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Albergue opening times?

  • Thread starter Former member 88968
  • Start date
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Former member 88968

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I suspect this question has (a) probably been asked before and (b) could probably be answered with the words "every albergue is different" however I will ask anyway.......

My wife and I are starting the French Camino - our first Camino - on August 2, less than a fortnight away now! Our plan is to try and leave every morning before 8 and walk about 25kms arriving in our preplanned destination around 1pm, The main reason for this is that we really don't want to be on the road in the afternoon heat. I vaguely recall reading a few weeks ago that many albergues do not open until the late afternoon. Generally speaking - is that correct? If not, approx what times could we expect to find albergues open?

I realise we could call in advance and book our place for the night - if we do that, are we able to drop our bags at the (closed) albergue before looking around the town/village/city?

Thanks all for your patience & help.

Davybhoy
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

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Gronze.com shows the opening times of the albergues. The site is in Spanish, but if you use the Chrome browser it will automatically translate to English.

In general, you will not be able to drop your bags before the albergue opens.
 
I suspect this question has (a) probably been asked before and (b) could probably be answered with the words "every albergue is different" however I will ask anyway.......

My wife and I are starting the French Camino - our first Camino - on August 2, less than a fortnight away now! Our plan is to try and leave every morning before 8 and walk about 25kms arriving in our preplanned destination around 1pm, The main reason for this is that we really don't want to be on the road in the afternoon heat. I vaguely recall reading a few weeks ago that many albergues do not open until the late afternoon. Generally speaking - is that correct? If not, approx what times could we expect to find albergues open?

I realise we could call in advance and book our place for the night - if we do that, are we able to drop our bags at the (closed) albergue before looking around the town/village/city?

Thanks all for your patience & help.

Davybhoy

Dave.
Just a quick observation 25 k a day is quite a jaunt every day. Also the earlier you start the better I am just back and usually started around 06.30 in the dark to avoid heat, arrived in town around 11.00 - 13.00 hrs. depending on climbs etc ..
Just be careful and take it easy and at your own pace it is not a race so enjoy , unless you are super fit with no blisters, then it will be easy for you and your good wife.
Nearly forgot you are right times opening hours vary albergue to albergue I was refused entry in Sarria albergue at 12.30 until 13.00 took a lot of wimpering and crying about the heat until they let me in early.
Buen Camino.
 
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Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
If there is anything that crops up regularly on this forum its issues concerning accomodation and safety-security.
I had the same anxieties when I embarked upon my first Camino.
Some tips:
Don't leave your rucksac lying around anywhere, out of eyesight. Unless its agreed and held by a bar, accomodation or friendly fellow pilgrims keep an eye on it.
Don't worry about accomodation, you will both find your walking pace and pattern and enjoy the Camino all the better for not rushing from one Albergue to the next. I've never had to sleep outside or had a problem. We're all in it together and watch out for one another - thats my fortunate experience. I always aim for the Municipal Albergues, and use private accomodation when I need a days rest or know of a very special place. Perhaps two-three times on a long route.
Good luck and health and enjoy. Its exciting and exhilerating, ver special.
Buen Camino.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Our plan is to try and leave every morning before 8 and walk about 25kms arriving in our preplanned destination around 1pm
I think that you'll have to leave well before 8 am to achieve 25 km by 1:00. That would be 5 km per hour with no breaks. Most people who are looking to beat the heat in the summer start around 6:00 or earlier.
 
As this appears to be your first Camino yoi definitely will not know how far or what your pace is until you walk. That will be pretty much the case if you don’t listen to your body and start getting blisters and other
issues. Get up early if you want to beat the heat. Drink lots of water and walk and pay attention to what your body is telling you. It’s the step you take not the destination that matters. If the Albergue isn’t open relax and get a snack or cold drink and talk to new friends.
Don’t worry about it. Remember all the planning you do now will probably all go out the window after you start.
 
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Many people follow the rule when packing their rucksacs:
If I'm packing this or that - just in case, or what if, or perhaps....
then I don't need it on Camino.
Just a thought for you.
k
 
My experience after 2 Camino’s is that the private Albergue’s tend to open sooner than the Municipal/Parochial Albergue’s. Also, 25k per day, every day is a grind. I can average 4K per hour not including breaks so leaving at 8 would get me 25k around 3. Finally, 2017 was a very hot spring/summer, we often left by 0600 to avoid the heat, I recommend a good headlamp.

Good luck, Buen Camino.
 
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But I am glad I took an extra pair of eye glasses, after my first pair went off a bridge into a river.
I walk alone on camino and part of this involves taking care of myself. I don't take spare glasses, but I do take a recent optometrist's prescription, in case my glasses get broken. I can't see much without them. For me, this suggests an appropriate level of protection from "what ifs". I take medication with me to manage a condition which recurred during my last two caminos, and I shall also take precautions to avoid its happening again. I am responsible for myself as much when on camino as when hiking in the back-country, and I do my best to care for myself and my gear so that all will be well with me. Of course, I shall do what I can to take care of you in an emergency situation, if you have been paying no attention to "what ifs." But I can't guarantee that we will meet at the time when you are wishing that you brought a first aid kit or some extra food (or water). "What if" you need them?
 
But I am glad I took an extra pair of eye glasses, after my first pair went off a bridge into a river.
Me too - I take a reserve pair. I'm lost without my specs. Essentials are essentials: food, water, first aid kit, hat. meds. Its those 'can I live without them - can I really carry extra trousers, shirt, socks, undies, cosmetics, etc?' that are, for me and others, the non-essential 'what-ifs'. I fell foul of it on my first Camino, had way too much and injured my feet. I'm down to a 8-9 Kg pack now.

ps I had a lovely experience in Mieres, Asturias, when my specs decided to fall appart (those tiny screws and the nose-rest. I went to an optician on the high street and he repaired them and wouldn't accept payment. One of those kindnesses we experience along the Way.
 
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I think that you'll have to leave well before 8 am to achieve 25 km by 1:00. That would be 5 km per hour with no breaks. Most people who are looking to beat the heat in the summer start around 6:00 or earlier.
You are quite probably right, Trecile! We have been training - to a point - that is, walking in gradually increasing distances on weekends, but no training can really prepare us for 25km every day! I realise our best laid plans will probably change as reality bites, but we have tried to build in rest days into our Camino to help us through. In training we walk faster than 5km per hour but it is true we will be slower on the Camino as we stop more regularly for various reasons. I suspect that we will end up leaving earlier than 8am as we get into rhythm
 
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On the CF in summer most albergues opened by 13.00 h, though there may be some exceptions.
On the VdP some albergues opened later in the afternoon, e. g. Salamanca at 16.00 h (with possibility to drop your backpack between 12 and 13) or Zamora at 15.00 h.
On the Camino Portugues there were also some places, where the albergues opened later, e. g. Ponte de Lima at 17.00 h. But this was no problem, as there was a pleasant bar just next to the albergue and we could keep an eye on our backpacks while enjoying a cold beer.
 
You are quite probably right, Trecile! We have been training - to a point - that is, walking in gradually increasing distances on weekends, but no training can really prepare us for 25km every day! I realise our best laid plans will probably change as reality bites, but we have tried to build in rest days into our Camino to help us through. In training we walk faster than 5km per hour but it is true we will be slower on the Camino as we stop more regularly for various reasons. I suspect that we will end up leaving earlier than 8am as we get into rhythm
My walking pace on the Camino is about 5 km per hour - but definitely slower on long ascents or difficult terrain. But I'm not walking continuously from the moment I start out until the moment I arrive at the albergue! After the first hour or so I stop for breakfast, then stop once or twice more for snacks and bathroom breaks, not to mention stopping to take photos. I would plan on completing 25 km in about 7 hours.
 
I suppose that personal rhythms differ. I tend to walk pretty much continuously, without stopping except for a picnic lunch and necessary bathroom breaks. I always try to eat something before I start, as my blood sugar is pretty low by morning. And my speed may decrease, but aside from visiting churches, when open, I do not tend to stop to look at things. I still remember my walk up to Orisson, which was pretty much non-stop, but slow.
 
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