Just writing up my trip notes after a great pilgrimage along the Camino Frances. Details are getting hazy so any errors are my own (as are the opinions about the following places)...
Day 1 Bayonne - Hotel Etap 38E, clean comfortable, bath, TV, buffet breakfast for 5E - location on main road & 20 mins walk for railway station
Day 2 Valcarlos - Casa Rural 25E - only option, but friendly (no English spoken), large clean bathroom, single bed comfortable in small cozy room - lovely fireplace
Day 3 Zubiri - albergue (private) 10E - just after bridge, need to remember code to access it. 8 bed dorm, clean, comfortable, warm, free internet, coffee machine, games
Day 4 Pamplona - albergue (paderborn German) 5E - very friendly sisters, good breakfast for 2E, 12 bed dorms, light weight blankets and light from outside, snorers
Day 5 Cirauqui - albergue (private) 10E opposite church, mass " 6.30, good dinner downstairs, 8 bed dorms (only 2 filled). Can give breakfast a miss, no washing facilities
Day 6 Los Arcos - albergue (municip) 8E Casa de Austria, great living area, balcony and kitchen, 12bed dorm with snorers. Soft mattresses and far too warm
Day 7 Logrono - albergue (private) 10E 300m off trail, 40 bed dorm with only 2 toilets & showers, fine for only 4 people though! Hand washing allowed and could dry outside. NO dining area to speak of. OK for a night, friendly and clean
Day 8 Ventaso - albergue (private) 8.5E - off sendero, but friendly and great drying area on patio. Lovely music in evening and morning. Clean, comfortable, no fridge
Day 9 Azofra - albergue (munincipal) 6E - great 2 bed rooms with large communal area. Friendly and clean, good value with good kitchen, cleaning area. Internet available
Day 10 Granon - albergue (church) donation, very friendly place (Alberto) and great fireplace and dining area, for communal dinner and breakfast. Sleep on mattresses on mezzanine floor above dining area. Good blankets. Mass at 6.30 and prayers at 10, a holy spot.
Day 11 Villafranca de Oco - albergue (munincipal) 6E - clean and friendly with 18 bed dorm (noisy with snorers), Limited kitchen facilities, internet available.
Days 12 & 13 Burgos - Amigos de C dS albergue (munincipal) 3E - large hostal behind cathedral. 3 floors with large dorms, split into 2 x 2 bunk beds with own light and power outlet. Internet available and laundry facilities. Limited cooking available (microwave). Heaps of information on Camino and meet everyone there!
Day 14 Rabe de las Calzadas - Albergue Liberanos Domine - 10E, Clementina lovely lady, breakfast and dinner available. 4 rooms, with 6 bunks each. Opened since Aug 09, toilet / shower upstairs & downstairs. Very friendly and helpful. Nice cozy dining area.
Day 15 Hontanas - Antiguo hospital de peregrinos - 6E, large 18 bed dorm, 2 single beds near windows, no kitchen or communal area that I could see, but friendly, clean, warm! Good restaurant opposite for meals
Day 16 Fromista - Albergue Estrella del Camino - 7E, 2 attached dorms, 12 beds in each, with unisex toilet / shower down one end. 3E for breakfast but book night before. Large dining area, and warm, cozy communal area with fireplace. Lawn outside and cleaning area. Clean, modern, 200m to right of tourist office past church.
Day 17 Calzadilla de la Cueza - didn't pay any money since hospitalero absent (later found he'd been arrested by the police for drugs!) Work still continuing on upstairs room and kitchen. Unisex toilet / shower at one end of 24 bed dorm. OK
Day 18 Calzadilla de los Hermanillos - municipal albergue, donativo, but not very clean or maintained. Cold shower. Good set up with kitchen, communal dining area (with pot belly stove) and 4 bed berths - 16 total I think. Only person there, but needs better maintenance and service. Only pilgrim there.
Day 19 Arcahueja - Albergue Hostal La Torre - 18E for bed in 10 bed dorm, dinner and breakfast - friendly owner (Lucio?) and very clean, modern. Separate toilets / shower for men / women. Good food and warm, only 8km before Leon. Only pilgrim there.
Day 20 Leon - Benedictine Albergue - donativo, worst albergue on camino to mind. Inconvenient opening hours, and far too cramped 60 bed dorm, with no pillow, blanket or bed sheet. A vector for disease, germs. Strict 8a.m. departure date meant leaving in the cold and dark.
Day 21 Rabanal del Camino - Albergue El Tison 5E, first albergue on left hand side in village. Good bar meals next door, with small kitchen, but cosy dining area upstairs. Cramped 12 bed dorm, but relatively warm. OK
Day 22 Hospital de Orbigo - private albergue on RHS - 6E, very welcoming, lovely courtyard, with cozy communal kitchen / dining area. Cramped 10 berth rooms, but music to wake up to, and relaxed departure times.
Day 23 Astorga - Albergue de Pergrinos San Javier 8E, excellent, spacious hostel run by Hotel Gaudi group - more a hotel than a hostel. Lovely hospitaledaria, good hand washing and drying area on sunny patio. 60 bed dorm upstairs, toilets / showers on 2nd floor, kitchen, communal area on ground floor. Relaxed opening hours over Easter, very close to cathedral, difficult to see entrance due to building works. Highly recommended
Day 24 Foncebadon - Monte Irago, very welcoming and happy to shelter frozen pilgrims from the snow storms outside. Big on India!
Manjarin - stay with Tomas the templar night! Cozy, garlic filled dorm, not so clean and lots of cats / dogs. But friendly and great location and views on the highest part of the camino.
Molinseca - Albergue de Santa Maria 7E, 200m other side of town on RHS. Showers and washing area downstairs. Large dining area but no dinner offered over Easter weekend. Spacious, clean, modern 20 bed dorm.
Day 25 Villafranca del Bierzo - Albergue Fenix, 8E plus 6E for dinner, 3E for breakfast - cramped and not so clean dorm, but friendly, welcoming with good food. Toilets / showers outside - good drying area and right next to church.
Day 26 Ruitelan - Refugio de Peregrinos 15E foor bed, dinner and breakfast. Luis the host very relaxed and great food (Carlos the main host was in Madrid but heard great stories of his cooking!) Lovely relaxed village to spend the afternoon, despite the motorway overhead! Good drying area, 6 bed dorms and separate male / female showers.
Day 27 Tricastela - Albergue del refugio del Orbigo - 8E, functional, clean hostel with separate 20 bed dorms for men / women. Small kitchen (with cutlery, pans) and dining area with plasma TV to watch the football! Relaxed departure times.
Day 28 km99.5 - Casa Moroade(?) - casa rural with 10E beds in 6 bed dorm. Gorgeous setting and great food / bar, with fantastic sitting area with fireplace. Best place on the camino.
Day 29 Palas de Rei - Municipal Albergue - 5E, non-descript building but well set up 4 berth quarters in 12 berth room (2 bunk beds). Spacious, some cooking facilities. Relaxed departure times.
Day 30 Santa Irene - Municipal Albergue - 5E, cold showers and 8 berth rooms with lockers. Kitchen and dining area, but no food available and only restaurant 1km back up the hill! A sign indicating this would have been helpful!
Day 31 Santiago - Hotel Avenida - shared 3 bed room with some German pilgrims (I paid for the beers!), Very helpful, informative, clean and close to old town.
Day 32 Santiago - Albergue Seminario Menor - 15E for single (monk cell) room. Large spooky place with large kitchen, washing area downstairs (but surprisingly not open in the morning). A 10 minute walk to the cathedral but single room great value, compared to 10E paid for single bed dorm room in 60 berth quarters.
Day 1 Bayonne - Hotel Etap 38E, clean comfortable, bath, TV, buffet breakfast for 5E - location on main road & 20 mins walk for railway station
Day 2 Valcarlos - Casa Rural 25E - only option, but friendly (no English spoken), large clean bathroom, single bed comfortable in small cozy room - lovely fireplace
Day 3 Zubiri - albergue (private) 10E - just after bridge, need to remember code to access it. 8 bed dorm, clean, comfortable, warm, free internet, coffee machine, games
Day 4 Pamplona - albergue (paderborn German) 5E - very friendly sisters, good breakfast for 2E, 12 bed dorms, light weight blankets and light from outside, snorers
Day 5 Cirauqui - albergue (private) 10E opposite church, mass " 6.30, good dinner downstairs, 8 bed dorms (only 2 filled). Can give breakfast a miss, no washing facilities
Day 6 Los Arcos - albergue (municip) 8E Casa de Austria, great living area, balcony and kitchen, 12bed dorm with snorers. Soft mattresses and far too warm
Day 7 Logrono - albergue (private) 10E 300m off trail, 40 bed dorm with only 2 toilets & showers, fine for only 4 people though! Hand washing allowed and could dry outside. NO dining area to speak of. OK for a night, friendly and clean
Day 8 Ventaso - albergue (private) 8.5E - off sendero, but friendly and great drying area on patio. Lovely music in evening and morning. Clean, comfortable, no fridge
Day 9 Azofra - albergue (munincipal) 6E - great 2 bed rooms with large communal area. Friendly and clean, good value with good kitchen, cleaning area. Internet available
Day 10 Granon - albergue (church) donation, very friendly place (Alberto) and great fireplace and dining area, for communal dinner and breakfast. Sleep on mattresses on mezzanine floor above dining area. Good blankets. Mass at 6.30 and prayers at 10, a holy spot.
Day 11 Villafranca de Oco - albergue (munincipal) 6E - clean and friendly with 18 bed dorm (noisy with snorers), Limited kitchen facilities, internet available.
Days 12 & 13 Burgos - Amigos de C dS albergue (munincipal) 3E - large hostal behind cathedral. 3 floors with large dorms, split into 2 x 2 bunk beds with own light and power outlet. Internet available and laundry facilities. Limited cooking available (microwave). Heaps of information on Camino and meet everyone there!
Day 14 Rabe de las Calzadas - Albergue Liberanos Domine - 10E, Clementina lovely lady, breakfast and dinner available. 4 rooms, with 6 bunks each. Opened since Aug 09, toilet / shower upstairs & downstairs. Very friendly and helpful. Nice cozy dining area.
Day 15 Hontanas - Antiguo hospital de peregrinos - 6E, large 18 bed dorm, 2 single beds near windows, no kitchen or communal area that I could see, but friendly, clean, warm! Good restaurant opposite for meals
Day 16 Fromista - Albergue Estrella del Camino - 7E, 2 attached dorms, 12 beds in each, with unisex toilet / shower down one end. 3E for breakfast but book night before. Large dining area, and warm, cozy communal area with fireplace. Lawn outside and cleaning area. Clean, modern, 200m to right of tourist office past church.
Day 17 Calzadilla de la Cueza - didn't pay any money since hospitalero absent (later found he'd been arrested by the police for drugs!) Work still continuing on upstairs room and kitchen. Unisex toilet / shower at one end of 24 bed dorm. OK
Day 18 Calzadilla de los Hermanillos - municipal albergue, donativo, but not very clean or maintained. Cold shower. Good set up with kitchen, communal dining area (with pot belly stove) and 4 bed berths - 16 total I think. Only person there, but needs better maintenance and service. Only pilgrim there.
Day 19 Arcahueja - Albergue Hostal La Torre - 18E for bed in 10 bed dorm, dinner and breakfast - friendly owner (Lucio?) and very clean, modern. Separate toilets / shower for men / women. Good food and warm, only 8km before Leon. Only pilgrim there.
Day 20 Leon - Benedictine Albergue - donativo, worst albergue on camino to mind. Inconvenient opening hours, and far too cramped 60 bed dorm, with no pillow, blanket or bed sheet. A vector for disease, germs. Strict 8a.m. departure date meant leaving in the cold and dark.
Day 21 Rabanal del Camino - Albergue El Tison 5E, first albergue on left hand side in village. Good bar meals next door, with small kitchen, but cosy dining area upstairs. Cramped 12 bed dorm, but relatively warm. OK
Day 22 Hospital de Orbigo - private albergue on RHS - 6E, very welcoming, lovely courtyard, with cozy communal kitchen / dining area. Cramped 10 berth rooms, but music to wake up to, and relaxed departure times.
Day 23 Astorga - Albergue de Pergrinos San Javier 8E, excellent, spacious hostel run by Hotel Gaudi group - more a hotel than a hostel. Lovely hospitaledaria, good hand washing and drying area on sunny patio. 60 bed dorm upstairs, toilets / showers on 2nd floor, kitchen, communal area on ground floor. Relaxed opening hours over Easter, very close to cathedral, difficult to see entrance due to building works. Highly recommended
Day 24 Foncebadon - Monte Irago, very welcoming and happy to shelter frozen pilgrims from the snow storms outside. Big on India!
Manjarin - stay with Tomas the templar night! Cozy, garlic filled dorm, not so clean and lots of cats / dogs. But friendly and great location and views on the highest part of the camino.
Molinseca - Albergue de Santa Maria 7E, 200m other side of town on RHS. Showers and washing area downstairs. Large dining area but no dinner offered over Easter weekend. Spacious, clean, modern 20 bed dorm.
Day 25 Villafranca del Bierzo - Albergue Fenix, 8E plus 6E for dinner, 3E for breakfast - cramped and not so clean dorm, but friendly, welcoming with good food. Toilets / showers outside - good drying area and right next to church.
Day 26 Ruitelan - Refugio de Peregrinos 15E foor bed, dinner and breakfast. Luis the host very relaxed and great food (Carlos the main host was in Madrid but heard great stories of his cooking!) Lovely relaxed village to spend the afternoon, despite the motorway overhead! Good drying area, 6 bed dorms and separate male / female showers.
Day 27 Tricastela - Albergue del refugio del Orbigo - 8E, functional, clean hostel with separate 20 bed dorms for men / women. Small kitchen (with cutlery, pans) and dining area with plasma TV to watch the football! Relaxed departure times.
Day 28 km99.5 - Casa Moroade(?) - casa rural with 10E beds in 6 bed dorm. Gorgeous setting and great food / bar, with fantastic sitting area with fireplace. Best place on the camino.
Day 29 Palas de Rei - Municipal Albergue - 5E, non-descript building but well set up 4 berth quarters in 12 berth room (2 bunk beds). Spacious, some cooking facilities. Relaxed departure times.
Day 30 Santa Irene - Municipal Albergue - 5E, cold showers and 8 berth rooms with lockers. Kitchen and dining area, but no food available and only restaurant 1km back up the hill! A sign indicating this would have been helpful!
Day 31 Santiago - Hotel Avenida - shared 3 bed room with some German pilgrims (I paid for the beers!), Very helpful, informative, clean and close to old town.
Day 32 Santiago - Albergue Seminario Menor - 15E for single (monk cell) room. Large spooky place with large kitchen, washing area downstairs (but surprisingly not open in the morning). A 10 minute walk to the cathedral but single room great value, compared to 10E paid for single bed dorm room in 60 berth quarters.
