Eternal question: to bring or not to bring? (TENT)

Hi,

We did the GR20 (first 9 etapes to Vizzavona) a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had - we thoroughly enjoyed it! We pre-booked all the refuges on the not-so-easy-to-use website (because we thought it was compulsory) but I think we were the only ones! Most people had not booked and, at least when we were there, there was plenty of space.

If we do it again, we would definitely do a couple of things differently. One thing we would not do is to stay in the refuges. We got bed bugs in our (brand new, very expensive) sleeping bags on the third day and could not use them after that. So for the other nights we had to borrow a blanket or a sleeping bag from the gardien. But some of the other refuges also had bed bugs and so the last night we were so fed up with it that we exchanged our refuge booking for a tent and slept in our clothes. A couple of other people we know also got bitten badly (some people react badly to the bites) although most people seemed not to have any problems. We sealed our sleeping bags in a dustbin bag and I carried them around with me, up and down the mountains, for the next 6 days - we are still trying to figure out how to get rid of the bugs!

Although we did not check each day, our impression was that there were always tents to rent, with mats. Probably, the risk of there being neither an available tent nor some space in the refuge is quite small, but if I go again, I will take my own tent, as I think it was unusually quiet when we were there. For September I cannot judge.

Next time I would also not bother taking a stove & fuel, since we never used it. We would either eat the prepared food or use the cooking facilities at the refuge. Always good to have at least a couple of meals in your bag though – sometimes the gardien decides to take a “day off” from cooking.

I have just returned from doing the GR20 North to South. I was ion my own so carried a tent - just in case. It wasn't necessary. The trail was much quieter than I expected and there was no problem getting a bed in a refuge if I wanted it. However do take earplugs! Terrible snoring and huffling. Another option is tente Location. Most refuges have really nice tents with thick mattrasses to hire for 10 euro and the 5 euro per person on top. Its a bit more expensive but you have your own private space and no hassle of carrying the tent of pitching it when you're knackered at the end of the day. I wouldn't take a tent if I were doing it again. You can always sleep out anyway and if the weather should turn nasty you can always sleep in the kitchen area on the floor.

I likes the Bergeries. My best night was Bergeries d'Asinau. Lovely people and very comfy beds!Great food too.

Also Bergeries Radule (Mori to Castel de Verghio) does great apple pie and scones. You can also camp there.

Have fun!