One Albergue that you’d recommend

[Zordmot]

Hello everyone,

Has this happened to you:

You’re walking a complete day, you don’t have a reservation which is ok, you arrive in the town and are faced with an array of albergues, you’re grateful there are options-sometimes you’re lucky to just get a bed but not tonight, so you pick one, spend the night, and overall you’d say it was an average experience. I think most people have been there, done that.

The next day you find yourself in conversation as you walk. The other person says “Last night I had the BEST albergue experience ever” and goes into detail about it.

As I prepare for my third Camino I will definitely use the “Favorite Albergues” pdf available for download here as I did for my 2nd Camino. It made a huge difference.

But I wonder if YOU have had one of those “best albergue experiences” that you’d share. Could you share the albergue and why it was so great?

Looking forward to your response as I make my plans! Thanks and buen caminos.

 

[steve 217]

Trinidad de arre just before pamplona if for no other reason then for the lovely Hospitalero lovely man .
My current favourite

 

[amancio]

Bercianos del Real Camino, A Reboleira in Fonfría... that is in the Francés only

 

[Martin 888]

Casa Susi in Trabadelo......between Villafrance del Biezo and Las Herrerias.....superb ! Wonderful couple, 12 beds (not bunks), veggie family style meal, on banks of river.....idyllic!!

 

[Shinobi42]

For me on the Camino de la Costa this is the Albergue La Cabaña del Abuelo Peuto in Güemes of Ernesto

 

[Ungawawa]

An obvious choice here for you: Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo. Amazing vegan food and hippy farm vibe, with free yoga! (Not to be confused with one Casa Verde...)

 

[Zordmot]

An obvious choice here for you: Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo. Amazing vegan food and hippy farm vibe, with free yoga! (Not to be confused with one Casa Verde...)

Thanks! I loved that place!!!!!!

 

[SabsP]

On the Francès :
Albergue Villares de Orbigo.
Changing owers at the moment but both ladies are true hospitaleras!

Albergue Villares de Órbigo | Albergue de Peregrinos en Villares de Órbigo | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue Villares de Órbigo, en Villares de Órbigo: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

Fixed price for the bed. Donativo for the superb food.

On the Portuguès :

Acogida en Pedra Furada | Albergue de Peregrinos en Pedra Furada | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Acogida en Pedra Furada, en Pedra Furada: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

Acogida at Pedra Furada with wonderful owner Antonio Martins who also owns the restaurant/ bar next door.

On the Camino Vasco Interior.

Albergue de peregrinos de Beasain | Albergue de Peregrinos en Beasain | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos de Beasain, en Beasain: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

The albergue in Beasain.
Every two weeks new volunteers.

All three are an example of true hospitality and generosity.

 

[Tandem Graham]

Of course, it all depends on what ticks your boxes, and who your roommates are, but the no-electric albergue in the ruins of San Anton, just before Castrojeriz creates memorable experiences. It's a beautiful spot and, on my visit, very welcoming hospitaleras. Warning: cold showers only!
I know you said "just one favourite", but I'd like to make mention of La Perla Negra, not long before Villamajor monjardin. Proper beds (no bunks), well partitioned dorm into spaces of three or four beds, warmest of ambience and copious veggie food. Ok, there's only one shower and there are plenty stairs, but I loved it there.

 

[Roland49]

Only CF:
Grañon: San Juan Bautista
Most memorable moments, lovely hosts, Donativo, communal meal

There are so many great albergues, so helpful hospitaleros, almost impossible to remember all the lovely experiences I had on my Camino.

 

[Kathy F.]

Caution.
On my first camino, I stayed at a little, local municipal. Simple, clean, plastic covered mats on wooden bunk beds, Shared a relatively crude bathroom, etc. Very friendly local hospitaleros. Hey, it provided everything I needed.
The next Camino, same town, the same municipal was available, but I had read lots of nice reviews of this other albergue in town. Bigger, more services, a bit crowded since LOTS of people had also read the reviews and were using it. I bought my bed, laid my stuff down, tried to read in the common room but there were too many people walking around.
I wandered over to the municipal I had stayed in two year earlier. It was relatively empty, I said hello to the hospitalero and showed them photos I had from my previous stay there, we had a wonderful talk.
I returned to the albergue where my stuff was. I looked around. The bunk was no more comfortable, the room was noisy (a group of energetic young people were having a hilarious time!), smell of cigarette smoke in the couch.
I gathered my stuff, let them keep my 6 euro (I waited for the hospitalero to show up where I had checked in but eventually gave up), walked up to the other albergue, paid another 6 euro, and had a peaceful, less crowded, fewer snorers, more me-time-in-the-bathroom, appreciated, time that night.
My point is to be aware that recommendations can be a double-edged sword.

 

[Physicsjon]

La Faba, without a doubt.

 

[Lizremedy]

I have 3:
1.Albergue A Reboleira in Fonfria. Huge communal meal cooked by our hostess, who also danced for us. Absolutely amazing place.
2. Albergue Orion in Castrojeriz. Beautiful peaceful courtyard, communal Korean dinner, friendly staff and cat
3. Casa Rural Las Aguedas in Murias de Rechivaldo. Tranquil spanish courtyard, with grapevines growing on trellises overhead, amazing vegetarian communal dinner, stunning view over fields towards the mountains. So friendly and relaxing.

 

[KYPolloFrito]

Hello everyone,

Has this happened to you:

You’re walking a complete day, you don’t have a reservation which is ok, you arrive in the town and are faced with an array of albergues, you’re grateful there are options-sometimes you’re lucky to just get a bed but not tonight, so you pick one, spend the night, and overall you’d say it was an average experience. I think most people have been there, done that.

The next day you find yourself in conversation as you walk. The other person says “Last night I had the BEST albergue experience ever” and goes into detail about it.

As I prepare for my third Camino I will definitely use the “Favorite Albergues” pdf available for download here as I did for my 2nd Camino. It made a huge difference.

But I wonder if YOU have had one of those “best albergue experiences” that you’d share. Could you share the albergue and why it was so great?

Looking forward to your response as I make my plans! Thanks and buen caminos.

Zord, I have searched and have yet to discover the referenced .pdf "Favorite Albergues" Can you assist please? Thanks

 

[spursfan]

Zord, I have searched and have yet to discover the referenced .pdf "Favorite Albergues" Can you assist please? Thanks

Look under the resources heading at the very top of this page

 

[KYPolloFrito]

Look under the resources heading at the very top of this page

Well dummy me - Perfect - thank you.

 

[MichaelF4]

An obvious choice here for you: Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo. Amazing vegan food and hippy farm vibe, with free yoga! (Not to be confused with one Casa Verde...)

To each their own. I found it creepy and culty feeling. And don't expect to see that lovely vegetarian dinner until at least 8 pm so the guru can sing his songs first and stroke his own ego.

 

[MichaelF4]

Albergue de la Piedra stands out in Villafranca del Bierzo. Very nice owners who are peregrinos themselves. Albergue Ecologico El Beso outside of Triacastela. Lovely owners. Vegetarian food. Albergue Casa Barbedelo outside of Sarria. Clean and modern, and the pool is an absolute treat on a hot day.

And any Camino lover should make the trip to El Molino outside of Hornillos del Camino if you are a fan of The Way.

 

[Jarrad]

There are so many, not sure I can come up with one favorite. And I know that nostalgia and the presence of great companions colors all of my recollections, so my choices may be more subjective than others. I loved Auberge du Pelerin in SJPdP because the helpfulness of the hospitalero was over-the-top and the food was to die for. Views of the ancient city walls and the town were awesome too.

In Puente la Reina, Albergue Jakue stands out in my mind, partly because of the buffet (turkey leg with the best gravy ever), good facilities, overall cleanliness and the small garden area is a great place to relax in the shade.

The shared vibe you get after experiencing the walk to Roncesvalles, the history of the place and the pilgrim Mass in the chapel next door put the Albergue de peregrinos de Orreaga somewhere near the top of my list. It's just such a cool place.

La Casa Magica in Villatuerta was outstanding, both in terms of food and accommodations. I see they are under new management and it looks like they've continued to improve the place. I spoke with a contractor who was working on the building and he thought the stone flooring in the entrance could be of Roman origin. The owner doubted that, thought it probably dated to 1300. Either way, it's certainly old and very beautiful.

 

[Tincatinker]

Recommend? Best Albergue? Oh thats a hard one.

Black Friday 2012, Logrono. The Municipal was completo. I got sent to the parroquial Albergue Santiago. Elisabet had a big smile on her face as she showed me where the mattresses were stacked and where I could lay mine. There were a couple of dozen or so waifs & strays & municipal rejects. We arranged our beds and smiled and took turns at a wet-cloth wash-down in the bathroom. Then we set to frying chicken wings & chopping garlic & stale bread for a cauldron of sopa de ajo; Lentillas hubbled and bubbled. Elisabet "borrowed" a couple of bottles of wine from the seminarians. We dined. Elisabet couldn't find the sello, so she signed our credencials with a and "Ten una buena vida" - "everyone has a Buen Camino, life is mas importante" she said.

By then the Confraternity were gathering in the hall. Purple robed and hooded they would carry their burden and their drums through the streets late into the night. Elisabet told us "no curfew tonight" with a wink. What she meant was you won't get much sleep tonight. We didn't. The celebrations were spectacular, grand and solemn. The supper served to the bearers was simple but washed down with good Rioja. Those mattresses on the floor were as featherbeds when we finally hit them. Later that morning Rosa and Martin served us coffee and bread and jam and eased us on our way.

So, the one Albergue I would recommend? Albergue Parroquial Santiago, c/ Barricocepo 8, Logrono; 6 April 2012. Other perfect moments are available

 

[gerip]

Followed some recommendations in "Favorite Albergues" pdf last spring. Hated every one of them. Just visited Granon to use the toilet, could never stay there. I don't care about the "vibes", if I'm not comfortable, it's a no go. Favorite albergues on the CF? La Finca outside of Fromista. Recommended by another albergue in town during a noisy festival.
Truely, to each her/his own.

 

[taigirl]

An obvious choice here for you: Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo. Amazing vegan food and hippy farm vibe, with free yoga! (Not to be confused with one Casa Verde...)

An obvious choice here for you: Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo. Amazing vegan food and hippy farm vibe, with free yoga! (Not to be confused with one Casa Verde...)

I second Albergue Verde. Also one in Las Aguedas about 5km past Astorga.

 

[Thomas@Albany]

Only CF:
Grañon: San Juan Bautista
Most memorable moments, lovely hosts, Donativo, communal meal

There are so many great albergues, so helpful hospitaleros, almost impossible to remember all the lovely experiences I had on my Camino.

That night in the church attic, with the communal meal, and the late night spiritual service, was indeed the highlight of my Camino. There were many other great albergues, but this one was the one that touched my heart the most.

 

[trecile]

Favorite albergues on the CF? La Finca outside of Fromista.

La Finca is my favorite too. What luxury to stay there in your own tiny "room"!

 

[VNwalking]

Others have said, and I agree:
San Anton
Grañon
La Faba
Casa Magica

Also right up there for me are:
San Nicholas, near Itero de la Vega - run by the Italian co-fraternity.
Gualcelmo in Rabinal
San Nicholas de Flue in Ponferrada

And what @SabineP said:

On the Francès :
Albergue Villares de Orbigo.
Changing owers at the moment but both ladies are true hospitaleras!

Albergue Villares de Órbigo | Albergue de Peregrinos en Villares de Órbigo | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue Villares de Órbigo, en Villares de Órbigo: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

Fixed price for the bed. Donativo for the superb food.
[...]
On the Camino Vasco Interior.

Albergue de peregrinos de Beasain | Albergue de Peregrinos en Beasain | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue de peregrinos de Beasain, en Beasain: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

The albergue in Beasain.
Every two weeks new volunteers.

But favorite for one person can be a disaster for another. So I will be clear: I go for simplicity and heart over cushy-ness. If you are more comfortable in an accomodation that has comfort and mod-cons...a few of these may not be for you.

Last year on the Francés, neither San Anton nor San Nicholas were anything close to full, while the mobs walked on by. Take your pick.

I have to say being in the bunk by the door in San Anton on a full moon night was an all-time camino highlight.

 

[Albertagirl]

My favourite albergue on my last camino (fall 2019) was Albergue Santa Ana in San Martin del Camino, on the historic route out of Leon. I had planned to stay in Albergue Vieira, but had not made a reservation. When I saw that a large school group had just arrived there, I decided to go on to the next albergue and suggested that another peregrina whom I had just met might want to do the same. We were initially told that there was no space in the dormitory, but I suggested that we might share a double room, which is what we did. Reasonable price and quiet. But the best part of our time there was dinner: a table of sociable pilgrims and excellent food. There were two good vegetarian main courses, the same for meat courses, and salad etc. We sat and shared and talked about our pilgrimage in multiple languages. Good food, good company, and quiet semi-private accommodation for a reasonable price. I promised the manager to post a favourable review: this is it.

 

[Zordmot]

There are so many, not sure I can come up with one favorite. And I know that nostalgia and the presence of great companions colors all of my recollections, so my choices may be more subjective than others. I loved Auberge du Pelerin in SJPdP because the helpfulness of the hospitalero was over-the-top and the food was to die for. Views of the ancient city walls and the town were awesome too.

In Puente la Reina, Albergue Jakue stands out in my mind, partly because of the buffet (turkey leg with the best gravy ever), good facilities, overall cleanliness and the small garden area is a great place to relax in the shade.

The shared vibe you get after experiencing the walk to Roncesvalles, the history of the place and the pilgrim Mass in the chapel next door put the Albergue de peregrinos de Orreaga somewhere near the top of my list. It's just such a cool place.

La Casa Magica in Villatuerta was outstanding, both in terms of food and accommodations. I see they are under new management and it looks like they've continued to improve the place. I spoke with a contractor who was working on the building and he thought the stone flooring in the entrance could be of Roman origin. The owner doubted that, thought it probably dated to 1300. Either way, it's certainly old and very beautiful.

Hello everyone,

Has this happened to you:

You’re walking a complete day, you don’t have a reservation which is ok, you arrive in the town and are faced with an array of albergues, you’re grateful there are options-sometimes you’re lucky to just get a bed but not tonight, so you pick one, spend the night, and overall you’d say it was an average experience. I think most people have been there, done that.

The next day you find yourself in conversation as you walk. The other person says “Last night I had the BEST albergue experience ever” and goes into detail about it.

As I prepare for my third Camino I will definitely use the “Favorite Albergues” pdf available for download here as I did for my 2nd Camino. It made a huge difference.

But I wonder if YOU have had one of those “best albergue experiences” that you’d share. Could you share the albergue and why it was so great?

Looking forward to your response as I make my plans! Thanks and buen caminos.

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your favorite albergues! Your recommendations were well-written and very helpful. So far I’ve received 24 of your recommendations and personal stories. I especially enjoyed your stories because that is what the Camino is all about. I recognized some of the places suggested and your words brought back some great memories. I will compile a list when I get back from Guatemala and I’d be happy to pass it along to anyone who is interested. Let me know. Again, muchas gracias and buen caminos!