Importance of booking accommodation in advance?

[DougBarber]

Hi,

I'm planning on walking the camino portugues alone from porto mid september and am curious as to how important it will be to book accommodation in advance of getting to the various stops?

Also curious as to what you've done if you've ever found "no room at the inn"...

I've looked at the faq's and searched this forum but can't find anything that addresses this specifically.

Thank you in advance,
Doug

 

[mikevasey]

Hi Doug,

If you want to stay in pilgrim accommodation then usually you cant book in advance, you just turn up and see whats what. I have seen a couple of comments about the number of people staying in albergues on the CP, you should be ok to Tui then after that it may become a bit of a tight squeeze, something will turn up. I have seen places listed as reserve accommodation if there is no room at the inn, even if it is just a sports hall and a mat.

Good Luck and Buen camino

Mike

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

On the Camino Francés the warden at Logrono got me a mat on the floor of the priest's kitchen.

I have not done the CP but I would expect that someone will give you the help you need to find a room even if it is not 5*

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - I suspect the piglrims is asking abut booking hostal accommodation in advance...I don't think there are any albergues on the Camino Portugese who take bookings in advance (?)...in terms of hostals it very much depends on numbers. They are easing off at the moment but usually there is a slight increase as we go through September - the last chance for "summer" walking. With hostals I would usually telephone the day before to reserve.

 

[camino07]

Hi,
Walked from Porto to Santiago Sept 2010 and although it was a Holy Year we never booked ahead.
I remember Redondela was full with a big queue however if you are happy to pay more we were directed to a private Albergue for 10 euros which was great. There was a tour group in front of us who walked and collected their packs from a van on the outskirts of town. They were in the queue, often wonder where they eventually bedded down. Two Italian men who stubbornly refused to move were given a floor to sleep on ,without a mattress!
I wouldn't worry
Bom Caminho
Heather

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hi,

I'm planning on walking the camino portugues alone from porto mid september and am curious as to how important it will be to book accommodation in advance of getting to the various stops?

Also curious as to what you've done if you've ever found "no room at the inn"...

I've looked at the faq's and searched this forum but can't find anything that addresses this specifically.

Thank you in advance,
Doug

Doug - are you looking to sleep in albergues - i.e. dormitory style accommodation shared with other pilgrims or in hostels?

 

[DougBarber]

Hi,

I'm planning on walking the camino portugues alone from porto mid september and am curious as to how important it will be to book accommodation in advance of getting to the various stops?

Also curious as to what you've done if you've ever found "no room at the inn"...

I've looked at the faq's and searched this forum but can't find anything that addresses this specifically.

Thank you in advance,
Doug

Doug - are you looking to sleep in albergues - i.e. dormitory style accommodation shared with other pilgrims or in hostels?

Hi Johnnie, probably albergues where available but not limited to. I was curious to get a picture of what the spectrum of options might be arriving at this time of year. Knowing you can't book albergues in advance is helpful.

Thank you all for chiming in!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Doug - thanks. At the time of the year when you are walking there should be no difficulty in just arriving at an albergue and finding a bed.

Buen Camino

John

 

[sulu]

I thought that, on the Portugues, if there is no albergue you sleep at the fire station Don't disappoint me!
I thought that, even though there are less albergues on the Portugues, one is never without somewhere to sleep because of this facility, though admittedly this only serves in Portugal.
Sue

 

[Arn]

Sue,

Hadn't heard of the firehouse option.

I'm sure there's something more that I need to research.

Thanks


Arn

 

[mikevasey]

I thought that, on the Portugues, if there is no albergue you sleep at the fire station Don't disappoint me!
I thought that, even though there are less albergues on the Portugues, one is never without somewhere to sleep because of this facility, though admittedly this only serves in Portugal.
Sue

Hi Sue, there is a fire station in Porto that takes in pilgrims,it has 2 rooms, one for 2 males and one for 2 females. Not sure about the others, you could always go and ask at them.

Mike

 

[sulu]

I met a young Australian girl last October who had done the Portugues and had used Fire Stations! There is a thread here called 'staying with bombeiros voluntarios'.
I do seriously believe this is an option not just my wishful thinking
Sue

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Yes this is correct - however they only allow use of spare beds they are not using and usually this irestricted to one or two pilgrims.