Day 0 in Astorga: what time to arrive, where to stay

[jimmy_88]

Hi guys,

I am arriving by train to Leon tomorrow night (thursday), would like to visit the city a bit the next day (friday) and then start the camino from Astorga (saturday).

By what time should I be in Astorga in order to get a bed? I guess in the early afternoon?

Then I see that I have 3 options:
- Albergue de Astorga in plaza de los Marqueses
- Siervas de Maria in plaza San Francisco [it looks nice!]
- San Javier [got bad reviews recently]

Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[mspath]

Located on the camino at the eastern edge of town Siervas da Maria is fine! I have stayed there often. There are a multitude of small dorms and WiFi was available last November. The downstairs kitchen is a great meet and greet space. Open all year the albergue is well heated in winter. Near-by are the local Roman ruins and mosaics.

Buen camino!

 

[scruffy1]

Mspath got it right. I've also lodged at St Javier-just a bit too crowded, they never say no and often there are pilgrims sleeping or otherwise e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e! St Javier has offered discount dinner at the Gaudi Hotel - lovely dining room food was classic pilgrims menu.

 

[jimmy_88]

All right, thanks! So around what time should I get there to be sure I'm not too late?
They will give priority to pilgrims who have actually walked all the way there, I suppose?

 

[mspath]

Get to Siervas as early as you can. 11:00 was the opening hour last November. There should be no problem that you will be starting to walk from Astorga; they issue Credentials and, thus, are friendly towards 'first nighters'.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

San Javier is almost next to the cathedral. It serves a good breakfast. It gets bad marks occasionally for bed bugs, but the hospitality is great. I have been there several times and never had a problem. It is around the corner from the Gaudi Hotel, which has a menu de peregrino (it has been on-again, off-again for some reason). San Javier has cards for the menu.

 

[jimmy_88]

Get to Siervas as early as you can. 11:00 was the opening hour last November. There should be no problem that you will be starting to walk from Astorga; they issue Credentials and, thus, are friendly towards 'first nighters'.

Oh but that's way too early. I wanted to spend the morning in Leon and in any case I can get there by train at the earliest at 2pm. I hope it'll be all right.

 

[mspath]

SdM does offer 156 places so you should be fine!

 

[scruffy1]

Try and get an early start from Astorga, there will be coffee in Castrilo de Polvazeres but thats not the reason to early bird it. Rabanal is only 20k and the Gaucelmo alberge fills fast. The real reason to stop here is not the all so English albergue but the church of course. Don't even consider missing vespers and the Gregorian chants - a perfect first "real" night on the Camino.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi guys,

I am arriving by train to Leon tomorrow night (thursday), would like to visit the city a bit the next day (friday) and then start the camino from Astorga (saturday).

By what time should I be in Astorga in order to get a bed? I guess in the early afternoon?

Then I see that I have 3 options:
- Albergue de Astorga in plaza de los Marqueses
- Siervas de Maria in plaza San Francisco [it looks nice!]
- San Javier [got bad reviews recently]

Any tips?

Thanks!

Hi Jimmy, my wife stayed in San Javier in 2013, and I stayed there this year and we both found it very nice. At the time we stayed there it was not that busy. You will have to make a choice for yourself. I wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter .