Many are the pilgrims who, when making the adventure of the pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, decide to stay in different accommodations, but undoubtedly the most popular are the albergues (hostels).
But… do you really know what hostels are and how they work?
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WHAT IS AN ALBERGUE?
An albergue is a place that provides accommodation and shelter to people in need.
Many of these hostels have a specific use, some serve as shelter for people in need or who cannot afford a decent home, and those that are located on the route of a pilgrimage route are intended for the use of pilgrims.
WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?
The common pattern for this type of accommodation is large rooms with more than 4 beds per room. The beds are in the form of bunk beds to serve a larger capacity and with shared bathrooms for all pilgrims.
Their operation will depend on whether they are: public or private. And each has its own peculiarities. This will be discussed in the next section.
There are many pilgrims who choose the option of doing the Camino de Santiago in hostels as it allows a number of advantages. However, like everything else, it also has its disadvantages:
ADVANTAGES OF HOSTELS
- You will be able to meet a multitude of pilgrims and make unbreakable friendships.
- The price: It is the cheapest you will find, in some cases even with free stay.
- Greater connection with the Camino: Veteran pilgrims recommend this option for being the one that most connects with the original essence of the Camino.
- An adventure for children: For them it will be like going to a camp so if you decide to do the Camino de Santiago with children, it would be a good choice.
DISADVANTAGES OF HOSTELS
- Coexistence with other pilgrims: There will be times when you encounter noisy pilgrims who do not allow you to rest well.
- Poorly maintained: Some hostels are not well maintained. Try to seek opinions from other pilgrims before deciding to stay overnight.
- Reduced comfort: For older people, it can be an ordeal to stay in these places. Even some people with injuries or disabilities would not be in the best condition.
- Occupancy: Many hostels fill up very early in the morning, so either we run to ensure a place in the next hostel or we will be left without a place, especially depending on the time of the year in which you do the Camino. However, this is more focused on public hostels.
- Dogs are not allowed: If you decide to do the Camino de Santiago accompanied by your dog, you cannot stay in these accommodations since it is forbidden. But don’t worry, we recommend the best way to plan it.
Finally, the decision whether or not to sleep in hostels is your own decision. It may be that the conditions of the trip make you choose to spend the night in a different type of accommodation, click here and you will go directly to see what other services are available.
In case you still decide to stay in hostels, it’s time to talk about the types of hostels that exist. Shall we continue?
TYPES OF HOSTELS ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
It is time to differentiate the types of hostels that you will find during your pilgrimage along the different routes of the Camino de Santiago.
PUBLIC HOSTELS
Their main characteristic is that they belong to a public entity, such as a city council or autonomous community.
Their places are distributed according to the order in which pilgrims arrive and preference is given to pilgrims arriving on foot over those who are doing the Camino de Santiago by bicycle or on horseback.
The stay is for one night only and cannot be booked.
The price
When evaluating the price of these accommodations, some do not charge a fee, but ask for a small donation to cover the costs of maintaining the place.
The price of the ones they charge is between 5 and 8 euros.
From 12 October 2019, all Xunta de Galicia hostels will increase the price from 6 to 8 euros… with the intention (not definite) to reach 10 euros for Xacobeo 2021.
They have now more and more amenities such as washing machines, dryers, kitchens… However, the most common hostels that you will find are quite modest, since thery are simply dedicated to providing shelter to pilgrims.
Parish hostels
In this case the shelter would belong to a religious entity, such as a parish.
These hostels do not charge a fee but operate through donations from pilgrims who choose to stay in them.
Due to this option, there are many pilgrims who decide to spend the night in them, so their capacity is covered at an incredible speed. The chances are that if you don’t get up early or hurry up, you won’t find a place once you arrive.
PRIVATE HOSTELS
This type of hostel is privately owned and will charge a higher fee for its services, but usually offers a better quality of service.
The price
It usually costs between 12 and 20 euros and allows you to book in advance, so if you know of any that coincide with your route, book in advance so you won’t have any problems when you arrive and don’t have a place in the accommodation.
These hostels may have a series of amenities that the aforementioned public hostel does not offer, such as a better payment service or a WiFi connection.
ALBERGUES ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
At each stage of the Caminos we have on our website, we offer two hostels per stage for pilgrim information.
In any case, we leave you some hostels in the main villages of each Camino:
HOSTELS ON THE FRENCH CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Jean Pied de Port – Roncesvalles | Roncesvalles | Albergue de peregrinos de Roncesvalles (www.alberguederoncesvalles.com) |
| Zubiri – Pamplona | Pamplona | Albergue de Jesús y María (www.aspacenavarra.org) |
| Nájera – Santo Domingo de la Calzada | Santo Domingo de la Calzada | Albergue de la Abadía Cisterciense Nuestra Sra. De la Anunciación (www.cister-lacalzada.com) |
| San Juan de Ortega – Burgos | Burgos | Albergue Municipal de Burgos (www.caminosantiagoburgos.com) |
| Mansilla de las Mulas – León | León | Albergue San Francisco de Asís (www.alberguescapuchinos.org) |
| Triacastela – Sarria | Sarria | Albergue La Casona (www.lacasonadesarria.es) |
HOSTELS ON THE NORTHERN CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Deba – Markina-Xemein | Markina | Albergue de Markina (www.hosvobi.org) |
| Lezama – Bilbao | Bilbao | Albergue de Bilbao (www.hosvobi.org/albergues/bilbao-barrio-de-altamira/) |
| Colombres – Llanes | Llanes | Albergue La Estación (www.alberguelaestacionllanes.net) |
| Avilés – Muros de Nalón | Muros de Nalón | Albergue Casa Carmina (www.casacarminahostel.com) |
| Abadín – Vilalba | Vilalba | Albergue Turístico Castelos (www.alberguedevillalbacastelos.com) |
| Sobrado dos Monxes – Arzúa | Arzúa | Albergue da Fonte (www.alberguedafonte.com) |
HOSTELS ON THE PORTUGUESE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
(In Galicia)
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Rubiães – Tui | Tui | Albergue Villa San Clemente (www.villasanclemente.es) |
| Redondela – Pontevedra | Pontevedra | Albergue Slow City (www.slowcityhostelpontevedra.com) |
| Caldas de Reis – Padrón | Padrón | Albergue Corredoiras (www.alberguecorredoiras.es) |
HOSTELS ON THE PRIMITIVE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Salas – Tineo | Campiello | Albergue Casa Herminia (www.casaherminiatineo.com) |
| La Mesa – Grandas de Salime | Grandas de Salime | Albergue O Cruceiro (www.alberguedecastro.com) |
| Lugo – San Romao da Retorta | San Romao da Retorta | Albergue O Cándido (www.ocandido.com) |
| San Romao da Retorta – Melide | Melide | Albergue O Cruceiro (www.albergueocruceiro.es) |
HOSTELS ON THE SILVER ROUTE
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Almadén de la Plata – Monesteiro | Monesteiro | Albergue Las Moreras (www.alberguemonesterio.com) |
| Fuente de Cantos – Zafra | Zafra | Albergue Convento de San Francisco (www.alberguezafra.blogspot.com.es) |
| Alcuéscar – Cáceres | Cáceres | Albergue Municipal de Cáceres (www.alberguecaceres.es) |
| Grimaldo – Carcaboso | Carcaboso | Albergue Majalavara www.majalavara.com |
| Salamanca – El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino | Calzada de Valdunciel | Albergue de peregrinos de Calzada de Valdunciel (www.calzadadevaldunciel.es) |
| La Bañeza – Astorga | Astorga | Albergue de peregrinos Siervas de María (www.caminodesantiagoastorga.com) |
HOSTELS ON THE ENGLISH CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Neda – Pontedeume | Pontedeume | Albergue de Peregrinos de Pontedeume (www.pontedeumeturismo.es) |
| Betanzos – Bruma | Bruma | Albergue de Peregrinos de Bruma |
| Ferrol – Neda | Covas (Ferrol) | Albergue de peregrinos de Ferrol (Covas) |
HOSTELS ON THE SANABRÉS CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Mombuey – Puebla de Sanabria | Puebla de Sanabria | Albergue Casa Luz (www.alberguecasaluz.es) |
| Puebla de Sanabria – Lubián | Requejo | Albergue Casa Cerviño (www.albergue-sanabria.com) |
| Xunqueira de Ambía – Ourense | Ourense | Albergue Grelo Hostel (www.grelohostel.com) |
| A Laxe – Outeiro | Ponte Ulla | Albergue O Cruceiro da Ulla (www.ocruceiro.es) |
HOSTELS ON THE FISTERRA-MUXÍA CAMINO
| STAGE | TOWN | HOSTEL |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago de Compostela – Negreira | Negreira | Albergue de Negreira (www.concellodenegreira.es) |
| Negreira – Olveiroa | Olveiroa | Albergue Hórreo (www.casaloncho.com) |
| Olveiroa – Fisterra | Fisterra | Albergue de Peregrinos de Fisterra (www.concellofisterra.com) |
| Fisterra – Muxía | Muxía | Albergue Bela Muxía (www.belamuxia.com) |
OTHER ACCOMODATIONS ON THE CAMINO
GUESTHOUSES AND INNS
These types of accommodation are of a lower standard than hotels but can offer a very good quality of service and more privacy than hostels.
Private rooms are available, and some have shared or private bathrooms. Moreover, the price is not far from what is required in some private hostels, approximately 50 euros.
There is a wide variety of this type of service, so it is advisable to make an exhaustive search to find the accommodation that best suits your needs.
You can always count on Pilgrim to help you plan your accommodation in the different stages and avoid the really exhausting problem of booking in each village.
OLD MANOR HOUSES AND COUNTRY COTTAGES
The most individualistic option is to book a room in a house on or near the Camino trail, where you can rest and enjoy one or more days of relaxation.
It is the most expensive option but it certainly allows a convenience that no other option allows.
They are usually houses in villages or small towns that have been renovated for the accommodation of those who want to enjoy rural areas.
HOTELS
Accommodation with a high level of service quality, there are many types and different qualities as indicated by their stars, from 1 to 5, but the good thing is that it offers endless opportunities to choose from.
Unlike hostels, you will have no problem finding one on your route, although, depending on the one you choose, the price may be affordable or somewhat higher.
The current price for the comforts of a pilgrim can range from 80 euros per night.
In the case of the higher priced ones, they will also give us in return a higher quality of services and more variety.
PILGRIM
We know very well the complication of planning accommodation during the pilgrimage and that is why we exist, to help the pilgrim to make their Camino without any inconvenience.
That’s why at Pilgrim, if you decide to trust us, we will help you to book and look for the best options for you.
We hope this information has helped you to understand the variety of accommodation and types of hostels on the Camino de Santiago.
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