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A few things:Doing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
there really aren't that many places between SJPdP and Pamplona. Indeed, between SJ and Roncesvalles there are two places (maybe three), Roncesvalles and Zubiri fill fast. Then there's a handful of places in the smaller towns (Espinal, Larrasoaña...). as mentioned above, smaller places may not be taking bookings for 2025 yet. i doubt Orisson is, but not sure. Check Gronze for up to date listings of accommodations, some may not be on booking. good luckDoing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
Doing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
Thank you KFH. I certainly can understand the situation for amazing people trying to keep up with the huge increase of pilgrims.A few things:
You're too early for many or most of them.
Booking relies on the owner/operator to fill in the calendar. Many proprietors in Spain don't open their Booking calendar very far in advance. It's not unusual for a lot of places to post openings for only the next 8 weeks or so. Anything later will show up on Booking as unavailable, even though almost no one has booked there yet.
Plenty of places only put some of their inventory on Booking
They often make less money through Booking. They see it as a trade off-- increased publicity vs less money. Some will go on Booking to get their business going, then drop out of Booking once they are established.
Blame your fellow Caminoists
Tons of people make multiple reservations for various reasons (Deciding between accommodations in same town; Not sure of possible stage length they can do yet etc) And it's awfully fun to spend time planning a route and trip and super easy to click and reserve something you *might* want. Problem is, you just took away something someone might need.
This REALLY hurts the proprietors-- who often have "full" but essentially fake reservations but can't tell which is which. This is why many owners go away from Booking-- I'd say for that reason even more so than the % Booking charges.
Oh sure people will eventually cancel so they don't get tagged for money, but the proprietor all of a sudden has a bunch of openings with no people to fill them.
I have been booking for Porto to Santiago starting 8 September and found availability limited and expensive. Last walked it in 2018 and my expectations were clearly unrealisticDoing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
Bingo Bango well saidThe reasons for lack of availabilty on Booking . com have been covered.
If you can call directly, send a Whatsapp message etc, you'll find there are more beds.
But, out of curiosity I looked for next week (on booking) and found beds in St Jean, Espinal, Viscaret, Larrasoana....
It is sometimes the case that when you read about there being a lack of beds, what people really mean is, I can't find a bed in the exact place I want, of the type I want, at the price I want. A bit of flexibility is required sometimes, particularly in the early days.
But this early part of the Frances has some particular issues.
St Jean. Generally easy to book.
Orrison/Borda can book out a long time ahead and need to be contacted directly.
(Neither on booking site as far as I know)
If wanting to break up that first day, then Express Bourricot's Montain Shutle is the answer. Takes you back to St Jean.
Roncesvalles. A choke point in high season. (A few years ago local regulations reduced the number of beds allowed here)
But you can book direct.
The Hotel (apartments) are on Booking but not the Albergue.
Burgette, Espinal, Viscarret will often have beds. Some are on Booking.
Zubiri. Major choke point in high season. Book well ahead, or take a chance on non bookable Albergue beds. Or if you broke up the journey somewhere between Roncesvalles and Zubiri, walk on further than Zubiri.
Once you reach Pamplona the Pilgrims spread out and bed challenges generally reduce.
Though you should always be prepared.
If you come across a wave/surge of Pilgrims, that can happen at times, get off the wave!
Do a short day, long day, whatever....... to get away from them.
How many times do I end up staying somewhere, other than where I 'planned' to stay?
Quite often........ Though I generally only book 1 day ahead anyway.
(But ... on the Frances I would book as far as Pamplona at the outset)
That sounds like a good plan.I have done parts of the camino since 2000, I have retired and now wish to do the complete Camino Frances. Hearing the accommodation issue increasing each year and need of reserving a bed becoming more a necessity. This has me looking to reserve the first 3 stages as well stages from Sarria.
As there are many on this forum actually on their way, my hope was to hear first hand. Buen Camino
I’ve walked Agadir to Ouarzazate, similar distance. Definitely no beds.Well, that sure portrays an issue. 750km across Spain and no beds.
As someone who's starting on the 12th of September from SJPdP and is scheduled to walk into Burgos on the 24th, I'm feeling slightly dissed right now. ;-)I’ve walked Agadir to Ouarzazate, similar distance. Definitely no beds.
@shawn67 you’ve bought into an illusion. As others have said Berking.con has no monopoly. Places that do not accept reservations are not fully booked, think about that. Really think about it.
For reasons that have been discussed endlessly on this forum September, the beginning of September is Wakes Week on the Camino Frances. Everybody flocks there for the peace and solitude. By 23rd September most will have reached Burgos or broken down and gone home. You will wonder where everyone has gone. As will the proprietors of half the businesses that rely on the pilgrim dollar. They’ll nail up the shutters till next Easter and you’ll possibly find the Albergue dormitories a bit lonely and wake up startled at every floorboard creak.
Stop looking at Booking. Try looking at the Camino
I am walking at the moment and I don't reserve ahead and I have not had any problems getting a bed whenever I stop. Tonight there are three pilgrims in an albergue that can take 26.Kikie, others have expressed same (to make contact directly). Booking.com has not been adequate. My hope was to obtain feedback from those on the way that are each day finding a bed. Was targeting Sept 23 yet reading information that even places that did not reserve beds have now booked up. I will attempt some direct requests, really worried the freedom of the way is being lost.
Most private accommodations between SJPdP to Pamplona will be pretty full/ very tight in September, early Oct. 2024. In December or January many of those private accommodations in that area start posting for 2025. Reserve in this region ahead!Doing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
And fair play, with your optimistic future caminos! Buen camino, peregrino!I am walking at the moment and I don't reserve ahead and I have not had any problems getting a bed whenever I stop. Tonight there are three pilgrims in an albergue that can take 26.
I do tend to stay in Donativo and Municipal Albergues though. If you want your own room and all the comforts of home then you will need to take your chances with others of your ilk.
Doug, Thanks for the feed back. I hope to start on Sept 24. Intent on 2 days at SJPDP. Maybe having nerves, the hypermarket of Camino Frances past couple years has generated much question. After doing Sarria to Santiago in 2000 and 2010 Leon to Santiago...now retired have time open and have committed 45 days ( time in Paris and if all goes well Finisterre). I wish to primarily stay at Albergues yet at 67 not wishing to waste my chance to experience the Camino fully in a foot race. Had two friends inform me they were unable to get a bed in Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Seems taxi service is busy.I am walking at the moment and I don't reserve ahead and I have not had any problems getting a bed whenever I stop. Tonight there are three pilgrims in an albergue that can take 26.
I do tend to stay in Donativo and Municipal Albergues though. If you want your own room and all the comforts of home then you will need to take your chances with others of your ilk.
I'll bet they were walking in the first 2 weeks of September or May.Had two friends inform me they were unable to get a bed in Roncesvalles and Zubiri.
Where are you reading this "information?" How can places that don't take bookings be booked up?Was targeting Sept 23 yet reading information that even places that did not reserve beds have now booked up
Booking.com and accommodation owners should charge a $10.00 booking fee. Only payable if you don’t proceed with that booking.A few things:
You're too early for many or most of them.
Booking relies on the owner/operator to fill in the calendar. Many proprietors in Spain don't open their Booking calendar very far in advance. It's not unusual for a lot of places to post openings for only the next 8 weeks or so. Anything later will show up on Booking as unavailable, even though almost no one has booked there yet.
Plenty of places only put some of their inventory on Booking
They often make less money through Booking. They see it as a trade off-- increased publicity vs less money. Some will go on Booking to get their business going, then drop out of Booking once they are established.
Blame your fellow Caminoists
Tons of people make multiple reservations for various reasons (Deciding between accommodations in same town; Not sure of possible stage length they can do yet etc) And it's awfully fun to spend time planning a route and trip and super easy to click and reserve something you *might* want. Problem is, you just took away something someone might need.
This REALLY hurts the proprietors-- who often have "full" but essentially fake reservations but can't tell which is which. This is why many owners go away from Booking-- I'd say for that reason even more so than the % Booking charges.
Oh sure people will eventually cancel so they don't get tagged for money, but the proprietor all of a sudden has a bunch of openings with no people to fill them.
They do charge a fee - usually the entire nightly rate if you don't show up.Booking.com and accommodation owners should charge a $10.00 booking fee. Only payable if you don’t proceed with that booking.
Might solve the problem.
They do charge a fee - usually the entire nightly rate if you don't show up.
Each property can set their own cancellation deadline. Some are several nights to a week or more before the booking date.Fee should be charged for people who make multiple bookings on the same night in different accommodation locations and then cancel.
They started out august 20. Roncesvalles was full, there was talk of tour bus drop.I'll bet they were walking in the first 2 weeks of September or May.
Year after year on the forum, we try to explain the nuances of the "bed race." Here are two threads that present the real situation:
This weekend, we will probably start getting the annual September rush of panicked posts from new members who are caught unawares.
That was bad luck. Another guess... that group was doing a "highlights of the Camino" tour. Your friends got caught in that bubble, in one of the known choke points.They started out august 20. Roncesvalles was full, there was talk of tour bus drop.
Zubiri was same.
Don't forget the ValCarlos route between SJPdP and Roncevalles.The reasons for lack of availabilty on Booking . com have been covered.
If you can call directly, send a Whatsapp message etc, you'll find there are more beds.
But, out of curiosity I looked for next week (on booking) and found beds in St Jean, Espinal, Viscaret, Larrasoana....
It is sometimes the case that when you read about there being a lack of beds, what people really mean is, I can't find a bed in the exact place I want, of the type I want, at the price I want. A bit of flexibility is required sometimes, particularly in the early days.
But this early part of the Frances has some particular issues.
St Jean. Generally easy to book.
Orrison/Borda can book out a long time ahead and need to be contacted directly.
(Neither on booking site as far as I know)
If wanting to break up that first day, then Express Bourricot's Montain Shutle is the answer. Takes you back to St Jean.
Roncesvalles. A choke point in high season. (A few years ago local regulations reduced the number of beds allowed here)
But you can book direct.
The Hotel (apartments) are on Booking but not the Albergue.
Burgette, Espinal, Viscarret will often have beds. Some are on Booking.
Zubiri. Major choke point in high season. Book well ahead, or take a chance on non bookable Albergue beds. Or if you broke up the journey somewhere between Roncesvalles and Zubiri, walk on further than Zubiri.
Once you reach Pamplona the Pilgrims spread out and bed challenges generally reduce.
Though you should always be prepared.
If you come across a wave/surge of Pilgrims, that can happen at times, get off the wave!
Do a short day, long day, whatever....... to get away from them.
How many times do I end up staying somewhere, other than where I 'planned' to stay?
Quite often........ Though I generally only book 1 day ahead anyway.
(But ... on the Frances I would book as far as Pamplona at the outset)
Hi Shawn, I am starting a couple of weeks before you, but I just looked at booking. Com for the 24th and 25th and both dates are showing availability at a number of places in SJPDP in both dorms and small hotels close to the centre..there are also places within a few km of Zubiri for the 29th..I am assuming you meant 2024..I am wondering if you had a filter set on the site that is filtering out results.. good luck..Doug, Thanks for the feed back. I hope to start on Sept 24. Intent on 2 days at SJPDP. Maybe having nerves, the hypermarket of Camino Frances past couple years has generated much question. After doing Sarria to Santiago in 2000 and 2010 Leon to Santiago...now retired have time open and have committed 45 days ( time in Paris and if all goes well Finisterre). I wish to primarily stay at Albergues yet at 67 not wishing to waste my chance to experience the Camino fully in a foot race. Had two friends inform me they were unable to get a bed in Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Seems taxi service is busy.
They started out august 20. Roncesvalles was full, there was talk of tour bus drop.
Zubiri was same.
The beginning of September is often busy from St. Jean through Zubiri on the Frances. This wave of pilgrims usually quickly subsides and by the 24th of September in St. Jean things should be much more manageable.Doug, Thanks for the feed back. I hope to start on Sept 24. Intent on 2 days at SJPDP. Maybe having nerves, the hypermarket of Camino Frances past couple years has generated much question. After doing Sarria to Santiago in 2000 and 2010 Leon to Santiago...now retired have time open and have committed 45 days ( time in Paris and if all goes well Finisterre). I wish to primarily stay at Albergues yet at 67 not wishing to waste my chance to experience the Camino fully in a foot race. Had two friends inform me they were unable to get a bed in Roncesvalles and Zubiri. Seems taxi service is busy.
If for some reason you are unable to reserve a bed for the night that you want then be aware that the Albergue at Roncesvalles keeps a small number of beds back that can not be reserved for walk in pilgrims who arrive early. They used to keep a whole third of all their beds for walk-in pilgrims but lately it is a lot less.
Thank you very much for this information, you and your fellow volunteers do a great job!We have 183 beds that can be reservated (three floors in the new, renovated building), 32 beds in the Sótano (cellar) of the same building, and another 30 beds in the Dependencia (winter albergue). These last 62 beds are for walk-in pilgrims. On very busy days these beds are occupied by 3 / 3.30 am.
Thank you very much for this information, you and your fellow volunteers do a great job!
I think, though that 3:30 am should probably read 3:30 pm???
All the best and thanks again!!!
Hello Stew, yes 2024. I have two days reserved in SJPDP.. I have made contact directly with facilities at Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full). The race will be on for the non-reserved beds. At 67 and a flat lander, I have begun looking at surrounding area. As they say the way will provide (if I am slow over the hill, likely there will be others andHi Shawn, I am starting a couple of weeks before you, but I just looked at booking. Com for the 24th and 25th and both dates are showing availability at a number of places in SJPDP in both dorms and small hotels close to the centre..there are also places within a few km of Zubiri for the 29th..I am assuming you meant 2024..I am wondering if you had a filter set on the site that is filtering out results.. good luck..
Hello Stew, I have two nights reserved in SJPDP...Most concern was Roncesvalles and Zubiri ( Zubiri has many alternatives). I did make direct contact with Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full) as have been feedback for Zubiri. I have given into the belief "on the way, the way will provide " there is reasonable chance others like me will struggle over the Pyrenees. My plan is to have transportation phone numbers and multiple alternative lodging contacts. May make some great camino family???Hi Shawn, I am starting a couple of weeks before you, but I just looked at booking. Com for the 24th and 25th and both dates are showing availability at a number of places in SJPDP in both dorms and small hotels close to the centre..there are also places within a few km of Zubiri for the 29th..I am assuming you meant 2024..I am wondering if you had a filter set on the site that is filtering out results.. good luck..
I assume that you checked on the booking form for the Roncesvalles albergue?Hello Stew, yes 2024. I have two days reserved in SJPDP.. I have made contact directly with facilities at Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full).
Indeed. But here we go again, as last year and the year before and the year before that. Cometh the first two weeks of September and "everything is booked". No, it isn't.I just tried to make a "dummy" booking for a bed in Roncesvalles on September 23rd, and was able to get through to the payment page.
How did you make contact? It is not possible to make a reservation by e-mail or phone, only only at www.alberguederoncesvalles.comHello Stew, yes 2024. I have two days reserved in SJPDP.. I have made contact directly with facilities at Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full). The race will be on for the non-reserved beds. At 67 and a flat lander, I have begun looking at surrounding area. As they say the way will provide (if I am slow over the hill, likely there will be others and
Sounds like you are going into it with the right spiritHello Stew, yes 2024. I have two days reserved in SJPDP.. I have made contact directly with facilities at Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full). The race will be on for the non-reserved beds. At 67 and a flat lander, I have begun looking at surrounding area. As they say the way will provide (if I am slow over the hill, likely there will be others and
Hello Stew, I have two nights reserved in SJPDP...Most concern was Roncesvalles and Zubiri ( Zubiri has many alternatives). I did make direct contact with Roncesvalles and reserved beds are complete (full) as have been feedback for Zubiri. I have given into the belief "on the way, the way will provide " there is reasonable chance others like me will struggle over the Pyrenees. My plan is to have transportation phone numbers and multiple alternative lodging contacts. May make some great camino family???
Properties can already set up a range of pre-payment options, including some that are non-refundable, either at the time of booking or at a certain period before the stay. Where I have booked properties with these arrangements they are generally accompanied by an email from booking.com advising me that the payment is about to be made from my bank account.That’s only if you don’t turn up.
Fee should be charged for people who make multiple bookings on the same night in different accommodation locations and then cancel.
Wednesday, 4 SeptemberThat is good to hear! When are you starting now?
So, now you will be starting during the busiest week of the year for pilgrims starting from SJPdP!Wednesday, 4 September
No,, sometimes the Alburges just hold back room for people who contact them directly. Find an email address for the Aluburge or Hostel and contact them directly. I'm sure you will find something. Buen CaminoDoing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
Hi, I'm about 10 days in and hv used booking.com quite a bit. I did find in Uterga, I had to call and Lorca, I had to email. Camino del Perdon in Uterga is an amazing place for a refreshing stop or stay over. Pls tell Noelia, Linda from AL sent you. She made my Camino complete and I've just started. Burgette, just about sent me home. Noelia made up for all bad experiences.Doing a reservation search Gronze/booking.com, everything from Saint John to Pamplona full rest of 2024 season and to August 2025.... Did booking.com have error or lose rights to accommodations?
Why’s it sad? It’s just mathematics and/or absence of forethought.It is good to hear some good feedback. It has been sad to hear many struggles to locate beds.
Yes, a pilgrimage is focal to mathematics and forethought. Must do something with all that time walking.Why’s it sad? It’s just mathematics and/or absence of forethought.