Accommodation along the Camino

[MishaKaro]

Hello all,
We are new to the Camino adventure and haven't been able to find out if one MUST book accommodations in advance. No one we know have done it before. We are planning to start it from Pamplona and just don't know how. Thanks in advance.
MishaKaro

 

[KDub]

No, it’s not a “must”. However, you might want to book your first night in Pamplona for peace of mind. Once you get walking you will have a better idea of how far you can go in a day and you can plan from there. If you do want to book you can do it one day ahead. I walked in October from Pamplona in 2019 and it wasn’t so busy that booking was needed. Sometimes I just wanted to stay somewhere specific so I would book it. Buen Camino!

Oh, and I used Booking.com.

 

[MishaKaro]

Thanks KDub.
Much appreciated.
We do have accomodations in Pamplona, but that is it.
Do the hostals have wifi?
If not, we will just get a sim card to ensure we can contact the hostals.
I'm traveling with a female "friend" who's a little worried of the length of the route and how often there are accomodations along the way...and the degree of difficulty walking the route.
Any thoughts?

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Don't let anyone tell you it's not hard. The Camino was designed for pilgrims, people who agree to challenge themselves and "step out of their comfort zone." The Camino Frances, the one you're looking at, has the best-developed network of accommodations, so the trip between possible stopping-places is usually only a few kilometers. If you don't book ahead, you can stop sooner or later, depending on how you're feeling that day.... if you are not walking during a crowded season.
The albergues and hostels have wifi, but it's smart to have a sim that works in Spain, in case of emergencies.
All the advice, maps, accomodation descriptions and other details you need to plan your walk are available in easy-to-read form in any of a myriad of Camino guidebooks. Wise Pilgrim is a good one (there's an app, too), John Brierley's guides are a classic, too. There are many good choices!
Just remember this is not a great trail for a relaxing vacation. It's a pilgrimage, a journey of the spirit. It's meant to challenge you.

 

[oursonpolaire]

You can also get in touch with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims (www.santiago.ca) as they have a network of chapters across the country (many with their own FB presence)-- if your schedule does not facilitate attending a local workshop or training session, chapter coordinators will happily put you in contact with a camino veteran to give you a good picture of what you will be facing and give you some invaluable tips. If you're in Québec, the Asssociation du Québec à Compostelle (https://www.duquebecacompostelle.org/) serves the same role-- if you don't speak French, they have many English-speaking volunteers.

As others have said, it's not easy, but it's not supposed to be easy-- it's doable, you will survive!! and you will have a time you will never forget.

 

[David Tallan]

Hello all,
We are new to the Camino adventure and haven't been able to find out if one MUST book accommodations in advance. No one we know have done it before. We are planning to start it from Pamplona and just don't know how. Thanks in advance.
MishaKaro

There is no governing body requiring that one book accommodations on the Camino. In general, the advisability of booking accommodations depends on a number of factors: which route you are walking (or, on the Frances, which part of the route), when you are walking, what type of accommodations you are looking for.

If you want to stay in private accommodations, the type that are bookable in advance, and you are walking between St. Jean Pied de Port and Pamplona or Sarria and Santiago during the high seasons for those sections, then if you don't book in advance you run the risk of finding "no room at the inn". There are strategies for avoiding this other than booking in advance, though. One is to open yourself up to staying at places that don't accept reservations (although generally this means sleeping in a dorm setting). The other is to stop at places between than the towns and villages used as stage ends in the guide books. So when I was walking between Sarria and Santiago last July (high season) and stopped in Salceda, between the usual stops of Arzua and O Pedrouzo, no reservation was needed.

 

[Tincatinker]

Hello all,
We are new to the Camino adventure and haven't been able to find out if one MUST book accommodations in advance. No one we know have done it before. We are planning to start it from Pamplona and just don't know how. Thanks in advance.
MishaKaro

Have you figured out why you are planning to walk a Camino? There are great walking holiday opportunities all over this poor benighted planet: so, why Camino? How is easy. Why is important

 

[gkba03]

It’s Sept 2nd and We are now in Narravette and has been walking for 10 days. Here’s what we have found out about accommodations. If you don’t mind sharing a room with other pilgrims, stay at an Albergue. I would advise getting the wisepilgrim apps which will show you what is available at each town along the way but you still need to contact them to find out if there are any beds or rooms available if you want to reserve something. You can use the free versions. If you know where you are stopping the next day, WhatsApp or email the Albergue if they allows reservations. I use Google translate to do the translation. Some has private rooms so you can book through WhatsApp or email. Others allow booking through booking.com. If you stay in an Albergue you need towels, soap and shampoo. Most will have blankets but bring a liner in case they do not have anything. You can also stay at Pension which are like hotels. Same thing - email or txt them if you want to reserve a room. If you want, you can just show up at an Albergue and hope to get a bed. First find out when they open. Most open at 1 pm. So if you can get there before 1 pm your chances to get a bed is really good. We plan our accommodation one day at a time. I am saying all this as it happen so this may apply only at this time.