Waking up in the night

[Nathen]

Hi -

I'll be walking the Camino Francés (and going on to Finisterre after that) from Sept. 7th to Oct. 17th, and I have a concern... I haven't slept through the night in years. I'm hoping to always get a bottom bunk, and to sleep near a bathroom, so that I minimally disturb other sleepers in the night. Short of always getting to an albergue as early as possible, does anyone have any other insights/suggestions? Thanks.

- Nathen

 

[HeidiL]

I always wake up around 3.30-4 and stay awake for an hour before I go back to sleep. I just read on my phone, inside my sleeping bag so the light won't bother anyone.

No complaints so far, I think just having something that will keep you quiet is good enough.

 

[Former member 49149]

Hi -

I'll be walking the Camino Francés (and going on to Finisterre after that) from Sept. 7th to Oct. 17th, and I have a concern... I haven't slept through the night in years. I'm hoping to always get a bottom bunk, and to sleep near a bathroom, so that I minimally disturb other sleepers in the night. Short of always getting to an albergue as early as possible, does anyone have any other insights/suggestions? Thanks.

- Nathen

Nathan, welcome, and join the human race - well part of it anyway! Depending on your budget, you can book private accommodation. Otherwise, just live in hope, and when you get to your albergue, have a quiet word with the hospitalero/a who is registering you. With luck, you will manage just fine. Could happen, with the fact of walking around 7 hours a day, that you will be so tired you sleep the sleep of the just.
Wishing you a wonderful camino.

 

[David]

I read recently that humans are actually designed for two night sleep periods. The article said the answer was to get up for an hour and then go back to bed - don't know if that helps.

Thing is, folk do get up to go for a pee in the night and barefoot or sock footed you should be able to do the same without disturbing ... if you won't be going back to bed maybe see if you can leave your pack stuff somewhere safe so you only have to slide your sleeping bag and safety stash out with you?
Defintely lower bunk though!!

 

[K Turner]

I'm on the CF and usually sleep around 2 hours a night, if I'm lucky. I have books and music on my phone, and earbuds. I pack my bag at night and tiptoe out early in the morning.

 

[Sho]

IPod, or meditate. I didn't sleep through any night, and I wasn't the only person up using the restroom.

 

[linkster]

@Nathen I change my lockscreen on my phone to use as a flashlight in the middle of the night. Just enough light to see, but not enough to affect my night vision or disturb anyone else. I learned this trick here on the forum.
¡Buena suerte!

 

[Telboyo]

I wake up every night at 4 am home or away, this is not a problem on the camino as I don't fall asleep in the afternoon whilst walking, at home I have a tendency to nod off at 2 o'clock. Not a good idea whilst driving.

 

[nickpellatt]

My advice:

DONT get a place near the bathroom - NO WAY. Because everyone else will disturb you when they go. Best spot is furthest away from the bathroom ... that way nobody walks past you to go to the toilet.

You cant always be sure of a bottom bunk either.

If you are young(er) and strong(er), some places will allocate a top bunk to you, on the basis that someone older or infirm may have greater needs than you. I've had times when my feet have been painful and climbing up was hard .. so I also went bottom bunk, but when a much much older person came in, who clearly was in worse shape than I .. I swapped.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Nathen
If you're thinking albergue dormitories are silent places where a little activity can disturb, your preconceptions may be about to be adjusted. There's often quite a lot of snoring and rustling and people to-ing and fro-ing. Last October we had a guy who for about an hour from 2am repeated some kind of italian liturgy. Whether because it was mildly gothic-scary or in respect for his religious practice, or that it was freezing cold, none of us got up and confronted him about it.
I nearly always have to get up about 3-4am. But I feel, as an old camino lag, more comfortable taking a top bunk nowadays and just carefully climbing/sliding down to the floor. I think it's pretty likely you'll start out being concerned about this but after a week it won't seem like an issue. Buen camino

 

[FLEUR]

Take ear phones, download and listen to an audio book on your phone.

 

[Delphinoula]

I listen to a book on tape or my relax sleep music. Just do in a considerate way what you would do at home. I take this back who knows if you are step dancing or hous cleaning or like me walking the dogs. I meant see what helps you at home.
Bon na notte

 

[Anniesantiago]

My advice:

DONT get a place near the bathroom - NO WAY. Because everyone else will disturb you when they go. Best spot is furthest away from the bathroom ... that way nobody walks past you to go to the toilet.

You cant always be sure of a bottom bunk either.

If you are young(er) and strong(er), some places will allocate a top bunk to you, on the basis that someone older or infirm may have greater needs than you. I've had times when my feet have been painful and climbing up was hard .. so I also went bottom bunk, but when a much much older person came in, who clearly was in worse shape than I .. I swapped.

I actually prefer a top bunk. Bedbugs always seem to get the folks in the lower bunks. Just my personal observation...

 

[Montana Jayne]

I had some upper bunks, but I msinly had lower bunks. Don't worry too much on that score. I am not a through the night sleeper at home, but on the camino I slept very well even with a bathroom visit. Being really tired helped I think. Buen camino.

 

[Nathen]

Thanks SO much for each of your replies, fellow pilgrims - I greatly appreciate your insights, and I'm very glad that I "stuck my neck out" and asked my question. Blessings to all!

 

[vwzoo]

Hi -

I'll be walking the Camino Francés (and going on to Finisterre after that) from Sept. 7th to Oct. 17th, and I have a concern... I haven't slept through the night in years. I'm hoping to always get a bottom bunk, and to sleep near a bathroom, so that I minimally disturb other sleepers in the night. Short of always getting to an albergue as early as possible, does anyone have any other insights/suggestions? Thanks.

- Nathen

Hi -

I'll be walking the Camino Francés (and going on to Finisterre after that) from Sept. 7th to Oct. 17th, and I have a concern... I haven't slept through the night in years. I'm hoping to always get a bottom bunk, and to sleep near a bathroom, so that I minimally disturb other sleepers in the night. Short of always getting to an albergue as early as possible, does anyone have any other insights/suggestions? Thanks.

- Nathen

I left every morning about 5 AM in the dark before everyone woke up. I fell in love with the stars and the quiet, my time to feel the awesomeness of the spirit. I fell into it because I only sleep about 6 hrs and I really liked leaving at first verses laying their in the dark waiting and like I said I did miss some things but that alone time under the stars made my camino. I got so when I checked into I would get the bunk closest to the door. I would sometimes leave my backpack, minus my valuables and important paperwork which I slept with outside the room. I
always asked when I checked in if it was OK to leave that early. I slept in my clothes for the day and quietly slid out of my sleeping liner and gathered my stuff assembling my back pack outside the room. The only light I used was from my phone screen to inspect I had all of my stuff from my bunk when I left. The Stars, the moon of the dark, the quiet voice of God as I felt the energy of all of those pilgrims who walked before me was what made my experience so so special. Also I planned snacks, breakfast sort of things I could eat as I walked in the mornings before things opened.

 

[johnmeyerbooks]

Hi -

I'll be walking the Camino Francés (and going on to Finisterre after that) from Sept. 7th to Oct. 17th, and I have a concern... I haven't slept through the night in years. I'm hoping to always get a bottom bunk, and to sleep near a bathroom, so that I minimally disturb other sleepers in the night. Short of always getting to an albergue as early as possible, does anyone have any other insights/suggestions? Thanks.

- Nathen

One word: hotel. (The snorers will/could/most definitely will drive you insane.) I did the albergue thing for awhile but had to make the switch. Bit more expensive but you still meet everyone on the road and in the town squares. (And the bottom bunk is usually reserved for the elderly, the injured, etc. If you're fit, they give you the top bunk, most of the time.)

 

[Nathen]

I left every morning about 5 AM in the dark before everyone woke up. I fell in love with the stars and the quiet, my time to feel the awesomeness of the spirit. I fell into it because I only sleep about 6 hrs and I really liked leaving at first verses laying their in the dark waiting and like I said I did miss some things but that alone time under the stars made my camino. I got so when I checked into I would get the bunk closest to the door. I would sometimes leave my backpack, minus my valuables and important paperwork which I slept with outside the room. I
always asked when I checked in if it was OK to leave that early. I slept in my clothes for the day and quietly slid out of my sleeping liner and gathered my stuff assembling my back pack outside the room. The only light I used was from my phone screen to inspect I had all of my stuff from my bunk when I left. The Stars, the moon of the dark, the quiet voice of God as I felt the energy of all of those pilgrims who walked before me was what made my experience so so special. Also I planned snacks, breakfast sort of things I could eat as I walked in the mornings before things opened.

Thanks SO much for your reply "vwzoo" - it deeply resonated with me. May I be blessed to have an experience like yours.

 

[Nathen]

One word: hotel. (The snorers will/could/most definitely will drive you insane.) I did the albergue thing for awhile but had to make the switch. Bit more expensive but you still meet everyone on the road and in the town squares. (And the bottom bunk is usually reserved for the elderly, the injured, etc. If you're fit, they give you the top bunk, most of the time.)

Thanks, John. I'm financially unable to choose the hotel option for all of my Camino, AND I may well treat myself to one from time to time to enjoy some privacy!

 

[RJM]

Just do what you gotta do. Gotta pee at four am? Go ahead. Just be as quiet as possible. Believe me, nobody in the albergue cares.

 

[Nathen]

Just do what you gotta do. Gotta pee at four am? Go ahead. Just be as quiet as possible. Believe me, nobody in the albergue cares.

Thanks, RJM.

 

[Bilbo]

this is the part of the camino i worry about (starting next wednesday i hope),not the walking but the shared accommodation ,still pondering if i should take a tent (1.5kg) ,got an emergency bivvy maybe i will stick with that

 

[Nathen]

this is the part of the camino i worry about (starting next wednesday i hope),not the walking but the shared accommodation ,still pondering if i should take a tent (1.5kg) ,got an emergency bivvy maybe i will stick with that

It's the part that I worry about too, Bilbo - AND, I think it's an opportunity for us to trust that all will be well, as it has been for MANY hikers/pilgrims before us!

 

[Bilbo]

Well started Thursday so we are in Pamplona, you do soon get used to the situation and having an amazing time, snoring going on but as said you are so tired you sleep through,
Also I didn't expect the pyranees to be so tough but also so breathtaking,

 

[henrythedog]

Well started Thursday so we are in Pamplona, you do soon get used to the situation and having an amazing time, snoring going on but as said you are so tired you sleep through,
Also I didn't expect the pyranees to be so tough but also so breathtaking,

It’s virtually all easier now.

 

[Bilbo]

Just getting a cafene hit before setting off from pamplona, it was very noisy in the jesus Mary hostel last night, snoring and Saturday night revellers outside, but sort of enjoyed that, can understand why people have an extra night in Pamplona, beautiful architecture and vibrant atmospherie