Finding Albergue's upon arrival in a town

[Bella.H.24]

Hello, one thing that I can't seem to find the answer for, is, upon arrival in the town/village that I am to spend the night, how easy is it to find the Albergue's?
What do they look like? Are there easy sign posts to them? etc etc.

Any tips are much appreciated!
Thanks in advance,

Bella

 

[MCVet]

There's usually signs, and they're usually found somewhere along the path.

Brierly's book does a real good job of listing the majority of them.

 

[fortview]

Hi Bella,
The albergues are well signposted. Many of the are on the actual camino as it goes through a town. Otherwise there are signs, arrows,and posters.
Some look like houses and some like hostels. You won't have a problem at all!
Buen camino

 

[ffp13]

When entering most small towns there will generally be a board with town map which will show the location of Albergues

 

[KiwiNomad06]

If you are looking a bit lost, often there will be a local around who will guess you want the albergue, and they'll point you in the right direction.
Margaret

 

[na2than]

municiple albergues are signposted...private ones advertise because it is in there intrest to.The only exception i founf was Azrul where the few albergues seem to be run as overflows to the hotels which they try to fill first.Most the restuarants and hotels are run by just a couple of families...monopoly?
Having said that the food was great....no need to eat the pilgrim menu here...it is platos cobinardos mecca!

(i may have got the town name wrong....but it was my final days sleep before i got to Santiago the next day....town also has a swimming pool)

 

[Stacy08]

Yeah, as mentioned I wouldn't worry about it too much. Any place that isn't right along the Camino will have signs of some sort. However, sometimes you will find the guidebook handy (I used the Brierley guide), especially in the larger cities since your choice of albergue can change your day (and/or the next) by 2-3 kilometres easily. If you are interested in evening out your days as much as possible like we were this may be one of your criteria.

 

[jeff001]

If you have a good guidebook (e.g. Brierley) it will have a map for any places big enough for that to be a problem. In the small places there are clearly visible signs.

 

[fraluchi]

how easy is it to find the Albergue's?
What do they look like? Are there easy sign posts to them?

Before you get that far, check http://www.caminodesantiago.consumer.es ... /albergues , one of the many on-line sites listing albergues. Once in a town, ask any hospitalero to help you find your preference.

Sent from my iPod

 

[tyrrek]

As said above, it's not a problem. In some places you'll even be greeted by someone outside the town giving out leaflets advertising their albergue and with a simple map.

In places where the albergue is just off route there might be a yellow arrow on the road/wall with 'Albergue' or just 'Alb' beside it to show that it's not the actual route but may be of interest to pilgrims. The same applies for 'Bar'!

Buen Camino!

 

[ffp13]

Just follow the signs

 

[tyrrek]

Excellent example! Buen Camino!

 

[Bouwmeester]

Ah, thanks for this topic. Was just wondering about this myself.

Buen Camino!

 

[billbennettoz]

...especially in the larger cities since your choice of albergue can change your day (and/or the next) by 2-3 kilometres easily.

Hi Stacy08, I'm curious to know what you meant by this...

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Stacy08, I'm curious to know what you meant by this...

I think it's that where there is a choice of albergues in or around a city it's useful to have a guide book to show where they all are. So if you're planning to walk 25kms each day but stop at the first albergue you find on the way into your destination you may only have walked 23kms. That means you have to walk 27kms the next day to get back on schedule, so the stages are less even. The distances given in the Brierley guide tend to relate to the municipal or central albergue. Buen Camino!

 

[billbennettoz]

Hi Stacy08, I'm curious to know what you meant by this...

I think it's that where there is a choice of albergues in or around a city it's useful to have a guide book to show where they all are. So if you're planning to walk 25kms each day but stop at the first albergue you find on the way into your destination you may only have walked 23kms. That means you have to walk 27kms the next day to get back on schedule, so the stages are less even. The distances given in the Brierley guide tend to relate to the municipal or central albergue. Buen Camino!

Ah, I get it now - thank you!