Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Different types of accomodations?

jrm

Active Member
Jun 4, 2012
147
281
Hello all,

Is there a thread somewhere that details the different types of accommodations? I'm getting a little confused seeing different things like:

albergue
hostel
xunta
pension
municipal
private
etc......

Anywhere I should be looking? I'm not too terribly concerned about it, but just wondering. I figure there must be a resource here that I am missing.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.

stratophile

Active Member
Jul 11, 2012
410
785
Toronto, Canada
Not sure if there is a thread that specifically defines them, but here's a summary:

Albergue: This is a hostel (shared accommodation). Can be private or church / community-run. Generally very low-cost. Free ones are called 'donativo'. Ones run by the community are 'municipal'. Ones run by the regional government are 'xunta'.

Municipal / xunta albergues generally have a fixed price and basic services, though some are quite nice. Private albergues are commercial hostels that tend to have a bit higher standards (though certainly not always). Most (but not all) municipal / xunta albergues are open year-round. Private albergues are often seasonal.

A pension is a 'bed-and-breakfast' type place where you usually get a private room.

Hope the above helps.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Nov 1, 2008
11,040
23,336
71
Portland, Oregon
www.caminosantiago2.blogspot.com
Time of past OR future Camino
2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line
These are my understanding of the differences.

Parochial - run by the church. Often mats on the floor but one of the best experiences in my opinion. Dinner is often served, family style and it is often donativo. Please leave a fair donation - tomorrow's pilgrims depend on today's donation for dinner.

Municipal - run by the town. Usually very inexpensive. Often crowded. Not always as friendly, in my experience. Bunkbeds. Often has a kitchen for you.

Private - Someone owns it and runs it. Usually a bit more spendy (not much) but almost always clean and friendly. I've seen bunkbeds, twin beds, and matrimonial bed.

Hostal - Often privately or family owned. Cheaper than a hotel. Often have a bar or restaurant attached. Often have a kitchen you can use.

Pension - Again, family or privately owned. Cheaper than a hotel. Often quaint. Almost always clean because the owner probably lives there too. Dinner may or may not be served. Think guest house or boarding house. Usually no available kitchen.

Xunta - Hostals run by the government. Cheaper than other albergues. Usually clean, but can be crowded. Often will have a wonderful kitchen but no dishes or pots/pans.
 
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles

Thornley

Veteran Member
Aug 30, 2008
2,072
1,656
76
Melbourne/Australia
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances x 2 , Norte x 2 , Le Puy x 3 , Portuguese x 2,
Mont St Michel , Primitivo .
Hello all,

Is there a thread somewhere that details the different types of accommodations? I'm getting a little confused seeing different things like:

albergue
hostel
xunta
pension
municipal
private
etc......

Anywhere I should be looking? I'm not too terribly concerned about it, but just wondering. I figure there must be a resource here that I am missing.

If you get the Miam Miam Do Do [ French] guide to the camino it shows you how many chambers in each facility , how many beds in each chamber , the cost per night and facilities provided.
It is very easy to understand.
You can also look up Mundicamino and get a picture of each albergue etc and what facilities they have and provide.

After 4 days on the way [ Pamplona ] you will by then be well aware of each.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-

SYates

Camino Fossil AD 1999, now living in Santiago de C
Oct 15, 2012
7,853
19,377
Santiago de Compostela
egeria.house
Time of past OR future Camino
First: Camino Francés 1999
...
Last: Santiago - Muxia 2019

Now: http://egeria.house/
Just to add to the confusion :rolleyes::

albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos - pilgrims accommodation in a dorm style hostel
hostal - think cheap pension, normally private rooms
xunta - the Galician government that also supports / maintains a lot of albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos, fixed price Galicia-wide, currently 6 Euro
pension - same as in English
municipal - albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos run by the local town or city
private/ privado - albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos in private ownership
donativo - albergue/refugio/hospital de peregrinos run on a voluntary (donation) based model - please give generously to keep this going! The only ones 'profiting' from a donativo are the pilgrims coming after you, nobody else!

Buen Camino y Albergue, SY
 
P

PANO

Guest
Hello all,

Is there a thread somewhere that details the different types of accommodations? I'm getting a little confused seeing different things like:

albergue
hostel
xunta
pension
municipal
private
etc......

Anywhere I should be looking? I'm not too terribly concerned about it, but just wondering. I figure there must be a resource here that I am missing.
The good news: They all have a bed for you (unless they're full/closed):D
And this at times will be more important for the weary peregrino than the name written on the house.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

egbert

Roland of Gilead
Jul 15, 2007
36
1
73
ireland
Time of past OR future Camino
French,Portuguese
I'm not sure where I found it, but I have an excel spreadsheet of many/most/all(?) accommodations on the camino frances. I can't figure out how to attach it to a post, so if you want me to email it to you, just shoot me a private message with your email address and I'll send it over.
Hello David,
Can you let me have a copy of the spreadsheet please?
Kind regards from Ireland.
Terence.

mail@fenderjazz1961.plus.com
 
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.

dougfitz

Veteran Member
Mar 12, 2011
7,556
20,412
Time of past OR future Camino
Past: a few
Last: Sanabres
Next: St Olav's Way
And not to forget the confraternity albergues. Similar to parochial, but run by a national or regional pilgrims association such as the UK based Confraternity of Saint James. These might have stricter rules about whom they allow to stay.

While not an albergue, the other class of private accommodation you will see is casa rural (roughly - farm house).
 
  • Like
Reactions: stratophile
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

JusWalkin

New Member
Oct 31, 2014
18
7
Australia
Time of past OR future Camino
Francés - Sept 2015
Francés - Sept 2016
VDLP - April 2019
I'm not sure where I found it, but I have an excel spreadsheet of many/most/all(?) accommodations on the camino frances. I can't figure out how to attach it to a post, so if you want me to email it to you, just shoot me a private message with your email address and I'll send it over.
Hello David. Would you be able to email your spreadsheet to me please. I am looking for single accommodation.
My email address is allycarlsen@westnet.com.au

Thank you in advance
Ally
 

Most read last week in this forum

Hello. I am considering walking the Camino for the first time this fall, probably beginning the third week of September in St. Jean. But I keep reading about how crowded the Camino is, including...
One death attributed to a heart attack last week. Two pelegrinos gored, one seriously. One broken leg and many ending in Pamplona due to knee and leg and ankle injuries. Is it possible to confirm...
Is there a list of albergues that also have private rooms on the Camino Frances? Gracias.
Hi everyone -- After walking the Frances from SJpdP last October, I'm planning to revisit the bit between Logrono and Burgos this July, following different stages. It's the section where I had...
I've just read this article from La Voz de Galicia. A Camino guide and frequent pilgrim with over 30 years of Camino experience calling for some greater regulation of numbers - at least on the...
And another attempt looms, to buy a decent Poncho after trying and failing in the previous two likely towns. Anyone know where an Altos or similar might be bought in Leon, please? 😁

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Similar threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides