[ad_1]
We’ve stayed at greater than 100 albergues on the seven totally different routes of the Camino de Santiago. Some locations have been wonderful and have become an necessary a part of our Camino reminiscences, some locations have been simply one other in a single day keep. Albergues have all the time been an necessary a part of the Camino de Santiago historical past. Even if you happen to’re not the type of particular person that’s comfy with staying in a dormitory I’d suggest discovering an awesome albergue in your Camino route (one with a communal dinner for instance) and staying there for one evening simply to expertise the spirit of the Camino.
What’s an albergue?
In easy phrases, an albergues is a hostel for pilgrims. If you happen to’re conversant in hostels it received’t be obscure the entire albergue factor. A regular albergue has one or a number of dormitory rooms with bunk beds (few have regular beds), a shared ablution complicated, a kitchen, and a standard space.
Methods to discover albergues?
A lot of the albergues, particularly public ones, are located proper on the Camino route; you don’t must stroll round with a GPS or map looking for them. In greater cities and cities there are often arrows pointing the way in which to albergues.
If you wish to plan your Camino itinerary prematurely and be sure you’re going to remain solely at the very best albergues alongside the route you possibly can test opinions of various albergues on Gronze.com. The one drawback of utilizing it’s that the location and a lot of the opinions are in Spanish. Now we have detailed itineraries for a number of Camino routes the place you could find data on each albergues we stayed at.
Watch our brief YouTube video about albergues on the Camino!!!
You could find extra data for planning the Camino stroll in our detailed Greatest Camino de Santiago ideas publish.
Public vs non-public albergues on the Camino de Santiago
There are two sorts of albergues public (municipal) and personal. Public albergues are often run by the native municipality. Personal albergues belong to an individual or an organization. Each private and non-private albergues might be discovered on any Camino route the extra widespread the route is the extra albergues it has.
Public albergues
Public albergues are often greater than non-public ones, some have as much as 100 beds and are cheaper. Public albergues are solely for pilgrims strolling the Camino, vacationers can’t keep there. There’s often no bedding however most public albergues promote disposable sheets and pillow casing for 1 Euro. The services of municipal albergues fluctuate, some are new spacious with good services, some are fairly outdated and really primary.
Municipal albergues don’t often enable baggage supply if you happen to resolve to make use of one of many baggage shuttle providers as a substitute of strolling together with your backpack you’ll have to keep at non-public albergues.
The most effective municipal albergues are in Galicia run by the Xunta de Galicia. Most of them are new, spacious, with good facilities, clear, and comfy. From 2021 nearly all public albergues in Galicia cost 8 Euro per particular person. If you happen to resolve to stroll the final 100 km on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela or select one of many shorter routes e.g. the Camino Ingles you received’t have any drawback discovering good and price range lodging.
Personal albergues
Personal albergues are smaller and often extra comfy in addition to dearer. Some non-public albergues are for donation. There are fairly just a few albergues for donation on the Camino Frances. Personal albergues might be booked prematurely over the telephone or by one of many on-line reserving programs. They’re not solely for pilgrims although the vast majority of individuals staying there are often strolling the Camino. The facilities of personal albergues are often higher than these of the general public ones.
Important variations between private and non-private albergues
Options | Public albergues | Personal albergues |
---|---|---|
Worth | 6-8 Euro | 12-15 Euro |
Just for pilgrims | sure | no |
Want a Credential | sure | no |
Can keep greater than 1 evening | no | sure |
May be booked | no | sure |
Enable baggage supply | no | sure |
Entrance doorways shut at 9 pm | sure | no |
Services
A regular albergue (public or non-public) has a few dormitories with bunk beds (typically one large room), a standard/eating space, a kitchen, and shared bogs and showers. As I already talked about non-public albergues are often higher geared up. All albergues have sizzling showers and electrical energy, many have wi-fi.
Ablutions
Showers and bogs are shared and often separate for women and men except it’s a very small albergue with one lavatory. You’ll want your personal towel, cleaning soap, bathe gel, and so on. No want to hold bathroom paper all albergues we’ve stayed at offered it.
If there are a lot of individuals in your albergue go to the bathe proper after the check-in earlier than unpacking and making your mattress, in any other case you may spend half-hour ready within the line.
Kitchen
About 80% of all albergues we’ve stayed at had a kitchen. Typically it’s a totally geared up kitchen with all the things you want for cooking, typically it’s very primary with a microwave and a few plates. All the time earlier than you go meals procuring try the kitchen to see if it has a range, pots, pans, and so on. Some albergues (often non-public) supply communal dinner and breakfast for donation or a set value.
The price of albergues
Public albergues are the most affordable lodging choice on the Camino. Costs fluctuate a bit relying on the route, the typical value of a mattress in a public albergues is between 6 and eight Euro per particular person. On some Camino routes e.g. the By way of de la Plata public albergues are dearer – 10 Euro pp.
A mattress in non-public albergue prices between 12-15 Euro on common. Within the Basque Nation on the Camino del Norte non-public albergues are dearer, we paid 15-17 Euro on common. Fancier albergues value 20 Euro however these are actually comfy with greater beds, particular person lockers, curtains for privateness, bedding, towels, and so on.
If you wish to understand how a lot it prices to stroll the Camino de Santiago try our publish The price of strolling the Camino. There you could find an in depth price range breakdown, money-saving ideas, and a comparability of the price of totally different Camino routes.
Public albergues and their guidelines
These guidelines can fluctuate a bit relying on albergue, route, and time of the 12 months however general they’re fairly normal for all public albergues.
Public albergues can’t be booked prematurely; they work on the precept of first come first serve.
You may keep at a public albergue just for one evening. There is likely to be exclusion e.g. if you happen to really feel unwell.
The check-in is after 1 pm or later typically. Pilgrims who arrive earlier often begin queuing their backpacks in entrance of the doorway. It’s not essential to do out of season or on quiet Camino routes however on the busy routes just like the French Camino within the peak season, it’s the way in which to safe a mattress.
The doorway doorways shut at 9 pm if you happen to’re out and are available again later you won’t be capable of get inside. All the time be sure to be again earlier than the closing time.
Lights in dormitories go off at 9 pm. No one will pressure you to sleep in order for you. You may learn or watch one thing in your telephone however you possibly can’t change on the sunshine within the dormitory.
The check-out time is 8 am (typically 9 am). Everyone needs to be out by that point.
Are albergues open all 12 months spherical?
The overwhelming majority of municipal albergues on the Camino are open from Easter week until the top of October. There are some albergues that keep open within the winter months most of them are on the favored Camino routes such because the French Approach or the Portuguese Camino. If you happen to stroll the Camino between April and October you possibly can make sure that a lot of the public albergues shall be open. The one exception is the Camino del Norte within the Basque Nation a lot of the public albergues are open solely within the peak season between July and September.
Personal albergues may open earlier or shut later it will depend on the route and the variety of people who stroll it low season. Virtually all non-public and public albergues are closed throughout the Christmas vacation between the fifteenth and thirty first of December. If you happen to resolve to stroll the Camino in December I’d suggest staying for Christmas in a much bigger metropolis the place lodges and hostels keep open whatever the vacation.
Strolling the Camino in winter you may battle to search out open public albergues however on the brilliant facet, non-public rooms in lodges and visitor homes are considerably cheaper low season. If you happen to keep each different evening at a lodge it received’t break your price range.
If in case you have questions in regards to the pilgrimage on the Approach of St.James you may discover solutions in our Camino de Santiago FAQ publish.
What do it is advisable to keep at albergues?
To have the ability to test in to any albergue you’ll want a passport or an ID (for EU residents).
To remain at public albergues each pilgrim wants a Credential (a pilgrim’s passport) with stamps. It proves that you just’re strolling (biking) the Camino. Each pilgrim collects stamps at each place he/she stays alongside the route. On the finish of the pilgrimage, you’ll want your Credential for getting a Compostela certificates in Santiago. For staying at non-public albergues the Credential is often not required.
Helpful gadgets to pack
A lightweight sleeping bag – some locations have blankets some don’t have the identical bedding. I want to have my very own sleeping bag quite than sleeping on a mattress or beneath a blanket that who is aware of how many individuals have used earlier than. In its place, you possibly can carry a sleeping bag liner. It’s smaller and lighter than a sleeping bag and shall be sufficient for the summer time months.
A headlamp – could be very helpful to have if you wish to learn after the sunshine went off, discover one thing in your backpack at nighttime, or pack and depart early within the morning whereas others are nonetheless sleeping.
A fast-dry towel – you don’t get towels in albergues.
Flip-flops – nice for becoming and carrying within the bathe.
You could find extra particulars on what to pack for the Camino for various seasons for women and men in our Camino de Santiago packing checklist publish.
Execs and cons of staying at albergues
If you happen to’re a seasoned backpacker and have expertise of staying at hostels, sleeping in dorm rooms with 10-20 different individuals, and utilizing shared services, staying at albergues received’t be new for you. If you happen to’ve by no means stayed in dormitories earlier than it is likely to be fairly difficult to do it every single day for a few weeks.
Execs
The apparent benefit of albergues is the worth, it’s the most affordable lodging choice on the Camino, particularly public albergues that cost between 5 and seven Euro per particular person which considerably reduces the price of the Camino, particularly on a protracted route.
Albergues are nice locations to satisfy individuals particularly if you happen to stroll the Camino alone. You’ll all the time discover somebody to speak to, prepare dinner collectively, or exit with.
Staying at albergues is an necessary a part of the Camino tradition. Even when it’s not your cup of tea I’d recommend staying for an evening or two at albergues only for the expertise.
Cons
The principle con is the dearth of privateness. You don’t get lonesome time in albergues, you share a room, a toilet, and a kitchen with different pilgrims.
One other necessary drawback is not getting first rate sleep. The extra individuals within the dormitory the harder it’s to sleep; some pilgrims stand up very early earlier than 5 am and begin packing, some snore fairly loud, and so on. It’s nearly assured that a minimum of each second evening you’ll get a snorer in your dorm. Earplugs are a helpful merchandise to have. If it’s a very loud snorer I placed on my earphones and change on enjoyable music, it often helps me to go to sleep.
Theft is one other downside of albergues. We personally have by no means had something stolen in albergues however we’ve heard some tales of cash, telephones, and different valuables stolen from dormitories. My tip right here isn’t to go away your valuables unattended within the dormitory, use a locker if offered (we all the time pack a small mixture lock), or carry a neck pockets or a foldable backpack each time you allow take it with you.
Staying at lodges on the Camino
It’s potential to remain in a non-public room each evening on the Camino. A lot of the routes have loads of lodges and guesthouses. It’s far more comfy however will work out fairly a bit dearer than staying in dormitories. If you happen to’re going to stroll for every week or so the worth distinction received’t be that vital however if you happen to’re planning to stroll for a couple of month it’ll make a giant distinction.
Costs of personal rooms fluctuate. On common you pay 25-30 Euro for a price range single room and 30-35 Euro for a double. It’s cheaper to remain in non-public if you happen to’re two individuals as you possibly can see the worth distinction between a single and a double room shouldn’t be that large.
In case your price range permits I’d suggest staying in non-public each as soon as shortly. We often keep in a non-public room a minimum of as soon as every week typically extra typically if you could find a superb deal. It’s very nice to have some privateness after sleeping in dormitories. Some non-public albergues have single and double rooms as properly. Personal rooms with shared services (bathe, bathroom) are cheaper than those with an connected lavatory.
Tenting on the Camino
Folks typically ask us about the potential for tenting on the Camino. If you would like to do it for the sake of saving cash it’s not value it. Until you’re planning on doing wild tenting which isn’t allowed in lots of locations in Spain particularly on the seashores. Public albergues are the very best and the most affordable means of lodging on the Camino. To pay between 5 and seven Euros to sleep in a mattress, to have a sizzling bathe, electrical energy and a kitchen shouldn’t be a lot.
If you happen to actually love tenting and quite sleep in your personal tent at a campsite than in a dormitory then you’ll should do some planning. On some routes, we did see fairly just a few campsites e.g. The Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino. Some have barely any e.g. the By way of de la Plata. Earlier than you resolve to pack a tent be sure that the chosen Camino has sufficient tenting spots to make it value carrying further weight.
Bedbug drawback on the Camino de Santiago
From our Camino expertise, I can positively say that strolling early within the season reduces your possibilities of getting bedbugs in albergues. Many albergues shut for winter, earlier than opening once more in spring many do an annual cleansing which reduces your possibilities of getting bedbugs.
Bedbugs might be simply carried by one particular person from albergue to albergue hiding in a sleeping bag, backpack, and so on. You will get them wherever however some albergues are well-known for having mattress bugs. If you wish to be sure you skip such locations test opinions on Gronze if there are a number of individuals complaining about mattress bugs I’d quite not keep there.
Mattress bugs often conceal in wood cracks, beneath mattresses, and so on. Albergues with tile flooring, metallic beds, rubber mattresses, and pillow casings may look not very comfy however your possibilities of having mattress bugs there are smaller. Locations with outdated wood flooring and beds, wool blankets, and outdated mattresses are good spots for bedbugs.
Out of seven Caminos, I’ve walked I’ve had a bedbug drawback solely on the French Camino. I walked it in September after 1000’s of pilgrims had already walked it that 12 months. I used to be terribly bitten in a single non-public albergue (I present the identify in my Camino Frances levels publish). A few occasions my buddies had bedbugs in several albergues although all of them have been non-public.
Mattress bug bites are totally different from mosquito bites. Mattress bugs often chunk in a line following the vein. Their bites are very itchy, some persons are allergic to them. If you happen to get up within the morning and see a row of bites you possibly can nearly make sure you have been bitten by mattress bugs. On this case be sure to test your sleeping bag, garments, backpack, and so on.
Methods to cut back the possibilities of getting mattress bugs?
When you get to your mattress, raise a sheet/a mattress rapidly if there are a lot of mattress bugs you’ll be capable of see them crawling. These guys will not be very quick as many individuals suppose.
Don’t put your backpack on the mattress.
All the time preserve your backpack closed away out of your mattress. I put a rain cowl over it for the evening to verify mattress bugs received’t be capable of get in.
Some individuals carry mattress bug spray and spray it on their mattress and sleeping bag. I, personally, have by no means used it subsequently I can’t say if it actually works or not.
Within the morning all the time test your sleeping bag (if you happen to use it).
Camino planning sources
[ad_2]
Source link