Necessary to book in advance?

[Deborah53]

I will be walking the North Route beginning May 23 from Irun. I would like to ask if it is necessary to book my overnight stays in advance at the albergues now that technology seems to be offering that. I really don't want to feel the pressure to do so as I won't always know how far I will be walking. Has this become a necessity now, or is it just more of the bed race fear at work?

 

[trecile]

I will be walking the North Route beginning May 23 from Irun. I would like to ask if it is necessary to book my overnight stays in advance at the albergues now that technology seems to be offering that. I really don't want to feel the pressure to do so as I won't always know how far I will be walking. Has this become a necessity now, or is it just more of the bed race fear at work?

I found myself booking ahead more often on the Norte than on the Frances, but I was walking midsummer, when there's a lot more tourism in general on the Norte. The municipal albergues don't accept reservations - they are first come first served, and some of them are quite small, so it takes a little more planning than the Frances. There's just not as much pilgrim infrastructure on the Norte, but it's a beautiful walk.

 

[André Walker]

Hi Deborah,

I walked the CdN in 2016, starting in May. Never made a reservation and had no problems whatsoever finding a bed in an albergue. In case there's a need to: there are also a lot of pensions and hotels, but I never had to use one.

I wouldn't worry too much and just enjoy your Camino the way you'd like to.

Enjoy yourself.

 

[High Endeavours]

I will be walking the North Route beginning May 23 from Irun.

HI. We will be starting the same day and will perhaps see you along the way. We have only booked ourselves a place in San Sebastian as we plan to stay there 2 nights, experience this beautiful city and get past our jet lag. After that it will be pretty much free flowing as we plan to stay in a variety of accommodation types depending on what's available. If we book ahead, it will just be the night before, but basically we plan to see how it's coming together as we progress. Just 3 weeks! Buen Camino! Geoff

 

[Deborah53]

Thanks to all for the replies. I'm going to relax about things. The jet lag is also a factor I have been thinking about. I arrive very early in Biarritz on the 23 and am contemplating heading out right away for the walk but will also think about an overnight stay before I begin. So much more logistics to work out when traveling over the pond than when I lived in Europe before. Excited however.

 

[trecile]

Thanks to all for the replies. I'm going to relax about things. The jet lag is also a factor I have been thinking about. I arrive very early in Biarritz on the 23 and am contemplating heading out right away for the walk but will also think about an overnight stay before I begin. So much more logistics to work out when traveling over the pond than when I lived in Europe before. Excited however.

I walked from Irun to Pasajes de San Juan on my first day - about 10 miles. There is a small albergue there but I found out about a small guest house called Casa Txurdin from the forum, and made a reservation there, which was a very good thing, since my flight to Biarritz was cancelled and I only arrived the next day around 11am. There was no way that I could have gotten myself to Irun and walked all the way to San Sebastian that first day.
The contact number for Casa Txurdin is +34685475733 . She's on WhatsApp, which is how I made the reservation. The cost for a private room with shared bath and breakfast was 25 euros.

 

[Deborah53]

Thanks for this reply. Is Casa Txurdin in Pasajes or in Irun? I am not so clear from your message. I am thinking of stopping in Pasajes depending on my jetlag and whether or not I take the higher alternate route over Irun. I'm concerned mostly about arriving in Biarritz at 6 pm, then getting to Irun, and having a place to stay.

 

[trecile]

Thanks for this reply. Is Casa Txurdin in Pasajes or in Irun? I am not so clear from your message. I am thinking of stopping in Pasajes depending on my jetlag and whether or not I take the higher alternate route over Irun. I'm concerned mostly about arriving in Biarritz at 6 pm, then getting to Irun, and having a place to stay.

It's in Pasajes. Here's the view (on a cloudy day) from the terrace

 

[naplesdon]

I would suggest make sure you have a place to stay the first night and then wing it. If things start looking dicey, get the hospi where you spent the night book ahead for you for the next night at place they would feel comfortable with. After all these folks form sort of network and they don't live more than 20 to 30 km away from each other.

 

[Phil71]

I walked the Norte last June. Only 2 places I couldn't get a bed. 1 was ribadesella and I can't remember the other one because it's Friday and I'm drunk.....
But in both cases the next albergue was only about 5k further and no problem there. No need to book imo. Enjoy, the Norte is a beuatiful walk.

 

[LTfit]

And I start a day before @Deborah53 and @High Endeavours from Irún. It certainly is not my intention to book although it was suggested to do so in San Sebastián (municipal closed permanent). I've already walked the Norte in pieces during the months of June and October and I never encountered problems staying in municipals (although some were already closed in October).

I'm crossing my fingers and hope that June won't be a problem. I will continue on the coast as I walked the Primitivo in April (can't seem to stay away for long).

Buen Camino!

 

[Mudcrone]

I will be walking the North Route beginning May 23 from Irun. I would like to ask if it is necessary to book my overnight stays in advance at the albergues now that technology seems to be offering that. I really don't want to feel the pressure to do so as I won't always know how far I will be walking. Has this become a necessity now, or is it just more of the bed race fear at work?

I walked from Irun in May last year and it wasn't necessary to book ahead.

 

[Mudcrone]

Thanks for this reply. Is Casa Txurdin in Pasajes or in Irun? I am not so clear from your message. I am thinking of stopping in Pasajes depending on my jetlag and whether or not I take the higher alternate route over Irun. I'm concerned mostly about arriving in Biarritz at 6 pm, then getting to Irun, and having a place to stay.

Pasajes is lovely

 

[Deborah53]

Thanks to all for this splendid information. Pasajes is looking like a good idea for breaking up the first day after climbing and descending with possible jetlag. I will play it by feel when I arrive. Now to find a place in Irun for the evening arrival.

 

[Rondimc]

Thanks for this reply. Is Casa Txurdin in Pasajes or in Irun? I am not so clear from your message. I am thinking of stopping in Pasajes depending on my jetlag and whether or not I take the higher alternate route over Irun. I'm concerned mostly about arriving in Biarritz at 6 pm, then getting to Irun, and having a place to stay.

If you arrive early enough the Alberque in Pasaje is truly a gem. It is a converted church high on a hill just above the town. If Mario is still the hospitaleros, you will indeed enjoy your stay. His music selection is special, and he is a wealth of information on the following legs of your Camino. We had the good fortune to stay here our first night out of Irun in the fall of 2017, and it set the tone for the rest of our camino. Enthused people from 7 countries, all under one roof, it was za day to remember. At that time it only opened mid afternoon, and there were only 14 beds.

 

[trecile]

If you arrive early enough the Alberque in Pasaje is truly a gem. It is a converted church high on a hill just above the town. If Mario is still the hospitaleros, you will indeed enjoy your stay. His music selection is special, and he is a wealth of information on the following legs of your Camino. We had the good fortune to stay here our first night out of Irun in the fall of 2017, and it set the tone for the rest of our camino. Enthused people from 7 countries, all under one roof, it was za day to remember. At that time it only opened mid afternoon, and there were only 14 beds.

There were a couple of peregrinas at Casa Txurdin when I was there that were sent there from the albergue becuase it was full.