Favourite Francés albergue - quick vote!

[Ungawawa]

So how about a little populist fun, not to be taken too seriously... a straw poll of everyone's one single favourite Camino Frances albergue.

I've put a few obvious options in to get us started. Hopefully it's possible to add other options. If not, then comment

Edit: seems you can't add you own options. That's a shame
Make a suggestion in the comments and add a LIKE to vote for the suggestion.

 

[Ungawawa]

Hmm... is Casa Verde actually an albergue or just a watering hole? I thought of it cause it was on that BBC show ^^. Now I'm thinking ... wait, it wasn't actually an albergue

 

[domigee]

I can’t vote, I am no fun, I only ask for a roof over my head and no bed bugs

 

[NorthernLight]

My favourite albergue is one that has a bed for me when I need one.

The rest is just gravy.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

Ranking, based on 17,355 instances of feedback to the Gronze recommendation system during 2018:

Los albergues de peregrinos mejor valorados en 2018

En Gronze disponemos de un sistema de recomendación de albergues para peregrinos, con tres posibles respuestas: Sí lo recomendaría, No lo recomendaría o NS/NC.

www.gronze.com

Camino Francés:
1.- Albergue de la Cofradía del Santo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada
2.- Albergue eclesial Espíritu Santo, Carrión de los Condes
3.- Albergue Seminario Menor, Santiago de Compostela
4.- Albergue Alea, Ponferrada
5.- Albergue de la fundación ANFAS, Estella
6.- Albergue Alfonso II El Casto, Melide
7.- Albergue parroquial Santa María, Carrión de los Condes
8.- Albergue Leo, Villafranca del Bierzo
9.- Albergue Gaia, Mansilla de las Mulas
10.- Albergue Edreira, O Pedrouzo (O Pino)
11.- Albergue San Miguel, Hospital de Órbigo
12.- Albergue parroquial Casa Rectoral, Bercianos del Real Camino

I wonder if people here agree. (I see a couple of anomalies in Gronze's VDLP rankings).

 

[Mugatu]

It’s such a toss up between two on the list... since I could only pick one leaves me feeling torn...

 

[trecile]

La Finca in Población de Campos.

Albergue la Finca - El Albergue

www.alberguelafinca.es

But from the list I'd say Casa Mágica or Orisson.

 

[Davey Boyd]

La Finca in Población de Campos.

Albergue la Finca - El Albergue

www.alberguelafinca.es

But from the list I'd say Casa Mágica or Orisson.

Yep, La Finca should be on the list.

I voted St Anton, but it was a tough call, there are some great albergues there! But St Anton just beat Granon for me.

There is one or two I have not stayed in yet. I'll have to go back and try them out!

Davey

 

[RENSHAW]

Too many to make a fair choice. The Parroquial or donativeo Albergues of Viana , Logrono , Granon , San Anton , Tosantos and Bercianos will always rank tops with me. Then what about the great facilities at the Azofra Municipal and Santo Domingo or the Quaint hospitable Acacia y Oretta , the mystic San Bol and Tomas's mountain top refugio. Just too many great albergues to choose from.
edit: Oops , lets not forget Boadilla En el Camino

 

[J Willhaus]

We also had many good nights. Some places that were the least comfortable provided the best memories.

 

[Ungawawa]

Ranking, based on 17,355 instances of feedback to the Gronze recommendation system during 2018:

Los albergues de peregrinos mejor valorados en 2018

En Gronze disponemos de un sistema de recomendación de albergues para peregrinos, con tres posibles respuestas: Sí lo recomendaría, No lo recomendaría o NS/NC.

www.gronze.com

Camino Francés:
1.- Albergue de la Cofradía del Santo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada
2.- Albergue eclesial Espíritu Santo, Carrión de los Condes
3.- Albergue Seminario Menor, Santiago de Compostela
4.- Albergue Alea, Ponferrada
5.- Albergue de la fundación ANFAS, Estella
6.- Albergue Alfonso II El Casto, Melide
7.- Albergue parroquial Santa María, Carrión de los Condes
8.- Albergue Leo, Villafranca del Bierzo
9.- Albergue Gaia, Mansilla de las Mulas
10.- Albergue Edreira, O Pedrouzo (O Pino)
11.- Albergue San Miguel, Hospital de Órbigo
12.- Albergue parroquial Casa Rectoral, Bercianos del Real Camino

I wonder if people here agree. (I see a couple of anomalies in Gronze's VDLP rankings).

I find these slightly curious ratings. Judging from the type of albergues the top five are, it seems these are being ranked on facilities a lot more than "camino magic"!

 

[Ungawawa]

Too many to make a fair choice. The Parroquial or donativeo Albergues of Viana , Logrono , Granon , San Anton , Tosantos and Bercianos will always rank tops with me. Then what about the great facilities at the Azofra Municipal and Santo Domingo or the Quaint hospitable Acacia y Oretta , the mystic San Bol and Tomas's mountain top refugio. Just too many great albergues to choose from.
edit: Oops , lets not forget Boadilla En el Camino

Yes, exactly. Far too many to narrow it down to just these few. It's my first poll and just for fun. I was hoping it would work like the facebook ones, where if your answer isn't on the list, you can add it on for others to vote for.

 

[williamlittig]

Ribadiso da Baixo

 

[WalkingJane]

So how about a little populist fun, not to be taken too seriously... a straw poll of everyone's one single favourite Camino Frances albergue.

I've put a few obvious options in to get us started. Hopefully it's possible to add other options. If not, then comment

Edit: seems you can't add you own options. That's a shame
Make a suggestion in the comments and add a LIKE to vote for the suggestion.

Albergue Casa Nostra in Castrojeriz

 

[WalkingJane]

So how about a little populist fun, not to be taken too seriously... a straw poll of everyone's one single favourite Camino Frances albergue.

I've put a few obvious options in to get us started. Hopefully it's possible to add other options. If not, then comment

Edit: seems you can't add you own options. That's a shame
Make a suggestion in the comments and add a LIKE to vote for the suggestion.

Albergue Casa Nostra in Castrojeriz

 

[RENSHAW]

Jeepers!! Okay , as an absolute push .............you are wicked you know? Tomas and his Refugio on the mountain - no toilets no showers , bean stew , red wine , one hour of generator electricity. Snow . 4 blankets(no Bugs)
, coffee and biscuits for breaky. 2003 right , that is my choice , I picked one.

 

[SSojourn]

So how about a little populist fun, not to be taken too seriously... a straw poll of everyone's one single favourite Camino Frances albergue.

I've put a few obvious options in to get us started. Hopefully it's possible to add other options. If not, then comment

Edit: seems you can't add you own options. That's a shame
Make a suggestion in the comments and add a LIKE to vote for the suggestion.

Also # 2 Albergue in Villava, they have taken care of me and my torn tendons Left ankle for 4 days running. Would be my #1 but the sisters prayed for me to find my way, then I fell down their mountain, I will not ask why!

 

[RENSHAW]

Years ago the Hospitalero in Tosantos took me to the clinic in Belarado , I had a chest infection - I had been coughing since Pamplona also at Estella during the same time before , The Hospitaleroes allowed me to stay an extra night and fed me a paella for lunch - we remember these things

 

[VNwalking]

It’s such a toss up between two on the list... since I could only pick one leaves me feeling torn...

This is most of us, from the sound of it.
So pleaaaasssse, @H Richards...can you change the poll so we can vote for two?
For me it's a toss-up: Zabaldika and Granon. I've never gotten to stay at San Anton or San Nicholas or Tosantos, but they sound really special, too.
Much of the comparison is between dissimilar albergues, though...old-style and special donativos are in there, as are commercial private places. It's like comparing bread to carrots. Both are good, but really different.

Edit...and...what bubbles up after posting that: what about the Co-fraternity albergue in Rabinal, the one also in La Faba, and San Nicholas in Ponferrada?

 

[Ungawawa]

This is most of us, from the sound of it.
So pleaaaasssse, @H Richards...can you change the poll so we can vote for two?
For me it's a toss-up: Zabaldika and Granon. I've never gotten to stay at San Anton or San Nicholas or Tosantos, but they sound really special, too.
Much of the comparison is between dissimilar albergues, though...old-style and special donativos are in there, as are commercial private places. It's like comparing bread to carrots. Both are good, but really different.

Sure, done. God only knows what it will do the fairness of the stats though ;-)

 

[VNwalking]

Yay. Everybody, quick: go change your vote to add your # 2 favorite!

Thanks, @H Richards...good clean fun and statistics always lie anyway. (They taught me that in grad school....)

 

[nidarosa]

En El Camino in Boadilla please! Will be staying in the Leo in Villafranca soon and might add another vote then...

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I find these slightly curious ratings. Judging from the type of albergues the top five are, it seems these are being ranked on facilities a lot more than "camino magic"!

The Gronze site only allows people to give a thumbs up or thumbs down rating of each albergue. You could be right that the scores correlate with albergues that have better facilities. We could also question whether the feedback collection method has some inherent bias (e.g. it doesn't capture as much feedback from old-school pilgrims who don't book ahead or select accommodations on the internet). So ... like all customer feedback, it's flawed but interesting.

 

[timr]

En El Camino in Boadilla. I would say it beats off all the competition But a close tie for number 2!!!!!!!!

 

[timr]

En El Camino in Boadilla. I would say it beats off all the competition But a close tie for number 2!!!!!!!!

Oh late entry - Eunate, but it's closed now!

 

[VNwalking]

Roncesvalles beats Zabaldika???!
Sorry, but...No way.
I can only think the latter gets fewer votes than the others because most people sail by on their way to Pamplona.
Check it out...it's a gem of gems.

 

[SSojourn]

Roncesvalles beats Zabaldika???!
Sorry, but...No way.
I can only think the latter gets fewer votes than the others because most people sail by on their way to Pamplona.
Check it out...it's a gem of gems.

I totally agree. What a perfect gem. Total package for beautiful human connection.

 

[SSojourn]

The Gronze site only allows people to give a thumbs up or thumbs down rating of each albergue. You could be right that the scores correlate with albergues that have better facilities. We could also question whether the feedback collection method has some inherent bias (e.g. it doesn't capture as much feedback from old-school pilgrims who don't book ahead or select accommodations on the internet). So ... like all customer feedback, it's flawed but interesting.

I walk to the next Albergue, knock stay or move on. No prebooked for me. When I found Huerta closed a local walked me through town to a way to Villava-Atarrabia. The connection was espiritul!

 

[ChicagoMike]

Albergue San Bol. It was the most isolated part of my Camino experience. Only 12 beds and in the middle of nowhere. The hospitalera served us a wonderful pallea. While I didn’t stay at Zalbadika, I did visit the church and that was another highlight. I was the only visitor in the church and had a beautiful conversation with Dona Carmen, a nun who greeted visitors. She told me of her years working in Africa and I shared with her my years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

 

[giuliamaria]

Ranking, based on 17,355 instances of feedback to the Gronze recommendation system during 2018:

Los albergues de peregrinos mejor valorados en 2018

En Gronze disponemos de un sistema de recomendación de albergues para peregrinos, con tres posibles respuestas: Sí lo recomendaría, No lo recomendaría o NS/NC.

www.gronze.com

Camino Francés:
1.- Albergue de la Cofradía del Santo, Santo Domingo de la Calzada
2.- Albergue eclesial Espíritu Santo, Carrión de los Condes
3.- Albergue Seminario Menor, Santiago de Compostela
4.- Albergue Alea, Ponferrada
5.- Albergue de la fundación ANFAS, Estella
6.- Albergue Alfonso II El Casto, Melide
7.- Albergue parroquial Santa María, Carrión de los Condes
8.- Albergue Leo, Villafranca del Bierzo
9.- Albergue Gaia, Mansilla de las Mulas
10.- Albergue Edreira, O Pedrouzo (O Pino)
11.- Albergue San Miguel, Hospital de Órbigo
12.- Albergue parroquial Casa Rectoral, Bercianos del Real Camino

I wonder if people here agree. (I see a couple of anomalies in Gronze's VDLP rankings).

No. 8 - Albergue Leo - Villafranca del Bierzo. It's the standout in my humble opinion

 

[Davey Boyd]

The only one on the list I disagree with is Orrison. It is good for where it is. It is very expensive, but hey, it is in France so ok. The dinner and atmosphere are great.

BUT those shower tokens? Not once have I had a shower with anything resembling warm water. And I actually paid for a token each time. It was not just me either.

That cuts it off from my top list - even though my No.1 fave St Anton has cold showers often, at least they are honest about it!

I see Granon is currently top, not surprised!

Davey

 

[Tony Bobcat]

My favourite will always be Orrison, great meal and atmosphere

 

[gerip]

La Finca in Población de Campos.

Albergue la Finca - El Albergue

www.alberguelafinca.es

But from the list I'd say Casa Mágica or Orisson.

Absolutely! Am sitting here chillaxing right now. Every albergue should be like this! I actually got a night’s sleep last night.

 

[gerip]

Albergue San Bol. It was the most isolated part of my Camino experience. Only 12 beds and in the middle of nowhere. The hospitalera served us a wonderful pallea. While I didn’t stay at Zalbadika, I did visit the church and that was another highlight. I was the only visitor in the church and had a beautiful conversation with Dona Carmen, a nun who greeted visitors. She told me of her years working in Africa and I shared with her my years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

Heard very good things about San Bol yesterday.

 

[Ungawawa]

Oh late entry - Eunate, but it's closed now!

You can stay at Eunate? I thought there's just a church there.

 

[domigee]

You can stay at Eunate? I thought there's just a church there.

There used to be an albergue but it closed a few years ago.

 

[kleckam]

Too late for the survey, but my favorite is the Albergue de la Piedra in Villafranca del Bierzo ... http://alberguedelapiedra.com/ . I have stayed there on 2 separate Camino Frances journeys. It is a very special Albergue, run by a wonderful couple.

 

[gerip]

Wish

Too late for the survey, but my favorite is the Albergue de la Piedra in Villafranca del Bierzo ... http://alberguedelapiedra.com/ . I have stayed there on 2 separate Camino Frances journeys. It is a very special Albergue, run by a wonderful couple.
[/QUOTE

Too late for the survey, but my favorite is the Albergue de la Piedra in Villafranca del Bierzo ... http://alberguedelapiedra.com/ . I have stayed there on 2 separate Camino Frances journeys. It is a very special Albergue, run by a wonderful couple.

Wish I had stayed there night before last. They only had the single with shared bath available so I opted for San Nicolás instead. What a mistake.

 

[AlexanderAZ]

The only one on the list I disagree with is Orrison. It is good for where it is. It is very expensive, but hey, it is in France so ok. The dinner and atmosphere are great.

BUT those shower tokens? Not once have I had a shower with anything resembling warm water. And I actually paid for a token each time. It was not just me either.

Hmmm, interesting. I had a hot shower and the “tokens” lasted long enough to wash myself AND my clothes.

 

[Jodean]

I don't understand why the shower at Orisson is difficult. You get wet, the water turns off. You lather up, turn the water back on and rinse off. Not a problem at all and the water was hot.
Did not care for the lack of toilet seats here, so that is my only complaint about Orisson. The view here makes up for anything negative though.

 

[timr]

You can stay at Eunate? I thought there's just a church there.

The albergue closed about 9 years ago sadly. It was unique. The hospitaleros stayed for a year at a time, so it was both an albergue and a private family home. It's off the main track and so on the evening it's just you (about 12 guests - I don't think there were beds, just mattresses on the floor) and the couple. It was beyond wonderful. After supper we went to the church (which the hospitaleros used to look after) in the dark for night prayer. Still a stand out memory.

 

[taigirl]

Hmm... is Casa Verde actually an albergue or just a watering hole? I thought of it cause it was on that BBC show ^^. Now I'm thinking ... wait, it wasn't actually an albergue

Albergue Verde is a real albergue. Lovely garden, fab vegetarian meal and lovely hosts.

 

[trecile]

Albergue Verde is a real albergue. Lovely garden, fab vegetarian meal and lovely hosts.

Actually a vegan meal made with veggies from the garden.