Best guide to use for private accommodation

[lbpierce]

I will be walking my Camino next year (late may to early July) and am planning to stay in private accommodation for a variety of reasons. I am wondering which of the guides would have the most information on private accommodation options. I was looking at John Brierley's web site and while he says his guide covers both albergues and private accommodation, I don't have a good feeling for how extensive his private accommodation listings are. Has anyone used his guide for private accommodations? I would appreciate any feedback. I may just have to purchase it to find out.

I have to say I am amused by Brierley's return policy..."Our "no quibbles" guarantee means that if for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase, you can return it to us...[my italics]".....but wait there's more..."in its original condition within 30 days of the date you received the item, unopened (with any seals and shrink wrap intact)..." So, my question is, how would one know if one would be unhappy with the book if you can't look at the inside of the book? Is he thinking you might be unhappy with the color of the cover or the way the shrink wrap was applied? Or?? Now, please understand that I say all this with tongue in cheek, because I can well imagine he doesn't want to ship out his books, have people read them, and then return them for a refund. So speaking of "no quibbles," I have no quibbles with his return policy, I just thought it was terribly funny. It's good material for Bill Bryson or Dave Barry.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Brierley's list is comprehensive, but provides only the number of stars and the phone number. The actual price and exact location usually requires additional research (in the larger cities, accommodation locations are shown on the maps with a fair degree of accuracy).

 

[robertt]

Private accommodation info is the great strength of the Miam Miam Dodo guide. The only quibble is that it's less than complete for some larger towns. Where lodging is abundant, it sometimes leaves you to hunt about; though it always offers enough suggestions, with contacts, to get by.

Remember it's in French, but it's pretty easy to interpret. Also, the authors recommend tearing out the non-informational bits for travelling - and even give you the approx weight with and without intro and variants!

Buy fresh, as the Frances and Le Puy guides are updated annually.

Best

Rob

 

[jastrace]

Another option is to simply work out where you plan (assuming you have one) to finish each day and check out what websites like tripadvisor or trivago have to say.

You could also get someone to book them all for you, tapping into their local knowledge about what places are good value at the time and if the first choice is not available then what the next best option is etc. Send me a PM if you want some recommendations.

Alternatively you could have no plan and just see what's available on the day.

Cheers,

Jason.

 

[Larry DeMaster]

Hi -

Search this site as there are 2 good listings here. One is near all inclusive and posted by a German pilgrim. The other recommends one hotel/Parador, etc. per night based on the writer's multiple Caminos.

I will try to attach a spreadsheet I've modified from the all inclusive (link above). It eliminates all albergues & most pensiones.

Buen Camiono!
Larry

 

[scruffy1]

Brierley's book is good especially in many smaller places since he lists all that are to be found there! For a more comprehensive listing try "The Way of St James" by Jose Maria Anguita Jaen published in English by Everest. Brierley is a Camino icon and woe to any including me who would say anything disparaging - however his maps are mis-orientated and often infuriating something put to rights in the book above.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Private accommodation info is the great strength of the Miam Miam Dodo guide.
...Buy fresh, as the Frances and Le Puy guides are updated annually. Rob

I'd agree with this. I used the Miam Miam Dodo guide to the Camino Frances on my first Camino, and it gave lots of options.
One option that I would like to suggest is for Cacabelos, at the hotel there. They had big billboards advertising a pilgrim price before you reached the town. I took a punt and stayed there, and loved it. The service was friendly, the room was very spacious, the shower room was divine, and I felt like I had been on holiday when I restarted the next day.
Margaret

 

[robertt]

Cacabelos, hotel and town - delightful folk!

 

[lbpierce]

Thank you all for your responses. It seems like the Miam Miam Dodo guide may be the best option for me, especially since I can read French. I don't want to do much research on specific places in advance, because, with few exceptions, I don't know exactly where I will be stopping.

 

[grayland]

I have and do use both the MMDD and Brierley guides. On the Le Puy route the MMDD is essential and is important to have with you as most people reserve a day ahead on the Le Puy route.

However, I prefer the Brierley guide on the Camino Frances. It has a very good listing of private accommodation as well as some pretty good typical "guide" information about the area you are in.
The maps are better in my opinion are better than anything in the MMDD...an opinion, of course.