I'm walking from St. Jean Pied de Port leaving in early May and planning to take my time and enjoy the experience.
Since I have never walked the Camino before, I wasn't aware there were so many different types of Alberques?! Is there somewhere I can learn more about the differences between them?
And, I'm curious which ones are outstanding as in "awesome experience, don't miss staying at this one". Have any of them really stood out in your experience as being a "must stay" option?
Is there any need to book ahead during May and early June? I like the feeling of wandering and going with the flow. But I also want a place to sleep at the end of the day.
Thank you!
It's Albergue BTW but I don't understand the question - what do you mean by different types? Basically there are municipal ones run by a local authority and private ones run commercially.
Guacelmo in Rabanal is good so is Ribadiso just before Arzúa.
Many municipal ones do not allow pre-booking - it's turn up and bag a bed.
Edit - Sorry, should have said hello, rude of me (shamed by
@SYates)
Hi Creativeguy and welcome to the Forum. I understand your question. Personally, I think it is a little more complex than Jeff explains above. Here are some of the types of albergues I've run across:
There are the municipal albergues, run by the local municipality (or, in Galicia, often the regional authority or Xunta). These often have a set price at the lower end of the scale and often provide basic amenities. They often do not take reservations and operate on a "first come, first served" basis.
There are the parochial albergues, run by local religious institutions. These may also have a set price (generally at the low end of the scale) or may be "donativo" by donation (see note below on donativo). They also tend to be at the more basic level in terms of the amenities provided, although they often provide a warm and hospitable welcome which is an important amenity indeed! Many have communal meals. These also generally don't take reservations and operate on a "first come, first served" basis. Many offer some sort of religious service in the evening.
There are association albergues run by various "Friends of the Camino" associations. These are most often donativo. They also tend to be at the more basic level in terms of the amenities provided, although they often provide a warm and hospitable welcome which is an important amenity indeed! Many have communal meals. These also generally don't take reservations and operate on a "first come, first served" basis, often modified by certain preferences (e.g. accepting walkers before bicyclists).
And then there are the private albergues run by individuals. These generally have fixed prices (although I have run across at least one that was donativo). They generally cost a bit more than the other types but provide nicer amenities. They are more likely to have washers and driers, wifi, nicer beds (for example the "pod-style" bunks) although some of these amenities are spreading to the other types of albergues. They often take reservations. Some have communal meals. Some are tun like businesses. Others are run as labours of love by former pilgrims.
There are a number of threads on the "must see albergues". I would use the Search functionality and do a search on "Favorite albergues" and see what comes up.
In terms of the need to book ahead, I would book the first few days and then see how it goes. When I walked in 2016, I booked Roncesvalles and Zubiri and then didn't book again until well in Galicia towards the end of the Camino.
As promised above, a quick note on "donativo" or "by donation" albergues. Some people see these as the cheapest type of albergue. You can pay as little as you want. I don't count myself among that number. That way leads to no more donativos. Others will figure out what they received (bed, meals, etc.) and what they would pay for similar at a non-donativo albergue, perhaps adding a bit to cover for the people who pay less. Personally, my preference is to donate according to what I would like to be provided to pilgrims in the future, since my donation is what is enabling that.
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