Are there albergues with private rooms?

[Cathy & Hans]

Hi everyone...a couple of newbies here that will be doing our first Camino starting September 13, 2016 (well, we drove a little of it a few years ago while on vacation in Spain...and ate churros in Santo Domingo de la Calzada...but I don't think that counts ).
We are wondering if there is a list somewhere of albergues that have separate rooms for couples, or any individuals that would just like a little more privacy and quiet for sleeping? I have perused the downloadable list of albergues and the facilities they offer, but I can't tell from that if there are rooms other than the dormitory style. We also have the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook which appears to give a very comprehensive list of albergues and other accommodations, but not a lot of details about what is in the albergues.

Please forgive me if this question has already been answered and then kindly point me in the direction of the answer!

Thanks so much, in advance.

 

[C clearly]

Welcome to the forum!

Many of the private albergues do have private/double rooms, some with and some without their own bathrooms. The distinction between hostal and albergue is quite grey at times. You can look on booking.com or hotels.com at specific places and see what room/bed options they offer. Some of the guide books give specifics or clues - you can usually assume that if the price range is from Euros 10 to 35, for example, they have both dormitory beds and private rooms available.

 

[Tincatinker]

http://www.gronze.com/camino-frances is a reliable source for information as to the various accommodations available including those Albergues that also offer private rooms. Albergues, on the whole, offer dormitory sleeping and segregated communal sanitary facilities. There are exceptions to all these 'rules'.

 

[jsalt]

Hi, and welcome! Private rooms in albergues are not always good value for money.

Sometimes the pensión next door is offering a private room for a cheaper price, and it has an ensuite bathroom (many private rooms in albergues still have to share the communal bathrooms), and they are not kicking you out at 8am with all the other pilgrims (just when you feel like sleeping in one morning), and it has a TV in the room (which has no advantage whatsoever ).

Jill

 

[NualaOC]

Hi Cathy and Hans, there are some other threads about this subject - including this one: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/private-accommodation-and-rooms.35458/

Buen Camino to you both.

 

[Angel-hart]

I used an app that did show the places they listed (most of the allergies on the Camino Frnaces) and separate weather they had rooms, ensuite or shared bathrooms, price, and many were reservable on line with out a card to hold them, or had the phone number were you can talk with them directly(big plus). Also on the app it showed the location in relation to the Camino trail, as some one stated a place close by or just off the trail can be an advantage in price, quality, and services?

 

[C clearly]

Private rooms in albergues are not always good value for money.

I'd agree with this. However, they sometimes provide a better way to mingle with other pilgrims, if you are seeking that. Once you get out on the camino, you'll find that there are lots of different situations, and the variety is part of the fun.

 

[trecile]

I used an app that did show the places they listed (most of the allergies on the Camino Frnaces) and separate weather they had rooms, ensuite or shared bathrooms, price, and many were reservable on line with out a card to hold them, or had the phone number were you can talk with them directly(big plus). Also on the app it showed the location in relation to the Camino trail, as some one stated a place close by or just off the trail can be an advantage in price, quality, and services?

Which app did you use?

 

[Felipe]

There is a trick. You can (sometimes) get the price of a regular albergue bed and a separate room. Many albergues have a room with a double bed that go unnocupied, because most pilgrims are walking alone. So, if you call to reserve and say you are a couple (a "matrimonio") you may have a good chance of a separated room. We accidentally discovered this, and worked three times (in Villar de Mazarife, Villafranca del Bierzo and Arzua) in nine nights. Not bad.

 

[Cathy & Hans]

Hi Cathy and Hans, there are some other threads about this subject - including this one: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/private-accommodation-and-rooms.35458/

Buen Camino to you both.

Thank you for digging that out - this looks really helpful!

 

[Cathy & Hans]

Which app did you use?

That sounds like a very helpful app...could you share which one it is?

 

[Cathy & Hans]

Thanks so much, everyone! I am overwhelmed by the amount of collective knowledge in this group, and the generosity of time that people give to sharing it.

Which just led me to a thought...maybe you have some recommendations of the best churros along the route? Once I have our lodging sorted out, the next step will be to focus on the other important stuff!

 

[rlrusa]

Yes, please, which app did you use?

 

[Felipe]

Which just led me to a thought...maybe you have some recommendations of the best churros along the route? Once I have our lodging sorted out, the next step will be to focus on the other important stuff!

Well, finally, finally, somebody who asks a really important question!
Try Chocolateria Valor in Pamplona; see ubication here
Please, don't go for the stale products offered in bus terminals.
Churros come with chocolate, usually. And you will discover the literal meaning of the saying "las cuentas claras y el chocolate espeso". Roughly translated, it is "bills should be crystal clear, and the chocolate thick". And the Spanish version is really thick.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Six times in two summer months on the CF we got beds (usually bunks) in a small room to ourselves. Sometimes there were extra bunks in the room but they were empty. A few times in those six we actually got a double bed or two twins for no more cost than two bunks in a roomful of bunks would cost. A couple of additional times we shared a four bunk room with an couple. This all was without any reservations. We usually looked for albergues with a high room to bed count.

 

[Cathy & Hans]

Well, finally, finally, somebody who asks a real important question!
Try Chocolateria Valor in Pamplona; see ubication here
Please, don't go for the stale products offered in bus terminals.
Churros come with chocolate, usually. And you will discover the literal meaning of the saying "las cuentas claras y el chocolate espeso". Roughly translated, it is "bills should be crystal clear, and the chocolate thick". And the Spanish version is really thick.

Thanks for the tip, Felipe. I can't wait to give these a try! I had wonderful, fresh ones at a little spot in Barcelona on the last trip...and then all the others paled in comparison.

 

[nreyn12]

This is my favorite website for a comprehensive listing of albergues. It shows which ones have private rooms - doubles, triples, quads, and those with 'cama matrimonio' (double bed). http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergues/#camino-frances

They also have an app, easy.

 

[lbpierce]

My favorite lodging choice is a private room WITH a private bath in an albergue. to me it offers the best of both worlds -- quiet and privacy while sleeping and bathing, but plenty of spontaneous serendipity in meeting other pilgrims. I have stayed in many albergues that offer this. I found two great sources to find such accommodation: (1) the Eroski Consumer site that Nancy mentioned (http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergues/#camino-frances) and the Miam Miam Dodo guide. The symbols in this guide indicate where you can find private rooms, some in albergues, some in casa rurales, hotels, hostals, etc. I actually think this is the best, for my money.

Speaking of the Miam Miam Dodo guide, I tried to find it in all kinds of bookstores and pilgrim related stores in major cities in Spain, like Barcelona, Madrid, Cordoba, etc. and couldn't so I ordered it from Amazon.es, using my account I have in the US, and they shipped it to a destination in Spain.

 

[long trails]

In some.private albergues the cost of a private room wasn't always that much more than a dorm with lots of bag rustlers. In one place I paid €8 more and got a double ensuite room! It's worth asking.

 

[jdbp2016]

Hi everyone...a couple of newbies here that will be doing our first Camino starting September 13, 2016 (well, we drove a little of it a few years ago while on vacation in Spain...and ate churros in Santo Domingo de la Calzada...but I don't think that counts ).
We are wondering if there is a list somewhere of albergues that have separate rooms for couples, or any individuals that would just like a little more privacy and quiet for sleeping? I have perused the downloadable list of albergues and the facilities they offer, but I can't tell from that if there are rooms other than the dormitory style. We also have the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook which appears to give a very comprehensive list of albergues and other accommodations, but not a lot of details about what is in the albergues.

Please forgive me if this question has already been answered and then kindly point me in the direction of the answer!

Thanks so much, in advance.

 

[jdbp2016]

Cathy and Hans, glad you asked the private room question, lots of good info for us newbies.... Liked the comment re: better value in a hostel vs albergue but then lack the possible friendships.... Time will tell.
We are leaving sjpdp sept. 15th, two days behind you, maybe we catch up to you at some point and go churro hunting together!

 

[andycohn]

Hi everyone...a couple of newbies here that will be doing our first Camino starting September 13, 2016 (well, we drove a little of it a few years ago while on vacation in Spain...and ate churros in Santo Domingo de la Calzada...but I don't think that counts ).
We are wondering if there is a list somewhere of albergues that have separate rooms for couples, or any individuals that would just like a little more privacy and quiet for sleeping? I have perused the downloadable list of albergues and the facilities they offer, but I can't tell from that if there are rooms other than the dormitory style. We also have the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook which appears to give a very comprehensive list of albergues and other accommodations, but not a lot of details about what is in the albergues.

Please forgive me if this question has already been answered and then kindly point me in the direction of the answer!

Thanks so much, in advance.

Brierley's guidebook to the Camino Frances notes all the albergues that have private rooms.

 

[Kylz72]

I used an app that did show the places they listed (most of the allergies on the Camino Frnaces) and separate weather they had rooms, ensuite or shared bathrooms, price, and many were reservable on line with out a card to hold them, or had the phone number were you can talk with them directly(big plus). Also on the app it showed the location in relation to the Camino trail, as some one stated a place close by or just off the trail can be an advantage in price, quality, and services?

Hi can you tell me what the app was ?

 

[long trails]

Yes the name of the app would be useful.

 

[Thornley]

Hi everyone...a couple of newbies here that will be doing our first Camino starting September 13, 2016 (well, we drove a little of it a few years ago while on vacation in Spain...and ate churros in Santo Domingo de la Calzada...but I don't think that counts ).
We are wondering if there is a list somewhere of albergues that have separate rooms for couples, or any individuals that would just like a little more privacy and quiet for sleeping? I have perused the downloadable list of albergues and the facilities they offer, but I can't tell from that if there are rooms other than the dormitory style. We also have the Miam Miam Dodo guidebook which appears to give a very comprehensive list of albergues and other accommodations, but not a lot of details about what is in the albergues.

Please forgive me if this question has already been answered and then kindly point me in the direction of the answer!

Thanks so much, in advance.

Just do a very simple thing;
Go and buy;
*****Miam Miam Do Do
It lists every available room in every place of accommodation in every village on the camino , villages 500m from the camino , 25o m from camino and ones that Brierley has never heard of.

 

[nreyn12]

I just wanted to add that you don't really miss out on the pilgrim community by staying in places with just private rooms. On the Camino, those are full of pilgrims, too! And many of the 'hostales' (small hotels) have a common room, terrace, or dining room where pilgrims can gather. And then there's the bar around the corner where everyone goes...

~ Nancy