Camino de Santiago Tips | HOW TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION

REALLY USEFUL LINKS IN THIS DESCRIPTION 😊
#caminodesantiago #caminofrances #camino
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Camino de Santiago Tips for New Pilgrims - How to book your accommodation.
One of the biggest dilemmas for new Pilgrims is about where and how you will sleep. Should I book ahead? How do I know where I will stay? How will I manage if I don't speak any Spanish? etc. Let me show you find places to stay on the Camino and how to book your accommodation.
Hopefully this latest video will help you :)
0:00 Reasons to book in advance vs reasons to not book in advance
2:30 How to use Apps to help you book accommodation
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#caminopackinglist #caminodesantiago #caminofrances
If I helped you and you'd like to say thanks, you can now buy me a Coffee! : bmc.link/nickLivingLife
Join my Camino Family : / @nicklivinglife
If you need a few of things I have used on Camino and would recommend from Amazon, I get a small commission if you purchase by following my link below without it costing you a penny extra, so you help support the channel for FREE :)
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/ @nicklivinglife

[@patsyince5323]

Hi Nick! I just met you while watching the Camino Tellers, Ricky & Erica! I love your attitude and of course your fabulous dance moves! Enjoy the day! 😊

[@NickLivingLife]

Hey Patsy 👋. We are all just cooking now. Ricky almost got caught eating a bit of extra chorizo. It was so funny 😂

[@donnapartow]

I love that you get to the point with valuable content. Thanks

[@NickLivingLife]

Time is precious. 😊. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@youcangofar]

Another lovely video Nick, your personality shines through. Of course very informative as always, thank you 😊

[@NickLivingLife]

Thanks as always HM 😊

[@agalpin7025]

Thanks. Those apps were very helpful as well as your info.

[@NickLivingLife]

You are most welcome. I’m really glad I helped 😊

[@bongcollao7330]

Valuable info and tips. Thank you. I plan to bike the camino next year. Cheers!

[@NickLivingLife]

Thanks very much. Great news for next year. You will LOVE it. 😊

[@joostmatena8584]

Planning to walk the first stage of the Camino with my dad next month, great tips, thanks! Have you ever heard of someone having to sleep outside because there was no place in a hostel? or do you just have to walk a bit further to the next hostel?

[@NickLivingLife]

Hi 😊. I’ve been testing just that on this Camino by never booking ahead and just rolling into town. Main stage towns are sometimes fully booked this year (at the start and end of the Camino) but there is always space so far just before or just after these towns 😊 I thought I would need to sleep outside by now doing this, especially with people saying it’s so busy …but I’ve had a bed easily every night. 😊

[@krissalmon7875]

Thank you for your content Nick! Really enjoy watching you walking your Camino & now your tips are fab too! Am subscribed twice! Once on my Telly & then on my phone! Keep walking & I will keep watching!

[@NickLivingLife]

That’s brilliant. Thanks so much Kris, I really appreciate it. 😊Lots more to come. I’m spending the rest of this week seeing just how ultralight I can make a full Camino backpack for May-September and hopefully some wild camping on a mountain next week (mountains keep the legs Camino 💪). Thanks again for watching 😊

[@krissalmon7875]

@@NickLivingLife sounds fab! I will be doing the DuPuy to Santiago mid-Feb (to the end) in 2023. Please do a “what o pack” video each time you do a Camino. They are really helpful.

[@NickLivingLife]

@@krissalmon7875 that’s fantastic!! A good walk indeed that will be. 😊

[@anneokane7172]

Very informative. Thanks

[@NickLivingLife]

You're very welcome Anne :)

[@NickLivingLife]

Thanks as always Anne. 😊x

[@carolinesaunders6656]

Hi I've just finished the Francés and used the Wise Pilgrim app. A feature you didn't mention is that you can leave and comments about accommodation. I found this very helpful. I generally booked a couple of days ahead. Good video 👍

[@NickLivingLife]

Congratulations Caroline 😊 That’s such a good point, and I should have mentioned it as it influenced a few choices for me too. Thanks for watching my video 😊

[@hilarymac3706]

Great tips many thanks - I too loved LaMorena!

[@NickLivingLife]

I remember starting to record some video when I got there, and as the first one there, I thought I’d video the “facilities”, toilets, showers etc to show the quality of the place. I didn’t even realise I was in the ladies bathrooms filming until woman came in and asked why I was in there with a camera! 😂😂. Embarrassing! 😂😂

[@hilarymac3706]

@@NickLivingLife 🤣🤣 I was in Bercianos and woke up and went to ladies at about midnight. Whole dorm was in darkness and all I thought were asleep. I walked in the ladies door and a man was sitting on the loo trousers down with door open reading. We couldn’t look at each other at breakfast.

[@NickLivingLife]

@@hilarymac3706 hahaha I’m surprised you wanted breakfast. 😂

[@hilarymac3706]

@@NickLivingLife 🤣

[@alexandraroberts9253]

Thanks for this. Really helpful for first timers! Are there any separate apps that specialise in the less common Caminos, say in northern France, or outside Spain/France/Portugal please? Thank you.

[@NickLivingLife]

I hate to say…but none that are really comprehensive. There is a new app I’ve found called Hiiker (2xi) which is adding routes every day. A bit of a learning curve with it, but it does feature Camino Geneva etc so there is hope. Outside of the big traditional ones, I use Far Out app for some less Camino treks, otherwise it’s the booking.com app and a bit of google. 😊

[@encouragesolutions2595]

Really useful. Thanks. I'm leaving SJDPP on 19 June and unsure if I can make ROncevalles in one go as it seems the inclines are severe. Orisson seems fully booked and I'd rather sleep out than start taking taxis. Are there any other places half way to Roncevalles?

[@NickLivingLife]

Orisson and it’s sister site are very close together and are booked out early. There is another route via Valcarlos which is less steep and may allow you to get to Ronsesvalles in the same day (or stay at Valcarlos if there are vacancies).

[@NickLivingLife]

It’s the route that pilgrims follow in winter or when weather doesn’t allow the Napoleon route over the Pyrenees.

[@ellenm957]

Hiya, great video! Working my way through all your Camino Frances advice. How far in advance would you book the last 100k? thanks!

[@NickLivingLife]

Thank you. 😊 You can get away with a week before unless you are going in June-August. Also if you stay in towns and villages that are not the “official stages” it’s much easier. Portomarin was the biggest problem for many on my recent trip but there are nice places just before or just after as an example. 😊

[@NickLivingLife]

It is still possible to not book at all, and go with the flow …but I wouldn’t for the last 100. Too many people can spoil your plans. Buen Camino in advance. 😊

[@ellenm957]

@@NickLivingLife thanks so much! Buen Camino!

[@gregorykeane2987]

Can you use a credit card or need euros mostly to pay for lodging, food, etc?

[@NickLivingLife]

Hi Gregory. Most places except card / contactless but smaller villages and some coffee shops may not. Also some have a minimum spend to use card as it has a cost to the merchant. I find €200 that I keep on me at all times will see me through to a big city with an ATM and then I always have some cash if it’s required. 😊

[@suzie0917]

May I ask if the hostels take credit cards or just cash?

[@NickLivingLife]

Some do, but many do not especially in the smaller towns and villages. It’s always worth carrying some euros for this. 😊

[@suzie0917]

@@NickLivingLife thanks for replying me

[@NickLivingLife]

I’m happy to help 😊

[@bobsampson4987]

buen camino wants $45 , Wise pilgrim is free

[@NickLivingLife]

Hi Bob, I just checked in case something has changed but Buen Camino is still free. They have a “tip” part in case anyone wants to give a gratuity but you don’t have to. The app icon should be a blue square with a yellow arrow (in case there is another Buen Camino app out there). I’m using Apple App Store as I have an IPhone. I’m not sure if it’s different on Android / Google Play Store etc?

[@bobsampson4987]

@@NickLivingLife I downloaded the wrong app, the one I down loaded was for the forum....Dang.

[@NickLivingLife]

Glad you have the free one now. Hope you find it useful. 😊