Group of Seven walking together in August - should we book ahead?

[Steen]

As more family members heard about our planned trip in August, more are planning to join, we now will have a group of seven people walking together on the coastal camino portugues.

Anybody has experience with that big of a group?

Should we book ahead instead of relying on albergues?

 

[Anniesantiago]

Yes, if you plan on staying together, I'd book.
If you don't care, don't worry

 

[Former member 22438]

Yes as Anie says !
In Portugal August is holiday month as it is in Spain and e.g.France or Italy.
That means walking the coastal route with a bigger group ,you will face a problem because lots of people staying at coast to celebrate their holidays. and the places to sleep are fully booked.
Besides that more pilgrims walk their caminho at the same time so they also try to find a place to stay. Lots of albergues along the coastal have few beds anyway in Portugal . and the holiday season will effect you almost the entire caminho From Porto to Vigo. Thereafter you will meet the crowd of mostly Spaniards who walk the last 100 kms to Santiago in their August holidays so the albergues from Redondela to Santiago will be packed.

Bom caminho

 

[Deleted member 67185]

As more family members heard about our planned trip in August, more are planning to join, we now will have a group of seven people walking together on the coastal camino portugues.

Anybody has experience with that big of a group?

Should we book ahead instead of relying on albergues?

How do you know where you'll end up each night; unless you are planning purposefully short stages? Problems can and do develop for individuals, making continuing the same walking pace as everyone else in the group problematic. Blisters, sore feet, knee pains, sore backs, out of shape and over-exerted, shin splints, etc, ad infinitum.

The point is this... if you pre-book based on current plans, there's a good chance that you will not be able to keep some, or most, of your reservations. If you want to pre-book, it is better to do so the afternoon or evening before you plan to arrive at you next destination. That way, you will be able to respond to changes within your group.

 

[AdaR]

davebugg, I tend to have an different opinion about booking ahead. (no shortage of opinions on the forum)
I booked every night of my 3 week journey and found no small amount of comfort in knowing there was a bed ahead with my name on it. When I experienced an injury, I chose to cancel or reschedule only a couple of the reservations. It turned out to be a better plan to walk as far as possible each day and use bus, train or taxi to get to my evening destination in order to continue on the timeline we had set for Santiago. Especially since we had a return flight back to the US that would not wait for me to heal.
I can not imagine setting a pace each day to accommodate the slowest of the group. In my mind, having a goal for each evening would work better for a group and allow each one to determine how and when they arrive. Similar to the arrangements of a tour group.
So Steen, with regard to your original question, I would also recommend booking ahead, and looking for reservations that are changeable to allow for flexibility in the event of those possibilities outlined by davebugg.
Bon Caminho

 

[Steen]

Thank you so much everyone.

 

[grayland]

Keep in mind (as posted above) ...many albergues are small with only a few beds. Your group would come close to filling many of them. It may be a good idea to accept the idea that you may be split up at night some of the time.
Plan for that ahead of time so that it does not become a stress point and affect your adventure.

 

[Former member 22438]

Keep in mind (as posted above) ...many albergues are small with only a few beds. Your group would come close to filling many of them. It may be a good idea to accept the idea that you may be split up at night some of the time.
Plan for that ahead of time so that it does not become a stress point and affect your adventure.

And in the month of August in the bath season .
I know the northern Portuguese coast very welll .Stayed there many times in hotels, boardinghouses and campsites . It will be packed. Specially places between Porto and Viana do Castelo and Vila Praia de Âncora.
Also stayed in Galicia where the western beachside is very popular up to Baiona.

 

[t2andreo]

If you are lucky you might get 3-4 rooms (doubles) in one property. However, outside large towns and cities, where smaller properties predominate, allow for splitting up to different accommodations for the night. Given the demand, being able to lodge everyone in one property will be a luxury, at least IMHO.

Hope this helps.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Larger groups should definitely, including for courtesy to other pilgrims, book ahead (AKA in the morning of each day's hike for the night ahead -- not weeks in advance). Also because not every albergue is actually willing or perhaps able to accommodate such groups.

Buen Camino !!

 

[Steen]

Thank you so much everyone

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Last spring I walked as a group of four family members and we wanted to stay together. The Camino Frances was very busy and we felt pressure to start booking in the morning for our end of day lodging, which worked out quite well by emailing ahead....
and we were only 4, not 7!