Is pre-booking accommodation the new normal?

[VNwalking]

Many albergues have adjusted by only keeping phone reservations until 3pm. After that they sell the bed to who ever shows up.

I talked to a couple of albergue owners who were very angry with this situation.

Understandably. That's a good idea, though, leaving space for those of us who want to walk more spontaneously.

 

[David Tallan]

The idea that reserving in advance (as opposed to first-come-first-served) is a form of courtesy to fellow pilgrims and to the albergue is a new idea for me. Still, it doesn't seem a simple matter.
In effect, a reservation puts a bed at a specific location at the beck & call of the pilgrim with the reservation.

How are modern pilgrims working with the albergue if they are unable to arrive on the day of the reservation?
Is it impolite to call and cancel without paying? Or, is it customary to pay anyway?
What method of payment are people using if it was a phone reservation (as opposed to a booking app) if the pilgrim never actually gets to the property when it is open.
After all, the albergue may have turned down other pilgrims requesting a reservation or sent away pilgrims who actually showed up on their door-step based on the expectation that the reserving party would show up sometime before the doors are locked for the night.
Or out of courtesy, do pilgrims grab a taxi/bus/etc and get a ride to make it to the reservation as scheduled?
Also, I have wondered if some pilgrims aren't tempted into making more than one reservation so that at the last minute, they can pick the reservation that will work out best and then cancel the other(s)? (That doesn't seem fair to either the hospitaleras or fellow pilgrims).

Thoughts?

How albergues deal with pre-payment and/or failure to arrive depends on the albergue. Some require pre-payment; some do not. Some will release beds after a certain time (e.g. 3 pm) and advise pilgrims to call on the day if they will not make it by that time but are still arriving, to maintain the hold. It is, of course, considerate to let the albergue know if you have reserved and won't be arriving, just as it is considerate to call a restaurant if you've made a reservation and won't be arriving.

In terms of grabbing a taxi, I don't really see a problem with that. If it is within the last 100 km and the pilgrim wants a Compostela, they should grab a taxi back the next morning and pick up where they left off. Is it really that different to the pilgrim who trusts to luck, doesn't make a reservation, finds that there are no beds available, and grabs a taxi to the next location that has a free bed?

I think making multiple reservations is problematic but I don't think many pilgrims are doing so and if one is doing so and the option were not available, they are likely to find other ways to be thoughtless or inconsiderate.

The idea that it is courteous to let a hospitalero/a know in advance to expect you may be new to folks whose experience is primarily with the Frances. We tend to associate reserving ahead mostly with those on tours or where the route is crowded. From what I've been reading, it is quite common for those who are walking through France to SJPdP and on the lesser walked Caminos in Spain.

FWIW, my experience has mostly been not booking ahead but I have occasionally reserved a day or two ahead, or even longer for an especially popular albergue. I expect to reserve ahead on my Camino Madrid this summer for just the reason articulated in the previous paragraph. For example, the albergue in Tres Cantos, a day out of Madrid, seems only to be opened for pilgrims who book ahead 48 hours.

 

[pepi]

How albergues deal with pre-payment and/or failure to arrive depends on the albergue. Some require pre-payment; some do not. Some will release beds after a certain time (e.g. 3 pm) and advise pilgrims to call on the day if they will not make it by that time but are still arriving, to maintain the hold. It is, of course, considerate to let the albergue know if you have reserved and won't be arriving, just as it is considerate to call a restaurant if you've made a reservation and won't be arriving.

In terms of grabbing a taxi, I don't really see a problem with that. If it is within the last 100 km and the pilgrim wants a Compostela, they should grab a taxi back the next morning and pick up where they left off. Is it really that different to the pilgrim who trusts to luck, doesn't make a reservation, finds that there are no beds available, and grabs a taxi to the next location that has a free bed?

I think making multiple reservations is problematic but I don't think many pilgrims are doing so and if one is doing so and the option were not available, they are likely to find other ways to be thoughtless or inconsiderate.

The idea that it is courteous to let a hospitalero/a know in advance to expect you may be new to folks whose experience is primarily with the Frances. We tend to associate reserving ahead mostly with those on tours or where the route is crowded. From what I've been reading, it is quite common for those who are walking through France to SJPdP and on the lesser walked Caminos in Spain.

FWIW, my experience has mostly been not booking ahead but I have occasionally reserved a day or two ahead, or even longer for an especially popular albergue. I expect to reserve ahead on my Camino Madrid this summer for just the reason articulated in the previous paragraph. For example, the albergue in Tres Cantos, a day out of Madrid, seems only to be opened for pilgrims who book ahead 48 hours.

I enjoy reading @David Tallan's posts, but it seems like he hasn't walked the Camino in a while and may not be aware of current (post-covid) matters.
During my last two Caminos in 2021 and 2022, it was common for me to be asked to reconfirm my reservation by phone two hours before arrival. When I did, I was often asked what my current whereabouts were so that the hostel or accommodation could estimate my arrival time – and the chances that I would actually arrive. I think that this is one good way to avoid no-shows.

 

[David Tallan]

I enjoy reading @David Tallan's posts, but it seems like he hasn't walked the Camino in a while and may not be aware of current (post-covid) matters.
During my last two Caminos in 2021 and 2022, it was common for me to be asked to reconfirm my reservation by phone two hours before arrival. When I did, I was often asked what my current whereabouts were so that the hostel or accommodation could estimate my arrival time – and the chances that I would actually arrive. I think that this is one good way to avoid no-shows.

I don't think that is entirely inconsistent with what I wrote. It adds to it, and it certainly goes a long way to resolve jcl-clonmel's concern that beds are being held for no-shows and remaining empty.

But it is true that I haven't walked post-covid. That'll change in a few months.

 

[dougfitz]

Actually it is worse than that, usually they don't even bother cancelling the reservations they don't use and so everyone except them loses.

Many albergues have adjusted by only keeping phone reservations until 3pm. After that they sell the bed to who ever shows up.

I talked to a couple of albergue owners who were very angry with this situation.

I think it would be a mistake to think of this as a post-COVID phenomena. I saw responses like this when I walked the CF in 2016, when I walked with my wife, and more often wanted the assurance of being able to get a more private room. If we were late, we would ring to let the place know we were still on the way.

Most places would hold until 4:00 pm or even 5:00 pm - I don't remember any wanting us to arrive as early as 3:00 pm, but that may be a change that has taken place since we walked.

I have heard of, but never personally seen, the practice of making multiple bookings. I suspect that it is a practice that will drive more albergues that allow bookings to use services like Booking.com, where they have financial protection against no-shows. It will still leave anyone taking telephone bookings more financially vulnerable, and it will necessarily erode the trust that might have once existed between albergues and pilgrims. Pity.

 

[J Willhaus]

In 2021 my husband served at Caldazilla de los Hermanillos on the Via Romana variant of the CF. At that time depending on the locality, albergues were allowed to have up to 50% of their beds open. His albergue did not take reservations and did not have a telephone connection the albergue for people to check on space available. He was only full two nights in the second half of September, but he said many pilgrims did report that some people were making multiple reservations each day and only "showing up" at one without canceling others.

It was distressing and causing a lot of anxiety for the pilgrims he served and all seemed glad and relieved to find a bed at the municipal without a reservation. Many albergues had not reopened at that point so with the limitations on bedspace set by governments related to the local infection rates, there were a lot fewer beds. Last summer in late June/early July we did not find any albergue where we stayed that was full and several places were not even half full.

Again, I really think it depends on what each person is comfortable with. If you are comfortable with not booking a bed, then go with that. If you are not comfortable with that arrangement, then by all means book something. It seems that one side won't convince the other of the "rightness" of either decision.

 

[pepi]

Most places would hold until 4:00 pm or even 5:00 pm - I don't remember any wanting us to arrive as early as 3:00 pm, but that may be a change that has taken place since we walked.

You are right, but the variant of regularly requesting to reconfirm by phone 2 hours ahead of arrival, and the frequent question of my whereabouts at the time of that call was new to me.

 

[J Willhaus]

You are right, but the variant of regularly requesting to reconfirm by phone 2 hours ahead of arrival, and the frequent question of my whereabouts at the time of that call was new to me.

Actually I had that question even when I walked in 2016. It was nearing Galicia and we had called ahead for a couple of beds at La Escuela in La Laguna. I spoke almost no Spanish, but the hospitalera wanted to know (in Spanish) where we were and told us if we were not there by a certain time, she would let the beds go. She asked our names and finally just settled on "Los Americans" since I did not know the Spanish alphabet to spell out my name then. (When we arrived and announced ourselves, she giggled out loud.) We seldom booked or called ahead that year on our first camino because I could not talk on the phone in Spanish and did not know that WhatsApp or Google Translate or Booking.com was a thing. We always had a bed though.

 

[@Ditts]

Some interesting posts indeed. Lots of food for thought.
Particularly how our accommodation 'preferences' and mode of walking a Camino tend to dictate where we stay, and perhaps the type of other Pilgrims we meet.

For example, I would love to stay in Refugio Gaucelmo in Rabanal on my next Camino. I've heard so much about it.

But the reality is, my walking ability and hence speed and daily distance, will mean that I will arrive in Rabanal too late to get a bed there. I understand totally why they don't take bookings.

So 'on the day' I may stay closer to it the day before, decide to leave earlier or whatever.
But I'm not a bed racer I find that detracts totally from my journey.

That raises another thought........
Do non booking places, tend to attract a younger / faster Pilgrim?

The flip side of course, being that I rarely stay in non bookable places, given that my walking day can often end at 4-6pm. So I tend to book 1 day ahead......

But I may throw caution to the wind next time

I think your idea of staying in the smaller places, you say that in one of your YouTube videos, sounds a good idea. I hate the idea of having to race for a bed and booking, apart from the odd time, leaves less flexibility I would think?

 

[uturnshari]

Hi, I have just joined this forum. I find that forums have lots of information and makes me more excited about upcoming trips. I am going in September/October and I am worried about not finding a place to stay. I don't want to book ahead because I don't know how many miles I want to do or in case something happens. I was wondering if many people carry a tent and if places will let you tent on their property. Thanks!

 

[J Willhaus]

Hi, I have just joined this forum. I find that forums have lots of information and makes me more excited about upcoming trips. I am going in September/October and I am worried about not finding a place to stay. I don't want to book ahead because I don't know how many miles I want to do or in case something happens. I was wondering if many people carry a tent and if places will let you tent on their property. Thanks!

Some people do carry tents, but usually on less traveled routes. As a hospitalera, I have also seen many tents abandoned because the owner did not need it or want to carry it. Maybe make a reservation for the first day or two and see how you feel before making more reservations?

 

[good_old_shoes]

Hi, I have just joined this forum. I find that forums have lots of information and makes me more excited about upcoming trips. I am going in September/October and I am worried about not finding a place to stay. I don't want to book ahead because I don't know how many miles I want to do or in case something happens. I was wondering if many people carry a tent and if places will let you tent on their property. Thanks!

If you do tent camp already and really like to do it, it can be helpful to bring at least a sleeping mat and a warm sleeping bag (at night it can still be very cold in some places even in summer). A lightweight tarp or bivy bag is maybe a compromise to a tent.

There are a few nice campsites on or close to the camino, and some albergues allow to camp. Most do not, but sometimes even those will allow you to sleep in the garden without a tent. In good weather that's a good option.

Most people who usually don't hike with a tent and just bring it to the camino as a backup plan tend to regret it as "useless extra weight" and send it home, in my experience. So if you fall into that category, better leave it at home and keep your pack light.

But if you love to sleep outdoors, it can be a good option to avoid any bed race and the snoring concerts of the dormitorios.

I did walk with a tent last year, because most days I preferred to sleep outside even when there were beds available.

Personally I'd bring the tent again, but it's not needed. There's a huge infrastructure on the Francés and plenty options for sleeping.

So, don't worry too much about beds.

When the fancy new albergues that are available on the booking websites have been booked out, there's usually still a bed in one of the municipals or parroquials that can't be booked.

A good plan when you want to walk long days and therefore arrive late: Stop early for lunchtime in a town where there are still beds available/many albergues, hotels ect. During your lunch or while having coffee, call the albergue(s) in the town you intent to sleep in then, and ask if they still have a bed for someone arriving late (and maybe make a same-day reservation then to be sure). If there are no beds available anymore in that town, then you can still stay put where you are and enjoy a relaxed short walking day.

Worst case scenario if you don't pre-book: you might need to walk 5-10k additionally, might have to sleep in a place you didn't plan for (more expensive hotel room, mattress on the floor of a no luxury albergue...) or take a taxi to the next place and then back again the next morning. But even that can be a fun adventure!

Happy planning and buen Camino!

 

[palmah]

Ah, backpack transport let alone luggage transport ... This will considerably broaden the discussion . When you have your backpack transported it is best when you already know where you will stay hence where you have booked so that it can be sent to your day's destination. Whoever had this idea? Oh, I remember: Camino legend Jesus Jato from the Ave Fenix albergue in Villafranca del Bierzo. From a blog (translated) where backpack transport gets a mention:

Although it is not new, it has become very popular today. In 1990, only once along the entire route did we see an offer of transport: it was on 11 August 1990 in Villafranca del Bierzo, where Jesús Jato, a well-known figure of early Camino hospitality, offered to transport the backpacks to O Cebreiro for those who wished to do so and which some accepted because this stage was known to be quite hard.​

Why oh why did nobody say at the time: "Nip it in the bud! Don't do this."

We stayed in Ave Fenix in 2010 and were offered the service of carrying our backpacks up to O Cebreiro for us while we walked and I thought "Brilliant idea!" That was the one and only time we did it on that (our first) Camino or our subsequent Caminos, but I like the "brilliant idea" of the service being available if one needs it.

 

[dougfitz]

We stayed in Ave Fenix in 2010 and were offered the service of carrying our backpacks up to O Cebreiro for us while we walked and I thought "Brilliant idea!" That was the one and only time we did it on that (our first) Camino or our subsequent Caminos, but I like the "brilliant idea" of the service being available if one needs it.

I recall this being available when I stayed there, but for some reason I didn't use it. I was grateful that I didn't, because I got to La Faba and by that time was pretty much finished, so I stayed there instead of pushing on. That would not have been possible if I had had my bag shipped up to O Cebriero.

 

[Oravasaari]

I’ve never pre booked albergues and have had few problems in the past - apart from one year when I started off at Belorado and had walk on past St Juan and Ages because they were completo (and ended up walking 55km that day to Cardenuela Riopico)! But I still don’t book ahead because I hardly ever end up stopping at the planned daily destination for many and various reasons mostly to do with going with the flow.

 

[uturnshari]

Thanks for the info! I rather not carry a tent because of the extra weight. It sounds like taxis are easy to get to go to the next town over, so that is a good option. I am assuming I don't need the sleeping bag in any of the albergues, but I might bring just in case. I just didn't want to have to do a lot more extra miles to go to the next town. Calling at lunch time is also a plan. I would like to just be able to take a day at a time and not have to worry about places to stay.

 

[J Willhaus]

Thanks for the info! I rather not carry a tent because of the extra weight. It sounds like taxis are easy to get to go to the next town over, so that is a good option. I am assuming I don't need the sleeping bag in any of the albergues, but I might bring just in case. I just didn't want to have to do a lot more extra miles to go to the next town. Calling at lunch time is also a plan. I would like to just be able to take a day at a time and not have to worry about places to stay.

I would have at least have a liner bag for albergues. Hotels will have regular linens, but not many albergues.

 

[C clearly]

I am assuming I don't need the sleeping bag in any of the albergues, but I might bring just in case.

I don't think this is a good assumption. As @J Wilhaus points out, albergues (mainly multi-bed dormitories) do not generally provide sheets, except some provide/see paper disposable ones. A private accommodation (i.e. private room in a hostal or hotel) generally will provide bedding. You might want to browse through threads tagged with "sleeping bag."

 

[uturnshari]

Good to know!! Thanks.

 

[annangulo]

I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 2017. Other than a few days where I wanted to upgrade to a nice hotel as a treat, I mostly just found accommodation when I arrived. On easter weekend that didn't work out so well, but the rest of the time I always found somewhere to sleep.

I walked a bit of the camino frances during COVID when it was mostly just us people in Spain, and it seemed like having booked accomodation was mostly a requirement. That makes sense during the tail end of a pandemic, but I'm just curious what the norm is now. I've been perusing these forums passively for the last few years, and it seems like it's more and more normal to book your accommodation in advance, even the night before once you've finalized your plans. I'm just curious what other people think as well.

I quite liked being able to just show up and find accomodation, but I've seen a few people saying when they arrived at an albergue, even around this time of year, it was all packed up. Is booking ahead going to be the new normal now? Just curious what people think.

Yes. Especially if you want a specific albergue and/or you're trying to get an albergue in the large cities or the typical stages. The easiest way to book ahead is to call the albergue directly. Last year, on the Portuguese Camino, in Portugal, even a municipal albergue required reservations. So, it all depends where you are and when you are. I did notice that starting in Lisbon on the Portuguese Camino, there weren't as many albergues available and reservations were expected. That problem some what went away after Porto.

 

[hodad57]

I walked from SJPDP to Santiago in 2017. Other than a few days where I wanted to upgrade to a nice hotel as a treat, I mostly just found accommodation when I arrived. On easter weekend that didn't work out so well, but the rest of the time I always found somewhere to sleep.

I walked a bit of the camino frances during COVID when it was mostly just us people in Spain, and it seemed like having booked accomodation was mostly a requirement. That makes sense during the tail end of a pandemic, but I'm just curious what the norm is now. I've been perusing these forums passively for the last few years, and it seems like it's more and more normal to book your accommodation in advance, even the night before once you've finalized your plans. I'm just curious what other people think as well.

I quite liked being able to just show up and find accomodation, but I've seen a few people saying when they arrived at an albergue, even around this time of year, it was all packed up. Is booking ahead going to be the new normal now? Just curious what people think.

An older demographic now walking the Camino and a general concern for covid transmission concerns is surely influencing decisions to reserve accommodations in advance.

 

[WendyWild]

Ill be walking for one week only from 23rd July into Santiago from Sarria. I am hoping I can just walk in and find accommodation each night...

 

[dougfitz]

Ill be walking for one week only from 23rd July into Santiago from Sarria. I am hoping I can just walk in and find accommodation each night...

You might find that works, but I think it would be worth thinking through what approach you will take when it doesn't. There might be a few options open to you if you have eliminated finding a place at the town/village you are at and you do want to sleep in a bed, and not on the church doorstep or local park:

a. walking on to the next town/village, although you might want to check to see if the places there still have beds available. If not, and you have to go even further, consider
b. taking a taxi, and returning the next morning to where you stopped walking,
c. consider places not directly on the camino route, and contact them to see if they have a bed or rooms. I have used booking.com for this when I have needed to. In one case, they picked my wife and I up, the other times I have walked. It can add a far bit to your walking day if you don't get ride back to where you left the camino.
d. In the same vein, and I have never had to resort to this, get a taxi back to somewhere with a bed. Pilgrims I know hate the idea of going backwards, but it might turn out to be a better option. Get a taxi or bus the next day.

 

[J Willhaus]

@WendyWild This is a busy time on the Camino as many Spanish and other Europeans have their vacations during this time. The albergues owned by the Xunta or Galician government don't take reservations, but many are quite large and accomodate many people. You may want to stop early in the day for the best chance to get a bed. It will also likely be very hot so walking early and then a siesta is a good stratedgy. There are also some "in-between" albergues meaning they are not in the main stopping points of Portomarin, Palais del Rey, Arzua, etc. You may want to check out these "off stage" locations if you plan to walk in for a bed. I usually don't reserve either and have always found a bed using some of these tips.

 

[Former member 60103]

How about this as a take on pre booking . " You are taking the problem with you".
If you understand that then you will not feel the need for pre booking. If you plan your Camino to the degree that everything is booked in advance, regimented, then (I feel) you are losing the essence of the thing. Probably a borderline boomer but what has that got to do with anything.
20 days and counting to my next, and nothing pre-booked, Camino. Let's see where it takes me.
Spontaneous Don.

 

[dougfitz]

How about this as a take on pre booking . " You are taking the problem with you".
If you understand that then you will not feel the need for pre booking. If you plan your Camino to the degree that everything is booked in advance, regimented, then (I feel) you are losing the essence of the thing. Probably a borderline boomer but what has that got to do with anything.
20 days and counting to my next, and nothing pre-booked, Camino. Let's see where it takes me.
Spontaneous Don.

I am curious about what you mean by 'pre-booking' here. I have always considered this phrase an oxymoron. Either accommodation is booked or it isn't. It can only be pre-booked before it has been booked, when it isn't booked. Yet the term appears to be used here to mean that it is booked ahead of time, but that is exactly what booking is - reserving accommodation (or some other service) ahead of the time you are going to use it.

It also appears that you are discussing the notion of booking all one's accommodation prior to the commencement of one's camino. I thought that this thread had moved well beyond that very narrow definition of what booking ahead might mean, and we had turned to discussing a broader range of times when booking might occur, including as little as a few hours beforehand, when it became clear what might be a reasonable objective for the day.

Either way, your personal 'take' is just that, and I don't think much of trying to apply it to others who might face quite different circumstances to you. Nor do I agree that should others understand, and agree, with your views here, that they would no longer feel the need to make bookings.

As for the idea that one will 'lose the essence of the thing', this seems a rather strange notion. There are many effects of booking accommodation, including the inflexibility one might face when it is done so far ahead that it doesn't account for things like walking with friends who want to stay in different places, improvements in one's own fitness, etc. But surely the essence of the Camino de Santiago is to walk, cycle or ride to the tomb of the saint for religious or spiritual reasons, or at least an attitude of search. That doesn't seem to be predicated on whether one books or doesn't, stays in albergues or uses fine hotels, or any of the many other variables.

I think that your choice to walk without booking accommodation is laudable. I managed to do that on the earlier of my Caminos de Santiago, but not the more recent ones. I hope that meets all your expectations.

 

[WendyWild]

You might find that works, but I think it would be worth thinking through what approach you will take when it doesn't. There might be a few options open to you if you have eliminated finding a place at the town/village you are at and you do want to sleep in a bed, and not on the church doorstep or local park:

a. walking on to the next town/village, although you might want to check to see if the places there still have beds available. If not, and you have to go even further, consider
b. taking a taxi, and returning the next morning to where you stopped walking,
c. consider places not directly on the camino route, and contact them to see if they have a bed or rooms. I have used booking.com for this when I have needed to. In one case, they picked my wife and I up, the other times I have walked. It can add a far bit to your walking day if you don't get ride back to where you left the camino.
d. In the same vein, and I have never had to resort to this, get a taxi back to somewhere with a bed. Pilgrims I know hate the idea of going backwards, but it might turn out to be a better option. Get a taxi or bus the next day.

I think its the original spirit of the Camino.... to walk along without the plans and usual fuss and organisation of the modern world... to wander along and immerse in it all without plans....'make it up as you go'... I feel like thats a part of the journey. And then, I accept dealing with the difficulties along the way of not having a camino route bed and have to make other plans... eg: taxi or a hotel. I find it more joyful when I walk and make it up... without the pressure of having to get to the place I have booked.

 

[dougfitz]

I think its the original spirit of the Camino....

I'm not quite old enough to know , but certainly is seems to have been a part of the modern revival of the camino if one was going to use pilgrim albergues. I did my first two Caminos without booking except for hotels on rest days. For various personal reasons, I chose to book more often on my more recent caminos, in part to relieve the pressure that comes from being much slower and not wanting to engage in a bed search if I arrived in some place later in the day.

So I'm not suggesting you change what you plan to do. But I think having thought a little about what you might do will stand you in good stead. More than once I have seen pilgrims become quite distressed when faced with a full albergue and no other beds in a town. Denying this reality and bargaining with a hospitalero who has no place to offer seems to have hindered rather than helped them calm down. Knowing what you plan to do might avoid that distress completely, or at least allow you to navigate your way forward without too much angst.

 

[cujof16]

How about this as a take on pre booking . " You are taking the problem with you".
If you understand that then you will not feel the need for pre booking. If you plan your Camino to the degree that everything is booked in advance, regimented, then (I feel) you are losing the essence of the thing. Probably a borderline boomer but what has that got to do with anything.
20 days and counting to my next, and nothing pre-booked, Camino. Let's see where it takes me.
Spontaneous Don.

see ya out there Don. SJPP start on the 24th of March. i only "pre" booked in astorga. I'm going to get the best steak in the world at Bodega El Capricho that eve and wanted my place set so I can go from there to the restaurant and back to a known location. Other than that... lets see what happens. I will go with the flow.

 

[Former member 60103]

I suppose if I was making a personal point about pre booking a route it was based on, for example, rocking up at a small albergue on the Primitivo only to find that it had been pre booked by a party of eight and no additional room available. I get that some may not walk the path I do but the consequence of pre booking a route will inevitably mean more pilgrims have to do it to be sure of a bed. Is this what the future holds ?
I take insurance. Sure there is a hint of " oh well" if I cannot or choose not to stay somewhere. So I walk on in the knowledge that when I find somewhere suitable I will roll out my mat, unfurl the sleeping bag and bivvy then fall asleep hopefully under the stars and not under rain. And those, frankly, in all my Camino's, are the nights I remember and treasure most.
So each to his own.
Buen Camino to all starting out this month, may your bed (however you have arranged it) be a comfortable one and your Camino give you the taste of freedom that you expected.
Don.

 

[David Tallan]

I get that some may not walk the path I do but the consequence of pre booking a route will inevitably mean more pilgrims have to do it to be sure of a bed. Is this what the future holds ?

The issue is not "pre-booking or not pre-booking" but available supply of beds as compared to the number of pilgrims. If there are not enough beds then yes, a preponderance of pre-booking will give a definite advantage to those who do so, encouraging the practice to proliferate. On the other hand, if you have insufficient beds and no one pre-books, then, when they are given out on a "first come, first served" basis you get the dreaded "bed race" with people getting up earlier and earlier in the morning to secure a bed. That isn't an outcome to be desired, either.

If you have enough beds, pre-booking or not, leaving whenever you want to, no one suffers. If you don't, no path is going to lead to good outcomes for all pilgrims.

 

[Aptrail]

I was a hospitalero at San Antón for the first quincena of June. During the 15 nights I was there, we were only full 1 night. There were at least 3 people per day who came in to visit the ruins and were awestruck (as was I on my Camino, hence why I go back to volunteer) and would have stayed but had all prebooked and prepaid in the next town, Castrojeriz. Two even stayed in spite of already having paid. I think all of the writing about the crowds, need to book ahead, etc. had made pilgrims a bit nervous--understandably. A consequence is some loss of spontaneity. I heard from many that the donativo albergues pretty much always had space available.

 

[David Tallan]

I am in Salceda tonight. It is in the last 100 km on the Frances, at what is commonly considered one of the busiest times of year for this busiest stretch of the busiest route. Admittedly, it is not a standard stage location. It is a small albergue of 8 beds. It is not full.