Booking accommodation ahead?

[MaireH]

Hi, I plan to leave le puy on May 17th, do I need to book ahead to secure a bed for the night? Or can I leave it to chance? Do I need to bring a sleeping bag? Last question, I'm coeliac and need to avoid gluten, is this likely to pose problems on the route?

 

[Tincatinker]

Booking ahead on a daily basis, ie not your whole trip, is recommended and particularly as a coeliac. Your hosts will need to be advised in advance as most meals in Gites are Table d'Hote. You will not need a sleeping bag in Gite but if you are continuing into Spain and the Albergue network then you may feel the benefit in colder Albergues.

And you might wish to consider changing your user name / email address as you have just published it on the web. There are an awful lot of nasty people out there.

 

[SYates]

Booking ahead on a daily basis, ie not your whole trip, is recommended and particularly as a coeliac. Your hosts will need to be advised in advance as most meals in Gites are Table d'Hote. You will not need a sleeping bag in Gite but if you are continuing into Spain and the Albergue network then you may feel the benefit in colder Albergues.

And you might wish to consider changing your user name / email address as you have just published it on the web. There are an awful lot of nasty people out there.

On the Le Puy road I typically called just the day before to reserve. And I always take a light sleeping bag (sorry @Tincatinker ) even in warm season. And yes, get your email address out of here asap robots harvest them. Last but not least, French people also suffer from coeliac disease - so lots of safe food to buy in supermarkets and a lot of restaurants/albergues that are aware of that condition. Bon Chemin, SY

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There are five French holidays in May, and they always are turned into long weekends. So, there will be many fellow walkers, and they all will be calling ahead. I recommend that you do it as well. Your host can call ahead each evening to help you find a bed. You cannot sleep directly on the mattresses in gites, so you need something in the way of bed linen. Bon chemin.

 

[gittiharre]

I found in May that walking groups between le puy and Conques had booked out most gites. I have always booked ahead for that section. After that a day ahead is fine.