Reservations in Pamplona?

[Lindsay]

I will be starting the Camino on July 4th in St. Jean and have a few questions about albergues.

From what I gather, most of the refugios don't take reservations and I will just have to figure out the sleeping situation as I go along, which is probably better anyways.

But I will be hitting Pamplona right around the Running of the Bulls festival, July 6th or 7th, so I am wondering if that will create any problems finding a place to stay or perhaps all the tourists who are in the city for that festival will be staying at normal hotels so it wont' be a problem? Otherwise, should I try to make a reservation in Pamplona because of the festival?



any advice would be appreciated

[HuskyNerd]

My advice would be to skip the overnight in Pamplona since the town will be nuts. Not sure if Cizur Menor takes reservations, but to be honest I know of no Spanish albergue (unlike French gites) that does. Staying on one or the other side of Pamplona sounds smarter. If you're dead set on an overnight in Pamplona try a reservation at a small hotel instead. Buen camino!

[Covey]

In 2009 they closed the main albergue in central Pamplona for the fortnight of the bull running/festival and were selling the beds for €40 a night to tourists rather than the €8 for a pilgrim.

We got to hear that the albergue was closed when we arrived at Zubiri, so the next day was a long haul to Cizur Menor where we found a bed. The other problem was that virtually every bar for the next two days walk from Cizor was closed because the owners were off enjoying the festival in Pamplona.

I should imagine that accommodation in Pamplona will be very difficult to find, and expensive, for that period.

[Lindsay]

ok thank you very much for your advice. I think it will be better to stay at an albergue before or just after Pamplona.

[Covey]

I would avoid Larrasona if you can as the albergue is not so nice, and the food in the bar was evil in 2009.

My advice would be for an early start to walk in to Pamplona, spend an hour or three soaking up the atmosphere and then catch the bus from the main stop near the main square out to Cizor which is a 20 minute ride around the suburbs There are two albergues at Cizor which are quite nice.

Catching the bus is not something everyone wants to do, but trying to walk through all the crowds of inebriated Spaniards is not much fun either. I tried it in July 2009 and gave up and caught the bus to Cizor!

[Lindsay]

thanks so much, that is very helpful.

Do you think I need to make a reservation in the albergue in Cizor or can I just show up?

[Covey]

I showed up at 3pm and there was no problem with space. I walked in to Pamlona on the opening day of the Festival and there was not a sober person in the city, excepting some bewildered looking Pilgrims who were wondering what they had gotten in to!!