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Oh yes, Brissy, you absolutely missed the snorers, the rustlers at 5am, the flash-lighters, some very exotic smells, ice-cold showers and all the camaraderie and fellowship associated with it. Seriously, if you can afford the extra coins (if you're a pair, the difference is neglectable) you did the right thing and at that freed your albergue beds to some others on a tight budget.At risk of being thought not a true pilgrim - has anyone else walked without staying in Albergues? We didn't intend to walk the whole way staying in private accommodation, but that's just how it worked out. Did I miss anything? I must say, that it was a very special spiritual time for me, and being an introvert, I wondered if it was perhaps better for me not to be sharing space every night. I did meet up with a lot of people and had many significant conversations when the opportunities arose. Any thoughts?
...
Even if you stay in an albergue you can sometimes sleep in during the cold season. Isabel and Pilar found me dozing in Rabanal when they were tidying up. Instead of giving me a dressing down they gave me brunch. I practically skipped up to Iron Cross that morning (or afternoon)....
Hi, I'm just wondering what sort of difference there is in cost between albergues and private accommodation (for a solo walker)?
Thanks Lise T, really helpfulHi there. I was a solo walker.
Albergees were €8-15. Pensions/Hostals ranged from €25-50.
Most of mine were 25.
I saved money by only eating once a day and having the Pilgrams menu or a bocadillo.. I snacked on fruit and chocolate.
So my average daily spend was around €35-45 a day. Approx €10 more than I had budgeted for.
Thanks , I love that I can get such help and support so quickly!!Dear Cate,
I walked the Camino as a solo walker in 2012, so that's the prices I know of:
albergues: from 5 to 15 euro per night
single rooms in hotels/hostals/casa rurales: from 25 to 40 euro per night
You can also find a friend (who doesn't snore) and share a twin room, that would be around 17-20 euro per person.
EDIT: I posted my message at the same time as Lisa, ooops
Thanks. Yes I was more than grateful for the bed at the end of each day.True pilgrim? what's that all about. Enjoy the experience. Take the bed that's there with grateful gratitude. I used to be the great pretender doing short rambles. St. Jaques et Bon Chemin for French effect,otherwise you'll remember Buen Camino.
HaHa… that's funny Pano. I think I may have brought my very own snorer along with me, but I'm used to the tone of this one. I probably did a little early morning rustling of my own too! So it's probably just as well that I didn't stay at Albergues because I would have been the one annoying everyone…..Oh yes, Brissy, you absolutely missed the snorers, the rustlers at 5am, the flash-lighters, some very exotic smells, ice-cold showers and all the camaraderie and fellowship associated with it. Seriously, if you can afford the extra coins (if you're a pair, the difference is neglectable) you did the right thing and at that freed your albergue beds to some others on a tight budget.
One can still enjoy the company of other peregrino's over dinners and vino.
Hello Saint Mike II,Hola Brissy - it was your Camino to experience and enjoy - the pain, the joys, the heat, the cold. So whether you stayed in an Albergue, camped in a tent or stayed in a 5 star hotel it does not matter. I am inclined to agree with the comments of Pano. So no I doubt you missed much, unless you also chose to eat away from the pilgrims also. The eating, drinking, talking & singing are often the more important things.
Hello Lise THeya..
I lasted around 6 nights in Albergees...and then went private. It hurt my budget abit...well alot...but I dont regret it. I call myself an introverted extrovert. I like chatting with people but need space to recharge. I just couldn't relax in a room full of people even when just trying to sleep. It always felt like I was on duty. (Weird I know)
I still ate with people in the evenings, shared lunches, laughed and, cried with others. I formed amazing friendships.
The only difference was I didnt share bedrooms or bathrooms.
If I was to return for a third time....I would save up more and go private again.
Edit: Staying privately doesn't protect you from the snorers or early risers. You can still here them through the walls. But its nice to sit on the loo and not have the door rattle with the next person wanting to visit.
Plus you dont need to carry a towel or sleep liner/bag.
Hola Canucks,Maybe it would have been better for me to share my various noises at night with others (snoring etc) but, in the end, I thought I would keep that to myself and my much better half.
I thought I was a very fine pilgrim to do that!!
I have no regrets and we met tons of nice folks so no, you are not less of a pilgrim, and yes, others have done it the same way.
Buen Camino….. enjoy!I really like what PANO wrote:
I think that no matter where you sleep you are a true pilgrim"Seriously, if you can afford the extra coins (if you're a pair, the difference is neglectable) you did the right thing and at that freed your albergue beds to some others on a tight budget." I totally agree!
(Walking is the hard part!)
For me the sleepless nights, the snoring etc. was part of the Camino experiance - made me appreciate more the nights with no snoring (sometimes it was silent in a 20-bed dorm!) and made me feel more... humble, less demanding. (I'm not sure if I used the right English words). But I was 21 and for such a young pilgrim from a loud generation it is good to learn someting about sleepless nights and some hardships. I stayed in hotels five times, and that was so amazing! But after a couple of hours in my beautiful hotel room I would suddenly feel extremely lonely... Which normally doesn't happen to me, for I am one of those people who like being left alone.
One of the things that the Camino teaches us is to deal with our fears, so I always say one thing: if you stay at hostels just because you want to - that's great. If you stay in hotels out of fear (snoring, triedness) then do the brave thing, face it for a week or two, and after you are peaceful about sleeping in all conditions -- go back to the hotel rooms. But that's just an idea I have in my head after my first Camino and I don't want to sound in any way preachy, it's just a thought and I truly believe that every pilgrim has their own way of doing the Camino
My second Camino starts in two months, can't wait to be walking again
Buen Camino!
Yes, eating once a day worked for us too. Usually there was a breakfast provided in the accommodation. We would leave early, then walk until around 3pm and stop for a main meal - Pilgrim menu - usually 8 to 10 euro each for 3 course meal, bottle of local wine and water! The extra amount for private accommodation then wasn't too hard to fit into the daily budget. As Pano said as a couple it worked out not too bad price-wise.Hi there. I was a solo walker.
Albergees were €8-15. Pensions/Hostals ranged from €25-50.
Most of mine were 25.
I saved money by only eating once a day and having the Pilgrams menu or a bocadillo.. I snacked on fruit and chocolate.
So my average daily spend was around €35-45 a day. Approx €10 more than I had budgeted for.
Or you could just turn up and ask if they have a room - as we did. It worked most times. Only once did we need to move on to another hotel, and that was in Leon, so there were plenty of places to choose from.You are welcome.
Just another tip.
I either used the Brieley Guide to help me finding Pensions/Hostals. Or I found flyers in cafes or in the accomodation I was staying in.
I managed to make most of my bookings by myself over the phone. .or I politely asked random locals for help.
Hello Fortview. I don't feel like I missed out on anything at all really. My time on Camino was full, rich and meaningful and I enjoyed every minute. I guess I was just wondering how it was for others who had a different pilgrimage. I love to hear the stories. I met up with one couple who were staying in the same house as us one night, who had stayed in Albergues the whole way up until then. They had a bed-bug experience at their most recent digs and were not keen to repeat it. Fortunately for us, one girl had a ukelele and a beautiful voice….I hope that in asking this question you don't think that you missed out on anything! There are negatives and positives to the albergue experience. You missed out on sleepless nights with the snorers, early mornings with the flashlights and bag rustlers! It sounds like you had a great camino anyway.
You got flannel sheets in a private room! All I got was an early lunch after my sleep-in. It's a hard place, the Camino, and not always fair.How right you are Robert! However on the camino there is little certainty any season; what may once have been need not always be. That's the charm of surprise. Late last November upon arrival in the then frigid mountain town Rabanal del Camino I, too, had planned as usual to stay in the large private Albergue de Pilar. However, the albergue was shut since Pilar was taking a well earned break. At the door Pilar's mother, Isabel, who is my age, graciously hugged me as a close family friend and kindly offered a tiny WARM guest room with FLANNEL sheets and private bath. What unplanned cozy luxury it was!! Every moment spent resting there was double pleasure.
MM
I read the question as asking if she missed anything, not whether her camino was "valid" (though Brissy did lead with the "true pilgrim" thought). I think there is general consensus that all pilgrimages are valid, and no one should worry about doing it his/her way.It is a valid experience either way.
At risk of being thought not a true pilgrim - has anyone else walked without staying in Albergues? We didn't intend to walk the whole way staying in private accommodation, but that's just how it worked out. Did I miss anything? I must say, that it was a very special spiritual time for me, and being an introvert, I wondered if it was perhaps better for me not to be sharing space every night. I did meet up with a lot of people and had many significant conversations when the opportunities arose. Any thoughts?
It sounds like a good option.. might try it next time…. can't wait!We stayed in albergues through most of our camino.
But lots of private albergues that offered dorm beds for 5 euros also offered double rooms for 20 or 25 euros. If you're travelling with a partner, 10 euros each isn't much for a semi-private room! These rooms generally shared bathrooms with the rest of the pilgrims, and - of course - everyone ate together at night. So if you want privacy while sleeping, but you don't want to miss out of the community feel of the camino, I think that double rooms in a private albergue is the way to go!
You have spent more than 1 full year sleeping in albergues! I am overawed at the thought of this feat! you have been on the pilgrim road for a long time. I admire you.During my 9 caminos more than 400 nights have been spent in pilgrim albergues often alone since generally I walk in late autumn/winter. Always it is a GREAT pleasure to arrive at a welcoming albergue, take a HOT shower, chat with any other pilgrims and collapse in clean comfort on a bottom bunk ever thankful for the continued strength to experience the extraordinary joy of another Camino day. BLISS!
MM
Its too bad that you had not much flexibility during your camino. If you walk in spring or autumn (or winter if you are keen) you will find that hotels/casa rurals will have a room without pre-booking. Maybe next time? I think that all on this forum have expressed a generosity of spirit and have not judged our pilgrimages based on accommodation choice. I am humbled among so many people who are generous of spirit. Thanks so much.I came alone to walk the Camino Frances with no intention of staying in albergues. I can hardly tolerate my better half snoring in my ear much less strangers. It was a wise decision for me. My only complaint was that having reservations each night while comforting knowing I had a bed, meant that no matter how tired I was I could not stop earlier. I also couldn't add an extra day to rest or sight-see in Burgos and Leon. Staying in albergues allows much more flexibility in your day-to-day Camino. I met many wonderful pilgrims, sharing meals, coffee breaks, conversation or just the Camino itself. Did I miss anything? Probably. But what I got out of the experience was irreplaceable. I am going to walk the Portuguese route from Lisbon in 2015 and plan to do it the same way! Your Camino is totally your own. You don't have to suffer from sleep-deprivation for it to be meaningful. Those that believe you didn't have an "authentic" pilgrim experience need to start walking to Santiago again as they missed the entire spirit of the Camino!
Heya..
I lasted around 6 nights in Albergees...and then went private. It hurt my budget abit...well alot...but I dont regret it. I call myself an introverted extrovert. I like chatting with people but need space to recharge. I just couldn't relax in a room full of people even when just trying to sleep. It always felt like I was on duty. (Weird I know)
I still ate with people in the evenings, shared lunches, laughed and, cried with others. I formed amazing friendships.
The only difference was I didnt share bedrooms or bathrooms.
If I was to return for a third time....I would save up more and go private again.
Edit: Staying privately doesn't protect you from the snorers or early risers. You can still here them through the walls. But its nice to sit on the loo and not have the door rattle with the next person wanting to visit.
Plus you dont need to carry a towel or sleep liner/bag.
We paid average €45 per night for a double. I gather singles can get that down to €30Hi, I'm just wondering what sort of difference there is in cost between albergues and private accommodation (for a solo walker)?
Good idea bystander. In 2012 the average cost of a double was €30.00, some were €20.00, some €25 and some €40 to €45.I am so with Lise T and all the others on this thread.
You can socialise and share to your heart's desire during the day but I have no desire to share bedroom space with malodorous noisome stentorian somnambulists
I had 10 years experiencing that at boarding school and have no desire to revisit that experience
However, further to this thread it would be wonderful if one or all those who have stayed in hostals, hotels etc were to start a thread listing and recommending the places in which they stayed.
Good on ye, if ye can walk 13k daily ye should have no problems.Thanks 4 this thread. It makes me feel better about having to stay in non alburgue accommodation due to husbands health but he bought his backpack today and we are walking 13ks every day. Have driven for 3 hours to get to some hills with dirt tracks. We are on a journey before we even get to Spain!
There is a recent one. You may have to hunt to find it though.I am so with Lise T and all the others on this thread.
You can socialise and share to your heart's desire during the day but I have no desire to share bedroom space with malodorous noisome stentorian somnambulists
I had 10 years experiencing that at boarding school and have no desire to revisit those times
However, further to this thread it would be wonderful if one or all those who have stayed in hostals, hotels etc were to start a thread listing and recommending the places in which they stayed.
www.booking.com buen camino!How do you get the list of hostels and private places to stay, or did you just find one when you arrived at your stopping point
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I don't find dormitory style sleeping difficult, and I know I am more likely to disrupt others by snoring than be disrupted myself. While doing the camino would be more difficult financially, I have budgeted to stay in hotels, including the Parador in Santiago this year. I didn't regret that.The whole purpose of albergues was to provide affordable accommodation for pilgrims. Not many people can afford to pay hotel prices every night for 30 or 40 days, hence cheaper, dormitory style accommodation. For those who can, go for it! For the rest of us, we are just grateful for a warm welcome, a bed and a hot shower.
It sounds to me that you aren't reading the posts carefully or accurately if that is what you got out of people's varied choices and reasons for doing what they do. I don't get people trying to make themselves feel better about what they do....I get that they make their choices and, if someone asks a specific question, such as the OP, then they answer to the best of their abilities according to their experience.I have nothing against people not staying in albergues, but to me it sounds like most of the people defending their reason why they did no do it, are trying to make them self feel better about maybe missing a great part of the experience
The Camino pilgrimage was probably never set out to be a fraternization trip to begin with. The goal was to make it to Santiago from your home. You had to prepare well to ensure a safe passage and arrival. Local churches offered baggage transfer services, wealthy families set up shelters and provided free food, wealthy pilgrims stayed in better accomodations and contributed to poor pilgrims passages, Kings and Queens built bridges, hospitals, lodgings, there was even the Knights of Templar "police force" that helped transport pilgrims through treacherous sections. The goal was to make it whatever it took. So, Brissy, you don't HAVE TO walk the Camino. You CHOOSE to walk the Camino. Do it in the manner you think it will ensure your safe passage. All that needs to happen, will. Buen Camino.
Read most of this during winter, must finish it. Hope to enjoy walk from Le Puy late September.I just back from the Stevenson trail.....
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I made it up as I went. I found some very nice inexpensive Hostals which is a little different from a hostel. It's a small hotel with few amenities but clean, comfortable rooms. If you make it to Leon there is a great little family operation called Hostal Guzman el Bueno. It's in the area right around the cathedral. They even did my laundry and it was very quiet.How do you get the list of hostels and private places to stay, or did you just find one when you arrived at your stopping point
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Now Wayfarer! How is it that your brother could snore for Australia and not Ireland? Do us Aussies get the guernsey for being the loudest snorers?When we walked in 2012 my brother insisted that we do an authentic Camino, ie that we stay in albergues every night, I told him I wanted to stay in a hostal at least one night a week but after about five days walking he had had enough with the large dorms and nightly snoring concerts, so after that we looked for a double room in the private albergues or hostals. Mind you it did not make much difference to my sleep as he could snore for Australia himself but the extra bit of privacy and comfort was great and we still ate with our Camino family each evening.
None of the various earplugs i try ever matched the industrial- strength snoring that some share with the world. Earplugs muffle sounds, never 100% eliminate them...in my experience.To anyone who has trouble with sleeping in an alberge....(simple, cheap solution): WEAR EARPLUGS! Works perfect.
I'm sure that there are a number if resources that list private accommodation, but we relied solely on Brierley's guidebook. The accommodation is marked on the map, and it is grouped into 3 price points for each stage of the journey. We planned to finish walking around 3 or 4 pm each day so that we could find our chosen accommodation for the day and book in. Sometimes we just stopped at the first one we saw.How do you get the list of hostels and private places to stay, or did you just find one when you arrived at your stopping point
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Jenny, us Irish neeeeever snore, we are much too polite, he only started snoring when he moved to Australia.
Did you mean 40 euros?Anyone recently walk with Mike from Oz? He said he had reservations for nights along the entire Camino but none cost more than 400.00 euros per night.
Ha ha...Glad we were able to help your brother to relax enough to be able to snore. To be sure to be sure.Jenny, we Irish neeeeever snore, we are much too polite, he only started snoring when he moved to Australia.
If you PM me your email address I will send you my 40 day itinerary which I researched using a number of sources. It has a choice of 3 places to stay in each stop ( if available) and I have indicated the cost that we paid in May this year if I have a record.How do you get the list of hostels and private places to stay, or did you just find one when you arrived at your stopping point
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Must be that he became too used to having to keep the liquid levels up due to the heat! A refreshing beer on a hot day is nectar to us Aussies and you know what happens when you've had one or two too many ........ Znzzzzz choke choke znzzzzz!Jenny, we Irish neeeeever snore, we are much too polite, he only started snoring when he moved to Australia.
Hi, I'm just wondering what sort of difference there is in cost between albergues and private accommodation (for a solo walker)?
Oh, and have a look at Airbnb ... Local people opening up their home to pilgrims on the way.
. bother, I haven't done this properly. Planning to walk Sept/OctIt sounds like a good option.. might try it next time…. can't wait!
Greetings from Atlanta! Wife and I would love to see your list of lodging options. Planning for October walk. Many thanks. krr02@mindspring.comIf you PM me your email address I will send you my 40 day itinerary which I researched using a number of sources. It has a choice of 3 places to stay in each stop ( if available) and I have indicated the cost that we paid in May this year if I have a record.
At risk of being thought not a true pilgrim - has anyone else walked without staying in Albergues? We didn't intend to walk the whole way staying in private accommodation, but that's just how it worked out. Did I miss anything? I must say, that it was a very special spiritual time for me, and being an introvert, I wondered if it was perhaps better for me not to be sharing space every night. I did meet up with a lot of people and had many significant conversations when the opportunities arose. Any thoughts?
I also started snoring when I emigrated,we Irish are so polite.Jenny, we Irish neeeeever snore, we are much too polite, he only started snoring when he moved to Australia.
Cindy, you will probably get more answers if you post this on a thread in the section for the Norte itself. We have used some private accomodation on the Norte but only as far as Ribadasella.I am hoping to stay in private places as well tho I am walking the last part of the northern route -did you walk that way? If so any recommendations dating from Gijon on
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