Can you send bags to or have bags picked up from Municipals?

[TaraUltreia]

It's been a long time since I've sent my pack forward but due to an unexpected gallbladder infection and hospital stay in Logroño, the rest of my camino is going to be very different than in the past!

I would like to stay in municipals as much as possible because they tend to have decent kitchens and I'm now on a much more restricted diet (how does one get by on a no fat diet in Spain?!?!)
- but I also need to send my bag forward so that I'm not completely exhausting myself every day.

I know that sending my pack to a municipal won't save me a bed, but given that I'll only be walking 10 to 15km a day I'm pretty sure I'll arrive early enough to get a place. But will municipal accept them?

How about sending from a municipal?

Any answers gratefully received! Muchos gracias!

 

[mspath]

Perhaps there is no standard rule re baggage transport and municipal albergues. However autumn 2015 after I fell my pack was send to/from the municipal in Azofra with no problem using the Spanish Correos.

See more in English re Correos on their web.

http://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/transporte-mochilas.php

They pick up and deliver almost everywhere and the price is roughly 5 euros per bag. Most albergues have the Correos instruction tag/envelope. The first time that you want to use them ask the hospitalero for help. You can book using your phone.

Good luck, stay safe and Buen camino!

 

[AlanB]

It's a god question. I've never seen bags delivered to municipals but often to privados. I think this is because having a bag delivered my be construed as making a reservation and that is verboten in municipals.

 

[AlanB]

It's not a god question .No pun intended

 

[TaraUltreia]

Does anyone know what happens to your bag if you put a municipal down on the envelope and the municipal won't accept it? The bag doesn't go all the way back to the starting location, or does it?

 

[SabsP]

Does anyone know what happens to your bag if you put a municipal down on the envelope and the municipal won't accept it? The bag doesn't go all the way back to the starting location, or does it?

I don't think so about back to starting location. Btw could you not send them to a hotel/ pension ( and let the transport guys know about your need for this due to medical issues ) and pick them up there and then go to muni?

Happu healing!!

 

[mspath]

Does anyone know what happens to your bag if you put a municipal down on the envelope and the municipal won't accept it? The bag doesn't go all the way back to the starting location, or does it?

Why not ask/email the Correos about service in municipal albergues?
Here is their email
paqmochila@correo.com
You can correspond in English if you wish.

 

[basquelady]

Does anyone know what happens to your bag if you put a municipal down on the envelope and the municipal won't accept it? The bag doesn't go all the way back to the starting location, or does it?

You are likely to encounter problems if you try to send to a municipal. Last year we spent an afternoon tracking down packs addressed to a municipal last year by walkers who spoke no Spanish; we eventually found them at the small store, in the trunk in which the newspapers were usually left! Previous year I saw an argument between the owner of private albergue (who had refused to accept packs addressed to the muncipal) and the municipal hospitalera. Not worth the worry! I'm not mentioning the localities involved as these sorts of difficulties occur because of individual circumstances.

 

[Paddington Bear]

The correos website has a list of albergues they deliver to. Go through the process of booking and they are on the drop down boxes.

 

[julia-t]

Camino Facil deliver to all sorts of places - if you look at their website, each town and village has a list of the albergues, pensions, hotels and casa rurals which CF will deliver to. You can see which municipals will accept them. I' ve used Camino Facil a lot, and they are very efficient, reliable, and will call you if there's any issue with your bag.

I've only stayed at one municipal, in Santo Domingo de Calzada, and the room there was filled with delivered bags. And mine was collected from there the next morning, so that's one for sure you can stay at.

Wishing you a speedy recovery from your illness and hoping you can continue your camino without any further flare-ups or problems.

 

[LTfit]

In my experience as a hospitalera in 4 albergues on the Francés (municipals and parroquial in Nájera, Burgo Ranero, Ponferrada and Grañón) they were not accepted. In the case of El Burgo Ranero and Ponferrada the transport companies left the bags at a nearby café. Pilgrims were responsible for picking up and depositing their packs in the morning and for calling the companies themselves. In Grañón they were left downstairs at the entrance and in Nájera I don't recall seeing any packs.

Private albergues often provide this service but volunteers at municipals, sometimes with 100+ pilgrims can not be expected to organize pick up. After 8 a.m. they are busy with cleaning and doing the wash. Municipal albergues are usually closed from 8 to around 13.00, some as late as 15.00.

 

[FLEUR]

It worked for us in the municipal albergue at Mansilla de las Mulas (sp?) before Leon.

In El Burgo del Ranero I remember we took my rucksack to a nearby hotel for collection .

I too had an injury and getting the rucksack transported was a life saver.

 

[notion900]

I salute you for carrying on after such an illness. But maybe look at it another way, do you really need to be shopping and cooking, and collecting your bag from some random bar and taking it to the Municipal every day?

Can anyone give some suggestions for fat free foods that can be ordered in a restaurant or bar?
Sandwich vegetal springs to mind, as does tostada con tomate for breakfast, grilled fish with salad.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, TaraUltreia,
Wishing you a full recovery while you are walking. Talk about determnation!

I know that there is a growing number of private albergue and pensión owners who are feeling scammed by pilgrims who transport their bags (I am NOT saying this is you). What frequently happens is that pilgrims make a reservation at the private place in town and have their bag sent there. They then go pick up their bag at the private place and tell the owner they have decided to "walk further," when really they are just going over to the municipal. I can certainly understand how it could come to strong words, as @basquelady describes, because after all these people in private business are being unfairly taken advantage of. So I think that's not a good option.

Hope you find a way to do this! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[marigold]

Perhaps there is no standard rule re baggage transport and municipal albergues. However autumn 2015 after I fell my pack was send to/from the municipal in Azofra with no problem using the Spanish Correos.

See more in English re Correos on their web.

http://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/transporte-mochilas.php

They pick up and deliver almost everywhere and the price is roughly 5 euros per bag. Most albergues have the Correos instruction tag/envelope. The first time that you want to use them ask the hospitalero for help. You can book using your phone.

Good luck, stay safe and Buen camino!

Ah thanks for this post! I am planning to walk from Logrono to Burgos, just a few days this year as I'm not as fit as I was! I need to have my pack transported but I'm worried that there are not many private albergues on the route, and I can't walk more than about 15k without difficulty. So I was going to stop at Azofra and was trying to find out if they would accept bags. I used Correos last year and they were great. Do you have any idea about Sto Domingo, and Villafranca municipals - whether I can send my bag there?
Thanks for your continued help on this forum

 

[mspath]

Perhap you might email Correos and ask.
They definitely read/write English. Here is their web https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/