A little help along the way

[pbouffard]

I am a 61 yr old Cdn and will be doing the walk starting on July 6, probably starting at Pamplona. Is there some support service that I could call a day or two ahead and tell them I am going to be at a certain location and they would book me room at a low cost facility? If so who and what might that cost? I am concerned about the busy-ness and not being able to find a place if I arrive after 3 or 4 in the afternoon. thanks, Peter

[Covey]

A mere youngster!! If you are starting at Pamplona, then book a hotel room rather than use the albergue and make like a tourist for a couple of days. Pamplona is nice and well worth the time "getting over the jet lag".

The average price for a private room in a Casa Rural/small private hotel is €35/40 but you can get cheaper. A lot of the bars along the way have private rooms and they are often not as expensive as a small hotel.

July this year will be busy, especially as a lot of pilgrims will be aiming to get to Santiago on 25th July (St James Day!) If you start walking at dawn and aim to finish around 1pm, you should find a bed with no difficulty. Stop after 3pm, and you will be sleeping on the floor.

As I never know when I start in the morning where I shall be in the afternoon/evening, booking ahead is difficult, so I would just go with the flow and enjoy yourself.

[Covey]

Should have mentioned.

The first 2 weeks in July sees the Pamplona Bull Running Festival. Last year they shut the main albergue in Pamplona so the Church could let the beds to tourists instead of pilgrims (nice of them!!). Make sure you have a confirmed hotel booking!