No room at the inn (Najera)

[Purple Backpack]

I’m heading to the Frances shortly and was going to be a bit spontaneous with rooms. I booked the first week just to make sure and was surprised at how tight reservations were. As I started making rough plans, I got to the Logrono to Santo Domingo stage and am having a problem finding things. Looks like Najera is the typical stage but two hotels were full Mid May and one looks closed. I’m hoping someone can offer suggestions, I don’t mind staying off stage or longer days. Many thanks!

 

[J Willhaus]

Are you looking only for private rooms that can be reserved?

 

[paddington]

I’m heading to the Frances shortly and was going to be a bit spontaneous with rooms. I booked the first week just to make sure and was surprised at how tight reservations were. As I started making rough plans, I got to the Logrono to Santo Domingo stage and am having a problem finding things. Looks like Najera is the typical stage but two hotels were full Mid May and one looks closed. I’m hoping someone can offer suggestions, I don’t mind staying off stage or longer days. Many thanks!

Have you tried looking on line at Pensión San Lorenzo? It shows nothing available on booking . Com but looks like there is some availability in may in their website
Also, the website gronze . Com is a great resource for listing of lodging with contact information in all the towns along the camino

 

[Antnix1]

Let me guess... Booking.com?

Nájera is full of hostels, albergues and pensiones. Even if you don't book and turn up at 6pm on the day you'll still find somewhere to sleep.

 

[Purple Backpack]

So embarrassed, yes I was using BDotCom, no I don’t mind dorms but it is lovely to do both dorms and privates to catch up on sleep. And yes, San Lorenzo had a couple of rooms left so thanks so much!! What other places bottleneck? I know the last 5 days but I may go off the rails in Ponferrada and O’Ceibrero. Any others?

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, I think look at gronze.com and be prepared to contact the places by email or WhatsApp if you want private room reservations.

 

[J Willhaus]

The reports so far have been that beds are available, but most of the people reporting this are staying in albergues that may or may not take reservations.

 

[OTH86]

I've always stayed at the Hostal Ciudad de Najera - on a back street, but, in fact near everything. Quiet. https://ciudaddenajera.com/

 

[C clearly]

So embarrassed, yes I was using BDotCom

Many of us use booking.com. However you need to understand that they have access to only a small number of the actual rooms.

 

[Purple Backpack]

I've always stayed at the Hostal Ciudad de Najera - on a back street, but, in fact near everything. Quiet. https://ciudaddenajera.com/

Sent them an email but haven’t heard back. Any preference between this and Lorenzo?

 

[Antnix1]

Sent them an email but haven’t heard back.

Are you serious? It's only 9am in Spain.
I'd also advise against emailing for immediate responses. I also had mixed experiences with responses to WhatsApp.

 

[Purple Backpack]

Are you serious? It's only 9am in Spain.
I'd also advise against emailing for immediate responses. I also had mixed experiences with responses to WhatsApp.

Good point, forgot about the time change.

 

[Grousedoctor]

On my two trips through Najera, I’ve stayed each time at the Albergue Puerta de Najera. Once in the dorm and once in a private room. Both were excellent. Great location in the old part of the city. Although I had reservations both times, pilgrims arriving by early afternoon easily got beds.

 

[t2andreo]

As C_Clearly correctly noted, above, Booking.com does not have access to 100% of all rooms at a given property. Proprietors typically hold several rooms off the Booking.com service.

It always pays to contact the property directly. Gronze.es has perhaps the best listing of direct phone and fax numbers if Booking.com hides this direct contact information. Frequently the best approach is to make a phone call. If your Spanish is not up to it, ask someone else to call for you.

One "hack" I have used in the past is the have the proprietor ,where I just stayed, call the next property or properties for a couple of nights, to make my reservations over the phone for me. No one has ever refused such a request.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[jrmulcare]

I’m heading to the Frances shortly and was going to be a bit spontaneous with rooms. I booked the first week just to make sure and was surprised at how tight reservations were. As I started making rough plans, I got to the Logrono to Santo Domingo stage and am having a problem finding things. Looks like Najera is the typical stage but two hotels were full Mid May and one looks closed. I’m hoping someone can offer suggestions, I don’t mind staying off stage or longer days. Many thanks!

I stayed in Najera last night (Sunday, 14/4). It was at Hospederia Abadia Cistercience. It is affiliated with the local cathedral. I signed up for dinner and breakfast there and the nuns served the meals. It was very quiet and comfortable and dinner (fish or chicken) was very good (I had chicken). It is right next to the Camino and close to the square. I highly recommend it as I met several pilgrims at the community dinner. The one thing that you should be aware of is that dinner is not served until 8:45pm. Being from the US I am still adjusting to dinner time here in Spain. They had vacancies last night. Good luck!

 

[rogersoncharles1951]

Go past najera about 6 km to azofra really great albergue probably

 

[SandyBELL]

Hi, Super nice place Najera. At least 12 Hostels and Pension style places in the location. Know your having issues with availability with booking.com but have you tried either checking the Hostel names listed for the town on a Camino App? They list all the hostel details including emails and contact details. It’s worth privately e mailing them in Spanish with the English version of the request beneath the Spanish. I’ve managed to make bookings sometimes this way when booking.com looks hopeless.

 

[Massey]

Hostal HIspano in Najera is showing availability for tonight on BDC. I have stayed there and found it very good. It is located in a good area 5 mins walk to left just before crossing the river.

 

[Walkingat70]

So embarrassed, yes I was using BDotCom, no I don’t mind dorms but it is lovely to do both dorms and privates to catch up on sleep. And yes, San Lorenzo had a couple of rooms left so thanks so much!! What other places bottleneck? I know the last 5 days but I may go off the rails in Ponferrada and O’Ceibrero. Any others?

O'Cebreiro is normally tight. I walked past it to Liñares (another 3-4 km) or so where I stayed at the Linar do Rei while has a mix of private rooms with bathroom and some private rooms with a shared bathroom. The accommodation is modern and lovely. There is a kitchen with a microwave.

Lenares is small and has one and you need to pick up supplies for dinner etc before it closes.

I booked it on Booking.com

 

[hikingcat]

I’m heading to the Frances shortly and was going to be a bit spontaneous with rooms. I booked the first week just to make sure and was surprised at how tight reservations were. As I started making rough plans, I got to the Logrono to Santo Domingo stage and am having a problem finding things. Looks like Najera is the typical stage but two hotels were full Mid May and one looks closed. I’m hoping someone can offer suggestions, I don’t mind staying off stage or longer days. Many thanks!

Hi @Purple Backpack,
I'm in Najera tonight and staying at Apartamentos Vino y Camino. Lovely apartment and host. It's in the same area as the albergue mentioned above. There's a small but well-stocked supermarket nearby. Details are on Gronze or BdCom. Hope this helps and buen camino.

 

[Rita Flower]

Sent them an email but haven’t heard back. Any preference between this and Lorenzo?

Last Camino I mainly used email (or called the venue) and received prompt replies (to my mind) within 12 - 18 hours. If I didn’t hear back it always turned out that venue was closed.
I didn’t always book but when I did it was 1-2 days ahead.
I didn’t worry but then I know I can rough it for one night or take a cab to the nearest available bed.

 

[OTH86]

Are you serious? It's only 9am in Spain.
I'd also advise against emailing for immediate responses.

In this case, I'd advise email - tho things could have changed - but if it's the same family ownership, they will reply. Also, they had both individual rooms with two beds and on the top floor a much larger, very nice room with about 8 single BEDS.

 

[Thomas1962]

Many of us use booking.com. However you need to understand that they have access to only a small number of the actual rooms.

I would like to emphasize this. On the Camino, booking can be handy, but it is by far not the best way to find accomodation. For many places, especially the better ones, there is no need for the expensive booking. There is also no need because everyone is passing any albergue or hostel anyway, most pilgrims use gronze, guides or apps. Besides, if an albergue decides to be in booking, the website is pushes away on Google completely.
Use gronze.com, or any guide or app as your basic guide.

 

[Purple Backpack]

I stayed in Najera last night (Sunday, 14/4). It was at Hospederia Abadia Cistercience. It is affiliated with the local cathedral. I signed up for dinner and breakfast there and the nuns served the meals. It was very quiet and comfortable and dinner (fish or chicken) was very good (I had chicken). It is right next to the Camino and close to the square. I highly recommend it as I met several pilgrims at the community dinner. The one thing that you should be aware of is that dinner is not served until 8:45pm. Being from the US I am still adjusting to dinner time here in Spain. They had vacancies last night. Good luck!

Thanks, this sounds great! I stayed at a few convents and loved them, kind of like a really quiet sorority house with really kind, wonderful women! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Sheesh]

I stayed in Najera last night (Sunday, 14/4). It was at Hospederia Abadia Cistercience. It is affiliated with the local cathedral. I signed up for dinner and breakfast there and the nuns served the meals. It was very quiet and comfortable and dinner (fish or chicken) was very good (I had chicken). It is right next to the Camino and close to the square. I highly recommend it as I met several pilgrims at the community dinner. The one thing that you should be aware of is that dinner is not served until 8:45pm. Being from the US I am still adjusting to dinner time here in Spain. They had vacancies last night. Good luck!

Isn't Hospederia Cistercience in Santo Domingo de la Calzada?

 

[elviento]

I had a hard time finding a room in Najera many years ago. I’d guesstimate I arrived mid-afternoon along with another Camino lass. We were both exhausted and couldn’t walk anymore. We had to split up and each try to secure a room because everything was booked. I eventually found a room through meeting a fellow Camino on the street who told me there was 1 extra room in a pension he was staying at that wasn’t in any guidebooks - it was 6 long flights up and not very nice. I later learned the lass I walked into town with waited in front of a popular albergue for hours and was eventually given a room when someone who pre-booked did not show. If you are finding it difficult, maybe adjust your journey to stay in a town before or after (obvious, I know).

Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

I had a hard time finding a room in Najera many years ago. I’d guesstimate I arrived mid-afternoon along with another Camino lass. We were both exhausted and couldn’t walk anymore. We had to split up and each try to secure a room because everything was booked. I eventually found a room through meeting a fellow Camino on the street who told me there was 1 extra room in a pension he was staying at that wasn’t in any guidebooks - it was 6 long flights up and not very nice. I later learned the lass I walked into town with waited in front of a popular albergue for hours and was eventually given a room when someone who pre-booked did not show. If you are finding it difficult, maybe adjust your journey to stay in a town before or after (obvious, I know).

Buen Camino!

It can be more difficult when one wants a room instead of just a bed.

 

[Colette Z]

I’m heading to the Frances shortly and was going to be a bit spontaneous with rooms. I booked the first week just to make sure and was surprised at how tight reservations were. As I started making rough plans, I got to the Logrono to Santo Domingo stage and am having a problem finding things. Looks like Najera is the typical stage but two hotels were full Mid May and one looks closed. I’m hoping someone can offer suggestions, I don’t mind staying off stage or longer days. Many thanks!

I’m one of two hospitaleros at the Najera public albergue €6/night starting May 1-16th. It’s got 50 beds and it’s just over the town stone bridge.

 

[Amigos caminando]

2 nights,ago I stayed at San Lorenzo hostal. I can't recommend it enough for a single, double or triple room in Najéra. Great hosts, good breakfast. High quality bed linen and towels. In the old town almost on the camino.

 

[Trekker One]

I absolutely hate to prebook accommodations as it kills the spontaneity of each day that we prefer.
That said we were reluctantly forced into doing so last September as the Camino was very busy on the Frances route and sleeping outside lacks appeal now that I am in my mid 60's.
This was the first year we ever prebooked any accommodation and based on what I am seeing now prebooking seems to largely be a necessity now.
I came to realize our seventh walk last fall will likely be our last one, certainly on the Frances route.
Maybe the current flood of people is still from pent up demand from the Covid years.
In any case, I have very fond recollections of our early Camino's without the crowds or prebooking.

 

[elviento]

It can be more difficult when one wants a room instead of just a bed.

Apologies, I meant bed not a room.

 

[MamaBear]

Have you tried looking on line at Pensión San Lorenzo? It shows nothing available on booking . Com but looks like there is some availability in may in their website
Also, the website gronze . Com is a great resource for listing of lodging with contact information in all the towns along the camino

My plan and I hope it works cause I have not been there and going with the masses of people in May, reserv first 4 days after that is when ever and where ever. Don’t mind staying at walk in mat on the floor cause all else is taken. The Lord will see that my Camino provides for us pilgrims even if taxi over someplace and return in the morning if you would like to. It’s your Camino and everything is allowed on your Camino. Having said that pilgrim: Buen Camino

 

[henrythedog]

My plan and I hope it works cause I have not been there and going with the masses of people in May, reserv first 4 days after that is when ever and where ever. Don’t mind staying at walk in mat on the floor cause all else is taken. The Lord will see that my Camino provides for us pilgrims even if taxi over someplace and return in the morning if you would like to. It’s your Camino and everything is allowed on your Camino. Having said that pilgrim: Buen Camino

Booking the first four nights is a good plan. From Pamplona onwards the options open up and the crowds spread out.

However: Borda and Orisson should now be taking bookings and if you’re certain of your date for the first night, I’d book sooner rather than later. It’s not a disaster if they’re full as strong walkers can carry on, others can shuttle up and down.

Zubiri’s another pinch-point.