on another day, and after housing 6 or so extra people someone was sent away, but they arrived late (like 18:00 or so, 2 hours after it opened).

My recommendation based on my experience and what I heard from others, is to trust that you will find your bed there. Plan to arrive between 15:00 and 16:00. A lot of people go straight to San Sebastián and potentially take a rest day there. Others don’t like staying in (non-bookable) albergues, or stay only in hotels. Please don’t rush your first day, it is wonderful! Especially the climb to mount Jaizkibel. Just take your time and enjoy your first day!

Oh and context: there were around 40-50 people in the municipal albergue in Irún my first day.

Thank you so much

 

[trecile]

I arrived today at 14:30 with a French man - both of us are older pilgrims. We were the first to arrive, though another peregrina had arrived earlier but went to eat something while she waited for the Alberto open. The volunteer hospitalero was sitting outside on a bench and offered to let us in early, which we really appreciated. Me especially because I was quite hungry and wanted to get situated before I went to get something to eat.

 

[trecile]

Update: It's now 9:45 pm and there are 5 empty beds.

 

[Lihaseso]

Thank you very much for this information. I start Camino on the 1st and really this first stop is the only thing I’m a little bit stressed about. I would prefer to have my first day shorter and start off easy. I feel better now knowing it’s probable that I’ll get a bed.
Another question though- can anyone stay in youth hostels or do you have to be a certain age. I’m 65- young at heart but not so much in years!

 

[Vacajoe]

Any age (and you’ll likely be among many your age!)