Reservations in the Camino de Santiago

Hostel, image from Wikimedia Commons

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Hostel, image from Wikimedia Commons

The Camino de Santiago is an experience that is open to all without any type of filter. Precisely for this reason, places in hostels can be scarce in high seasons. In Galicia there is a very extensive network of public hostels, but in others sections of the Way there is not much availability. It is not strictly necessary, but there are pilgrims who feel safer if they have reservations for the Camino de Santiago in advance.

Do the Camino de Santiago without booking

The truth is that for some pilgrims, part of the Camino experience consists of waking up early and arriving at the local hostel that closes the corresponding stage. Arriving earlier means securing a place, at least as a general rule. With this rhythm, many do not consider reservations necessary on the Camino de Santiago.

Galicia has a wide infrastructure of public shelters at an affordable price. They do not accept reservations, so staying in these hostels means accepting the philosophy of the early riser pilgrim who does not know what he is going to find. Although there are 4,000 places available, they are spread throughout Galicia, so that we cannot know if we will be able to stay there. until we get there.

Advantages of doing the Camino de Santiago with reservations

Booking on the Camino de Santiago is a way to be safe, especially if it is done in high season. It may be the case that, when we reach the end of a stage, the shelter is empty. full and we have to keep doing kilometers until we find a place. In addition, in recent years places have been reduced for health security. By reserving the hostels in advance we can avoid this situation, and do the Camino without thinking about this aspect.

There are several ways to prepare overnight stays during the route, making inquiries through different apps and websites to find out the status of each hostel. About the route that there is more information (because it is also the one that has more hostels enabled) is the French Way.

Hostel, image from Wikimedia Commons

How to book hostels on the Camino de Santiago

There is a very recent platform that allows to know the free places in real time of the hostels that are along the Camino Frances. It is an initiative of the Association of Municipalities of the Camino de Santiago. We can consult the web or download the app Albergues LOT to know at each stage the places we have in the shelters ahead of us. 

Through this app we cannot make reservations, but it notifies us of the places in the hostels as they are filled. Although it does not have the reservation management function, it is very useful to know the influx of the Camino during the days that we are traveling it. 

Another possibility to know all the data of the hostels that we have ahead is the Red de Albergues del Camino de Santiago. It also lists the accommodation along the Camino Frances, which we can consult on the web or in the app. here We will be able to consult information of all kinds, from the price per bunk to all the extras that can be contracted such as breakfasts or washing machines.

There are also many active Facebook groups to meet with other pilgrims and, above all, with the staff of the hostels, the real state of the accommodation. We can also make any other query and get a response in a very short time.

• Group of the Camino Primitivo
• Group of the Portuguese Way with all the variants
• Group of the Camino del Norte with all the variants
• Group of the Vía de la Plata
• Group of the Route of Lighthouses
• Group of Camino Ingles

Another very complete option is the Guía de Albergues del Camino de Santiago . here You will find information on all the main routes of the Camino, with all the accommodation options you have on each one. from there You have the link to the reservation of each of the hostels, or the contact telephone number if it cannot be done through the internet. 

Reserving the Camino de Santiago in advance is easier if we know all these options. so We have access to the information on the hostels, and we can also manage our place in time to guarantee the place where we want to stay each night. You can also launch into the most genuine adventure and go without booking, depending on the time of year there may not be a problem either.