Le Puy to St Jean PP

[johan esterhuizen]

We are 2 from South Africa and are starting 11 May ( to 11 June). First time for both in France. Can one do it without reservations? We would like to "see how it goes" and try for accomodation where we think it is a good place to stop.
This has been planned for 2 years and finally it's coming true!

[grayland]

Welcome Johan!

I hope you are aware that South Africa has one of the finest Camino groups and that South Africans are very active on most forums.
Here are a couple of links in case you are not aware:
Confraternity of Saint James of South Africa
The Camino Frances - Camino de Santiago de Compostela forum

Reservations are not normally needed.
I note that you are starting from Le Puy and have only allowed about 30 days for the walk. The average time from St Jean is about 33 days (800km). Le Puy is about 800km further back.....or about 1600km from Le Puy to Santiago. I wonder if you have used the wrong dates. That would not seem to be possible for normal human beings.

[grayland]

I have just reread your original post and now realize that you are walking from Le Puy to SJPP....not Santiago.
Please disregard the time and distance reference above. : )

[HuskyNerd]

Grayland, I'd heard that most people do make reservations for the next nights' "gites" (albergues) from LePuy through SJPP. Perhaps you're saying that it's common but unnecessary during the May/June season?

[grayland]

Sandy...I was under the impression that it was not normally needed. That said, I have sent a PM to someone who will know who will correct me if needed.

She may very well reply here with her knowledgeable answer.
(Sil is also from South Africa).
Ed

[HuskyNerd]

Yes, Sil will certainly know. I wondering if she's traipsing off in some exotic place right now.

[Anna-Marie]

I walked from Le Puy starting the end of August. I usually made reservations--usually the night before, or even the same morning. In September, I couldn't get into the gite I wanted twice, and a few other times I might have had trouble if I hadn't made reservations.

I think it really depends on the time of year, though. September is quite busy. It might be a good idea to make a reservation for your first night--maybe two--and then see how it goes when you get there. I didn't have a cell phone, but I was able to either find pay phones, or gite owners or other pilgrims would sometimes call for me (since my French isn't wonderful).

I did get the impression from some private gite owners that they really prefer reservations, especially if you want demi-pension (dinner and breakfast).

Anna-Marie

[grayland]

Sil has sent me the following message in regard to reservations on the Le Puy to Santiago route:

"Maggie (Kiwi-Nomad on the Forum) walked from Le Puy in April and May. Her blog is one of the best I've read on the Le Puy Route. Il faut aller doucement....
She would be the right person to ask. If I wasn't referring you to her I would've said to book ahead just in case you get a group taking all the beds."