RhondafromBC
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances(2013)
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Does it happen that people don't find any housing when they arrive in Santiago? Even outside the old town or the surrounding area?
We arrived in Santiago a day earlier than our planned reservation at a hotel, so not knowing that Seminario Menor took reservations, we intentionally got there by 1pm and had no trouble getting a bed on May 20, 2017.Two large albergues to consider are
1. Albergue Monte do Gozo
which is just outside the city
with 500 places but which does not take reservations.
see more here
https://www.gronze.com/galicia/coruna/monte-do-gozo/albergue-xunta-monte-do-gozo
and
2. Albergue Seminario Menor which is within the city and does take reservations with 177 places
see more here
https://www.gronze.com/galicia/coruna/santiago-compostela/albergue-seminario-menor
Good luck and enjoy Santiago!
Hello. We are arriving in Santiago tomorrow. Looking online, all the alberques that are bookable are all full. Are there plenty of alberques that are not reservable that will have space? Thanks
I do have a question on the Monte do Gozo zunta. On May 20th as we trudged toward Santiago in the outskirts, we happened to walk through this huge no frills type of complex, but it looked like a ghost town. No activity whatsoever, very unkempt, dead leaves piled in every corner. Knowing nothing about this place and as rundown as it appeared, I actually thought it was a huge albergue that had been closed down for years and felt kind of sad that it couldn't survive. Now I'm wondering if it possibly opens June 1st for the beginning of the busiest season....Can anyone provide an answer for me? I'm very curious about this.
I think the single rooms in the Seminario are one of the great bargains of the Camino. Not very stylish perhaps but clean and quiet. And remarkably cheap.And of course, you have the Seminario as an OK solution.
I loved the place. Such an elegant old monestary, lot's of showers, etc and twin beds! Who can argue with that!...Oh, and I was even staying in the albergue section and loved it!I think the single rooms in the Seminario are one of the great bargains of the Camino. Not very stylish perhaps but clean and quiet. And remarkably cheap.
This little nugget of info is a hidden gem. Thanks for sharing it. One of the things that makes this forum so awesome. Pilgrims helping pilgrims!At the end of Rua Nova there is a small (tiny, actual: Take off your backpack before you enter) fruit shop. The owner, Jose Ramon, will provide you with a comfortable room in the centre of Santiago at a fair price. Having been brought up in (must have been sophisticated) England, he speaks more elegant English than most of the native Englishmen. I always stay in his place (he has two) in Santiago city centre.
Yes, this is correct: The smallest fruit shop in Santiagog has rooms for rent. Just say that I, AlexWalker, sent you there, and you should be fine.
And of course, you have the Seminario as an OK solution.
It is indeed a hidden gem. I have paid 25 Euros/night for a room in Rua Franco, the main pedestrian street in the city centre. I had a room with a view to the bell tower of the cathedral (!). And the best tapas places just a few metres away: I can highly recommend going to the fruit shop in Rua Vilar. But mention AlexWalker and I will expect you will get special attention.This little nugget of info is a hidden gem. Thanks for sharing it. One of the things that makes this forum so awesome. Pilgrims helping pilgrims!
At the end of Rua Nova there is a small (tiny, actual: Take off your backpack before you enter) fruit shop. The owner, Jose Ramon, will provide you with a comfortable room in the centre of Santiago at a fair price. Having been brought up in (must have been sophisticated) England, he speaks more elegant English than most of the native Englishmen. I always stay in his place (he has two) in Santiago city centre.
Yes, this is correct: The smallest fruit shop in Santiagog has rooms for rent. Just say that I, AlexWalker, sent you there, and you should be fine.
Hi Nate, and I should say, hello again, as I visited you this spring (BTW: I admire your work in SdC).Really?! I didn't know this! That's great! Are you talking about the tiny shop with bakery goods and soda, right next to the newspaper kiosk? It's always dark in there and I've never gone into it, so I didn't know they also had fruit.
Hi Nate, and I should say, hello again, as I visited you this spring (BTW: I admire your work in SdC).
If my memory serves me correct: If you leave the Pilgrim House, go to the left, and near the end (a plaza) to your right hand, you will find Jose Ramon's (very) small fruit shop. He is the kindest person you'll find, and he has 2 houses (really nice and priced nicely) in the centre of Santiago. Simply a bargain. I prefer his place in Rua do Franco (disgusting name...), as this is the pedestrian and tapas centre of Santiago.
I am very happy about that: Jose Ramon in the fruit shop (of course: If you need a room in Spain, go to the fruit shopThank you, Alex, for this information. I know which shop you're talking about now and will refer pilgrims there if they need a place.
Buen Camino.
Knowledgeable sources in Santiago tell me that the street takes its name from the foreign merchants who settled there in the medieval period. Everybody who came from the wrong side of the Pyrenees were "Francs" as far as the Gallegos were concernedI prefer his place in Rua do Franco (disgusting name...), .
If there are approximately 500 beds in this place, surely a few people on this forum must have stayed there in the recent past, especially as busy as the Frances has become and the need for beds. Maybe the gronze site is outdated on its information that it is still open...anybody stayed here lately (or ever)?According to Gronze it’s open all year round, but the three times I’ve walked past (always in November and late in the day) it looked as derelict as you say . . .
Jill
If there are approximately 500 beds in this place, surely a few people on this forum must have stayed there in the recent past, especially as busy as the Frances has become and the need for beds. Maybe the gronze site is outdated on its information that it is still open...anybody stayed here lately (or ever)?
I purposely stayed in the xunta albergue at Monte de Gozo in May this year just because I wanted to experience sleeping in a 500 bed albergue. (Yep, I know I'm odd. No need to mention it.) It was fantastic but a little sad. It's divided into barrack type buidings, each building having a large number of small dorm rooms containing (from memory) four or maybe six bunks. Excellent bunk beds, new mattresses and pillows, and all covered in that rubberised plastic stuff that I tell myself stops bedbugs in their tracks. Each building also has unisex bathrooms that have showers with doors which is not the norm for xunta albergues. Each building has a well equiped kitchen, a reading room, and laundromat facilities. Everything in the building I stayed in was modern and spotlessly clean and the hospitalera was delightful. I would stay there again as it's an easy 5 km walk the next morning into Santiago. The sad bit was that there was only a handful of pilgrims staying in this beautiful albergue on the night I stayed. We didn't even fill one building. The next morning I walked through the complex and some of the barracks were in far poorer condition and I wondered whether they were opened even in peak times. At the bottom of the complex is a large precinct that has restaurants, cafes, bars, places to party, a medical centre, etc. etc. None of which of course was open and it all looked very wintery and neglected but I would not be at all surprised if it was a bustling place in season.We arrived in Santiago a day earlier than our planned reservation at a hotel, so not knowing that Seminario Menor took reservations, we intentionally got there by 1pm and had no trouble getting a bed on May 20, 2017.
I do have a question on the Monte do Gozo zunta. On May 20th as we trudged toward Santiago in the outskirts, we happened to walk through this huge no frills type of complex, but it looked like a ghost town. No activity whatsoever, very unkempt, dead leaves piled in every corner. Knowing nothing about this place and as rundown as it appeared, I actually thought it was a huge albergue that had been closed down for years and felt kind of sad that it couldn't survive. Now I'm wondering if it possibly opens June 1st for the beginning of the busiest season....Can anyone provide an answer for me? I'm very curious about this.
Thank you, Margaret, for that link to the prior thread. It totally answered all my questions, confusion and curiosity about the place! "You're the best!"See these eatlier comments--
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/monte-de-gozo-albergue-whats-up.41397/
Thanks for sharing your experience. When I walked through the complex I don't recall any sign of life. As sad as the place looks, it's uplifting to hear there is one building still dedicated to housing pilgrims in a clean environment and respectful manner.I purposely stayed in the xunta albergue at Monte de Gozo in May this year just because I wanted to experience sleeping in a 500 bed albergue. (Yep, I know I'm odd. No need to mention it.) It was fantastic but a little sad. It's divided into barrack type buidings, each building having a large number of small dorm rooms containing (from memory) four or maybe six bunks. Excellent bunk beds, new mattresses and pillows, and all covered in that rubberised plastic stuff that I tell myself stops bedbugs in their tracks. Each building also has unisex bathrooms that have showers with doors which is not the norm for xunta albergues. Each building has a well equiped kitchen, a reading room, and laundromat facilities. Everything in the building I stayed in was modern and spotlessly clean and the hospitalera was delightful. I would stay there again as it's an easy 5 km walk the next morning into Santiago. The sad bit was that there was only a handful of pilgrims staying in this beautiful albergue on the night I stayed. We didn't even fill one building. The next morning I walked through the complex and some of the barracks were in far poorer condition and I wondered whether they were opened even in peak times. At the bottom of the complex is a large precinct that has restaurants, cafes, bars, places to party, a medical centre, etc. etc. None of which of course was open and it all looked very wintery and neglected but I would not be at all surprised if it was a bustling place in season.
I would think in peak season there would be a lot more buildings open. You and I must have been there about the same time, certainly within a day or two of each other. Wish we'd met.Thanks for sharing your experience. When I walked through the complex I don't recall any sign of life. As sad as the place looks, it's uplifting to hear there is one building still dedicated to housing pilgrims in a clean environment and respectful manner.
Wow, those pictures show the facility to be very nice and "squeeky clean"! Hard to believe it's the same place. Yes, we were probably very close in proximity to each other and it would have been nice to meet you!I would think in peak season there would be a lot more buildings open. You and I must have been there about the same time, certainly within a day or two of each other. Wish we'd met.
I was in bed 3, habitación 5, building 29. Right up the top of the complex. As far as I could work out there were 30 buildings each containing 21 habitacións. It is an incredible place and IMO it's well worth staying there, even if just for the experience alone.
PS be wary opening the thumb nails if you don't have unlimited internet service because I still haven't worked out how to reduce the download size of photos.
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Oh my goodness, so glad I didn't read this thread before starting my camino as I probably wouldn't have stopped at Monte de Gozo but did stop, really enjoyed the whole experience and would stop there again.See these eatlier comments--
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/monte-de-gozo-albergue-whats-up.41397/
I think the single rooms in the Seminario are one of the great bargains of the Camino. Not very stylish perhaps but clean and quiet. And remarkably cheap.
Alex, do you just walk in? I have to stay in Santiago on two Saturday nights end of Sept. Can be dicey without a rezzie.I am very happy about that: Jose Ramon in the fruit shop (of course: If you need a room in Spain, go to the fruit shop) is such a helpful and friendly person, fluent in English, and not to mention: His mother and father assist in his business in the most friendly way. Centre of Santiago: Surprisingly good prices. Honest people. Do not remember the name of his mother, so I just call her "mi bonita". seems to work every year...
Yes. I will check if I can find the phone no.Alex, do you just walk in?
I do have a question on the Monte do Gozo zunta. On May 20th as we trudged toward Santiago in the outskirts, we happened to walk through this huge no frills type of complex, but it looked like a ghost town. No activity whatsoever, very unkempt, dead leaves piled in every corner. Knowing nothing about this place and as rundown as it appeared, I actually thought it was a huge albergue that had been closed down for years and felt kind of sad that it couldn't survive. Now I'm wondering if it possibly opens June 1st for the beginning of the busiest season....Can anyone provide an answer for me? I'm very curious about this.
Very interesting fact. Thanks for sharing that information and it helps to make some sense out of this 500 bed ghost town!Monte Do Gozo zunta was built to cater for the major celebrations that take place in Santiago when St. James's Day (25th July) lands on a Sunday. Huge crowds turn up and must be accommodated. The last one was 2010 and the next is 2021.
Yes. I will check if I can find the phone no.
Edit: Got it: Jose Ramon Villaverde Martinez, 626323680. The shop, Charcuteria Villaverde, is at Rua do Vilar 82. His personal phone: 628577323. His mother, Maria, is also in the shop: 630058885.
Two places to sleep, in Rua do Vilar 42, and in Rua do Franco (main pedestrian street). I have only stayed in Rua do Franco.
Say hello from AlexWalker
PS: There is no way to find his place without knowing about it! Not even @natefaith , in the same street, had a clue...So this address should be on your phone, and please: Don't tell anyone, or he will always be completo!
Oh there are several in SdC: Do Bispo in Rua do Franco springs to my mind, next to my favorite hostel with Jose Ramon...Thanks Alex! 'mum' s the word! I especially like that it is right next to La TITa!! The bestest tapas place in town! Yum!
I promise I'll check it out!Oh there are several in SdC: Do Bispo in Rua do Franco springs to my mind, next to my favorite hostel with Jose Ramon...
You fix this on the phone with Jose Ramon. He speaks excellent English, as does his mother. Say hello from me.I have to stay in Santiago on two Saturday nights end of Sept. Can be dicey without a rezzie.
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