An American wants to open an albergue

[AnneKatherine]

I am an American with an American passport but I grew up in Spain. I would love to find out if I purchase an albergue, can I run it as a business given my status. Any Americans or non EU nationals running Albergues, I would love your advice and possibly chat with you.
Thanks Anne

 

[Anniesantiago]

Talk to Rebecca at The Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos.

 

[james walter purdum iv]

I am an American with an American passport but I grew up in Spain. I would love to find out if I purchase an albergue, can I run it as a business given my status. Any Americans or non EU nationals running Albergues, I would love your advice and possibly chat with you.
Thanks Anne

i will be your first employee or partner

 

[KinkyOne]

I am an American with an American passport but I grew up in Spain. I would love to find out if I purchase an albergue, can I run it as a business given my status. Any Americans or non EU nationals running Albergues, I would love your advice and possibly chat with you.
Thanks Anne

Rebecca mentioned by Annie you can find here @Rebekah Scott

 

[PattyKoed]

i will be your first employee or partner

And I'll be your second!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Talk to Rebecca at The Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos.

Talk to Spain as well!!

 

[AnneKatherine]

And I'll be your second!

Are you serious? Because I am and I do need a partner to do this.

 

[AnneKatherine]

Talk to Rebecca at The Peaceable Kingdom in Moratinos.

Thank you. Does she have a web site, email or phone number I can call?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Some information is provided here at the Spanish consulate in NY (but you may need to apply at the closest Spanish consulate) The page URL is in Spanish but the page is in English.
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consul...Extranjeros/Pages/VisadosDeLargaDuracion.aspx

Some other information can be found on a recent thread "Spanish Villages For Sale":
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/spanish-villages-for-sale.43491/

 

[ivar]

@Rebekah Scott wrote about this a few years ago here:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/so-you-want-to-run-your-own-albergue.21604/

 

[movinmaggie]

May I suggest that you serve as a Hospitalera for at least one month, if not longer, then revisit the idea.

 

[movinmaggie]

@Rebekah Scott wrote about this a few years ago here:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/so-you-want-to-run-your-own-albergue.21604/

Rebekah wrote a more recent one that kept me laughing for most of the day. She absolutely hit ever point spot on. I would never share it without permission, but I think anyone who entertains the idea of either serving as Hospitalero, or most certainly as a potential buyer would do well to read it. If you're out there Rebekah? It was a treat to read and oh so descriptive.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Rebekah has rather a lot on her hands these days. I think that post says it all!

 

[William Marques]

Was it the cafe and albergue for sale thread that sparked your plan?
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...hange-your-life-and-live-on-the-camino.42826/

 

[Yallah]

Perhaps also worth talking with Ashley Weaver from Casa Licerio in Samos (a casa rural rather than albergue, and from reading her story it looks like she rents rather than having bought). https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/casa-licerio-a-casa-rural-in-samos.490/

I believe that Rebekah is married to an EU citizen, so that presumably would make residency easier than for an American with no EU ties.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Here I am.
There are TONS of people out there with the same dream, one of them is presently living in my spare room while she looks at rental apartments. Two more are now walking the Camino Portuguese, scoping-out the neighbhorhood 'round their intended target.
They are volunteer hospitaleros with years of experience between them. They have the legal right to live and work in Spain, they have job skills they can put to work to support themselves in the low season. They speak fluent Spanish, as well as a couple of other languages. They have savings, or income enough to eke out a living if things don't work out. They know their way around Spain and the caminos.
Still, they're struggling to find a place that's not falling down/a rip-off/ alongside a power station or truck stop/ in a town that's not already bursting with albergues/in a town where the people speak to one another/speak to outsiders.
They have all these advantages. They have a fighting chance of making it work.

If you have never served as a hospitalero, stop right there -- you are not qualified yet. Running a pilgrim albergue is NOT what it seems from the pilgrim's point-of-view. It's tough enough hanging on for two weeks; Doing it full-time is exhausting. The average life-span of a hospi career is about six years.
I don't aim to rain on the parade. But I have witnessed the progress of several of these enterprises...

I will have a rustle around and try to find my "Wannabe" document, and upload it here.

 

[Yallah]

This is neither here nor there, but the places I'd love to see a cozy private albergue are O Cebreiro and Astorga. I assume there's a very good reason there aren't more options in those spots (given how saturated with albergues some villages are), but I'm still hopeful.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I'm guessing land/buildings are pretty pricey in Astorga.

 

[SYates]

And O Cebreiro is a very close-knit (spelling?) community to put it carefully. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Anniesantiago]

This is neither here nor there, but the places I'd love to see a cozy private albergue are O Cebreiro and Astorga. I assume there's a very good reason there aren't more options in those spots (given how saturated with albergues some villages are), but I'm still hopeful.

I suspect the locals would have a LOT to say about an "outsider" opening a private albergue there.

 

[SYates]

Astorga might be big enough for that (perhaps) O Cebreiro - don't think so. Buen Camino, SY

 

[LTfit]

Here I am.
There are TONS of people out there with the same dream, one of them is presently living in my spare room while she looks at rental apartments. Two more are now walking the Camino Portuguese, scoping-out the neighbhorhood 'round their intended target.
They are volunteer hospitaleros with years of experience between them. They have the legal right to live and work in Spain, they have job skills they can put to work to support themselves in the low season. They speak fluent Spanish, as well as a couple of other languages. They have savings, or income enough to eke out a living if things don't work out. They know their way around Spain and the caminos.
Still, they're struggling to find a place that's not falling down/a rip-off/ alongside a power station or truck stop/ in a town that's not already bursting with albergues/in a town where the people speak to one another/speak to outsiders.
They have all these advantages. They have a fighting chance of making it work.

If you have never served as a hospitalero, stop right there -- you are not qualified yet. Running a pilgrim albergue is NOT what it seems from the pilgrim's point-of-view. It's tough enough hanging on for two weeks; Doing it full-time is exhausting. The average life-span of a hospi career is about six years.
I don't aim to rain on the parade. But I have witnessed the progress of several of these enterprises...

I will have a rustle around and try to find my "Wannabe" document, and upload it here.

Reb's post is spot on (I happen to be one of the hospitaleras in her post). I would also suggest that you have a clear idea where you want to be and what type of albergue you would like to run. Expect to spend many frustrating hours searching and redefining your plan. Unfortunately I do not have any recipe for success!

I know for a fact that there are currently 3 albergues for sale along the Francés: La Casa Mágica in Villatuerta (3 km before Estella) for €200.000, Albergue Maralotx in Cirauqui for €280.000 and Albergue Pilgrim's in Navarette. I read about the last one today on Facebook, I volunteered at the first one this past month and I met with the owner of the albergue in Cirauqui in September. The latter two have been running their respective albergues for between 8 (Villatuerta) and 12 years (Cirauqui). Reason up for sale? Burn out and looking to start a new life.

Good luck in your search. I look forward to following this thread.

Cheers
LT

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I find there are many albergues owned by someone, but with employees running the daily chores. La puerta de Najera is one, the Cantabrico in A Fonsagrada, La Jerezana on the Portugues. On thr Portuguese there is also a pair of Canadians who have opened their albergue (in Portugal, with contact info in Brierly). In the beautiful village of Rabanal, Nuestra senora de Pilar was for sale in 2012 for a rumoured 800k$, but the number may be wrong and it may have already sold.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Oh, and call you local Consulate, it will tell you what the rules are for an American wanting to run a business/live in Spain.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The San Javier albergue in Astorga is for sale for 300,000€.

 

[PattyKoed]

Anne, please email me at NYNJ143@yahoo.com

Are you serious? Because I am and I do need a partner to do this.

 

[AnneKatherine]

@Rebekah Scott wrote about this a few years ago here:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/so-you-want-to-run-your-own-albergue.21604/

Thanks so much! Anne

 

[Saint Mike II]

I believe that Rebekah is married to an EU citizen, so that presumably would make residency easier than for an American with no EU ties.

Yes she is; the lovely Paddy is a Brit. Although "Brexit" may cause issue, but then they have been there for more than 8 years so have establish permanent residence!

 

[PEI_Heather]

I find there are many albergues owned by someone, but with employees running the daily chores. La puerta de Najera is one, the Cantabrico in A Fonsagrada, La Jerezana on the Portugues. On thr Portuguese there is also a pair of Canadians who have opened their albergue (in Portugal, with contact info in Brierly). In the beautiful village of Rabanal, Nuestra senora de Pilar was for sale in 2012 for a rumoured 800k$, but the number may be wrong and it may have already sold.

Hey Anemone,
I met the man of the two Canadians. He used to work for CTV as a cameraman; he'd walked many Caminos to offset the terrible things he has seen across the world. He's also from Halifax. His son's girlfriend was from Charlottetown. Suffice it to say, we had many friends and acquaintances in common! Our loan CTV reporter/cameraman here on PEI (cutbacks to the max!) is a good friend. He also used to know Mike Duffy, that 'Senator' who used to be from PEI but hasn't lived here since 1971...beside my family!

 

[depot7]

I am an American with an American passport but I grew up in Spain. I would love to find out if I purchase an albergue, can I run it as a business given my status. Any Americans or non EU nationals running Albergues, I would love your advice and possibly chat with you.
Thanks Anne

I have information on an Albergue for sale. I am willing to be an absentee partner with you on this if you are considering it.

Please contact me directly or let me know how to contact you directly to give you extensive details.

Danny

 

[james walter purdum iv]

I have information on an Albergue for sale. I am willing to be an absentee partner with you on this if you are considering it.

Please contact me directly or let me know how to contact you directly to give you extensive details.

Danny

jwpiv2004@gmail.com

 

[KinkyOne]

I have information on an Albergue for sale. I am willing to be an absentee partner with you on this if you are considering it.

Please contact me directly or let me know how to contact you directly to give you extensive details.

Danny

Oh, I just hope this is a "beginning of a beautiful friendship"

Buena suerte!

 

[james walter purdum iv]

Oh, I just hope this is a "beginning of a beautiful friendship"

Buena suerte!

i am not so kinky but a 25 year restauranteur

 

[KinkyOne]

i am not so kinky but a 25 year restauranteur

I was meaning that like a very positive. Sorry for missunderstanding.

 

[long trails]

I would be interested in partnering up too.

I seriously think there are business opportunities in food along the Camino. I remember chatting to one alburgue owner about the general lack of international food in the towns and villages, and his response was that the Spanish don't like foreign food, and any such business would not be well received and go under very quickly. He went on to say that Spanish food was the best in the world, while admitting he'd never tried anything else!

We agreed to disagree on that one. I think if I was to run an albergue then I'd want to be involved in food too.

 

[domigee]

. I remember chatting to one alburgue owner about the general lack of international food in the towns and villages, and his response was that the Spanish don't like foreign food, and any such business would not be well received and go under very quickly..

But...(to me anyway) the joy of travelling is to eat the local food! It's also the best adapted to the local resources and climate. I'm thinking caldo gallego in Galicia, Salmorejo in the South, fish dishes in the North etc etc

Give me the simple local dishes, tried and tested over the centuries, anytime !
Anyway, you can only get a decent steak and chips in France

 

[wayfarer]

I have moved some posts here as they were way off topic. Try and stay with the OP's questions.

www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/food-on-the-camino.43779/

 

[AnneKatherine]

I have information on an Albergue for sale. I am willing to be an absentee partner with you on this if you are considering it.

Please contact me directly or let me know how to contact you directly to give you extensive details.

Danny

Danny, I left you an email message today. I just want to let you know in case it goes to your spam. I look forward to hearing from you when convenient.
Anne