Jeff Crawley
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- A "Tourigrino" trip once Covid has passed, so 2023
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Thanks Luka!I am staying there (for the first time) the 31st of December. Will report back.
So true!! Exactly how I feel every time!Walking in the door felt like returning home. Meeting some of the staff who have been there for years is always special.
Yes, my group will be there Jan 7 and 8 taking up 7 hospederia rooms so I will report on that, too.I am staying there (for the first time) the 31st of December. Will report back.
We're just in love with Lucifer, the little scoundrel.Stayed in SMP earlier this month, long after the flooding. 4th floor, 2 different rooms. Old? Yes. Imperfect plumbing? Yes. Simple but abundant breakfast? Yes. No mold in either room. Room cleaned every day. Heat worked well. Reception staff incredibly kind. Lucifer lived up to his reputation. The coffee machines never ran out. The solitude in the small rooms was a gift, as were the conversations with other pilgrims at breakfast. I’m sorry your friend had a bad experience. I will happily stay there again.
Black mold can be seriously detrimental to ones health. I would not stay.A dear friend arrived in Santiago last night and is staying over for Christmas. She was looking forward to her stay in the Hospedería San Martín Pinario but is saddened by what she found.
From our WhatsApp messages:
Friend: Installed in Martin Pinario for just 2 nights…. It really has not survived the pandemic well.
Me: Glad you made it OK. Heard they've had some flooding problems there. All part of life's adventures!
Friend: Where did you hear about flooding? I can see evidence of it in my room!
Me: Someone reported it last month I think it was. When the heavy storms were on. There was talk of sweeping water out through the ground floor.
Did you get your cuppa and a decent night's sleep?
Friend: No but an Albariño, suggested and poured by Fernando, my favourite waiter
Sleep didn’t come, legs cramps all night.
Breakfast so poor it’s sad. Nothing fresh, not ever my favourite bread!!!!.
Room was covered in black mould around windows, top of toilet tank, on ceiling , in corners. Looked like maybe they had a roof leak as well!
Room was not cleaned, debris under bed and floors needed a washing. Sadly it’s farewell to Pinario .
Damp, dank smell everywhere downstairs… hits you as you come in. Probably from floods but there are heaters, they’re just not very warm.
Me: are you going to stay there?
Friend: Tonight here. Move up street to Casa de Troya tomorrow until 27th.
Friend: Just moved down to 2nd floor for tonight. Now maybe I can have a shower in my mould free bathroom. Then to check out Christmas schedule for cathedral. Visit hopefully to Pilgrim Office. Seek out location of Xmas market. After dark look bc at lights. Check out Christmas meal options at Reis Catolicas.
Sad news indeed.
Yes, she complained and was moved to a clean room on the second floor.Yeah I'm definitely not writing off San Martin Pinario based on this, (though not to dismiss your friend's complaints). I've always delighted in the simply furnished pilgrim room, my own bathroom, the bountiful breakfast, as well as the lounge for afternoon coffee, cake or caña. Like another comment stated on this thread, San Martin feels like a home to me (along with Pilgrim House!)
I wonder, did they bring it to the hotel's attention, giving them a chance to rectify it? I once worked at a world famous hotel. I tell you, I learned some great "peopling" skills at that place....namely, if you're able to fix a problem or issue for a guest-make things right, they will tell 7 of their friends how fabulous their overall experience was. Whereas if they have a great time, no issues, they're less likely to tell people.
Also, what is this special bread they speak of, lol? Every time I stay there, I overdose on many bowls of glorious cornflakes and toast, then go back to bed...
You must mean "living in WESTERN Oregon"... we rarely had/have heavy rains while growing up in Bend and Ontario. Now Eugene and Florence (my wife's home towns -- they get serious rains)... ah, how I don't miss those days at UofO. Buen Camino and AlohaI stay there every year and I will again in 2024.
Living in Oregon gives me a bit of experience with heavy rain.
I'm sorry you were put in a room that was moldy and maybe the staff was too busy with the emergency there and in their own homes to bake fresh bread? Sounds like many places may have been in an emergency state.
At any rate, I'm pretty confident it will all have been corrected by May - time will tell.
And if anyone is eating there soon, give my regards to my favorite waiter, "Lucifer!" lol!
I live in Ontario and it is really wet here right now. ;-)You must mean "living in WESTERN Oregon"... we rarely had/have heavy rains while growing up in Bend and Ontario. Now Eugene and Florence (my wife's home towns -- they get serious rains)... ah, how I don't miss those days at UofO. Buen Camino and Aloha
That's good to know. Thank you.PS:
All the mattresses in the Peregrino floor will be brand new by early 2024, many have already been replaced.
The breakfast with its wide variety and wonderful pan Galego is wonderful. Try making cheese toast, just don’t place it in the conveyor like toaster. Nearly guilty once.
Lucifer is my guy too! I first met him in 2014 he was tending the lounge in those years, then was waiting in the big dining hall for a year or two. He's back in the lounge... told me he lived at the monastery years ago, but now has an apartment and a girlfriend! LOL He's lovely. He's become part of the experience.I stay there every year and I will again in 2024.
Living in Oregon gives me a bit of experience with heavy rain.
I'm sorry you were put in a room that was moldy and maybe the staff was too busy with the emergency there and in their own homes to bake fresh bread? Sounds like many places may have been in an emergency state.
At any rate, I'm pretty confident it will all have been corrected by May - time will tell.
And if anyone is eating there soon, give my regards to my favorite waiter, "Lucifer!" lol!
We just love him!Lucifer is my guy too! I first met him in 2014 he was tending the lounge in those years, then was waiting in the big dining hall for a year or two. He's back in the lounge... told me he lived at the monastery years ago, but now has an apartment and a girlfriend! LOL He's lovely. He's become part of the experience.
It’s pretty easy to get rid of mould (vinegar will kill it) so I think it really should have been taken care of. Whether the room rate is 15€, 27€ or 50€+ this isn’t something that a person doing the cleaning should have walked past…Greetings from San Martin Pinario! I am staying in room 402. It's my first stay so can't compare, but I have no complaints. Yes I notice some small damages here and there and there is a big spot on the toilet reservoir that looks like mold, but hey, this is staying in the old town of Santiago for 27 euros including breakfast. Would certainly come back.
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But what I could not bear up against was the mattress, with its decades-old metal coils struggling to pierce their way to freedom through the wafer thin ticking, and the whole contraption sloping at a cruel angle from side to side. I tried sleeping with my head at the foot, I tried flipping that sucker over, I wedged a towel underneath me - all to no avail, it was torturous.
How were the rooms Luka. Update pleaseI am staying there (for the first time) the 31st of December. Will report back.
Please update with reply to keep the thread topic up to dateYes, my group will be there Jan 7 and 8 taking up 7 hospederia rooms so I will report on that, too.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. The OP's friend had a disappointing experience. I respect that. I have never stayed there either so I'm sure I'll get 11 other opinions about it while we are there, too.
I am not sure if it was moldIt’s pretty easy to get rid of mould (vinegar will kill it) so I think it really should have been taken care of. Whether the room rate is 15€, 27€ or 50€+ this isn’t something that a person doing the cleaning should have walked past…
I already posted a report. It's all definitely old and sometimes damaged, but I thought it was all great for staying right next to the cathedral for €27 including breakfast.How were the rooms Luka. Update please
YesYes, and received a prompt reply. Try this email:
Teléfono: (+34) 981560282
E-mail: reservas@sanmartinpinario.eu
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Buen Camino!
Yes
& have sent 2 times to this email with Zbo reply
Thank youI already posted a report. It's all definitely old and sometimes damaged, but I thought it was all great for staying right next to the cathedral for €27 including breakfast.
Yes will do. We arrive on Sunday. We don't have pilgrim rooms as they are undergoing updates. We are in regular Hospederia rooms.Please update with reply to keep the thread topic up to date
I sent an email yesterday to update our reservation and got an immediate reply. If you want to pm me your email I can ask them to check when we arrive.Yes
& have sent 2 times to this email with NO reply
Please double check the email address to SMP that you are using. I just contacted them and received a quick response. Good luck.Yes
& have sent 2 times to this email with NO reply
In past years San Martín Pinario has responded promptly to my email. Last June I emailed and received no response, so I called and was able to get a room, as were my three walking companions.Asking if anyone has had a reply for an advance booking a pilgrim room in 2024
I know to email request & have done twice with no reply .
& do understand festive holiday season.
My next option is to contact Hospedería San Martín Pinario. by telephone
I received a room quote by email (very fast response!) They are asking for a credit card number to confirm - is there another way to securely send this info rather than by email?
WhatsApp is end to end encrypted.I received a room quote by email (very fast response!) They are asking for a credit card number to confirm - is there another way to securely send this info rather than by email?
I received a reply - no WhatsApp, only via email or call. I guess I can call through WhatsApp, right? (I haven't made an international call through WhatsApp before).I would ask the hotel that very question. Or if possible, are they reachable by WhatsApp?
I don't think that they use WhatsApp. I send them my CC info via email.I received a reply - no WhatsApp, only via email or call. I guess I can call through WhatsApp, right? (I haven't made an international call through WhatsApp before).
That mytello is interesting! Thank you for posting!There is some risk in sending CC numbers via email. I have a friend whose CC was used for about $4,000 of purchases before the fraud was identified, and she had just sent her CC numbers via email. Could be coincidence, but maybe not.
I recently made a reservation for May and called on the phone to give my CC info. I have a phone card that gives me cheap international calls, though the rates to Spain went way up last year - now it’s 25 cents a minute instead of the previous 3 cents. But the convenience is worth it for me, and I’ve been just too lazy to hunt around for a cheaper price. I seem to remember that @trecile has a cheap way of making international calls, but I think it may be VOIP and I like to have the card available on my phone at all times.
Quick update - just did a quick google search and this was the card that popped to the top. These are the rates I used to get, so cheaper rates are still out there. Time to change when my card balance is depleted!
Laurie (and other US residents), you should look at getting a free second phone number from Google Voice. Besides a number of advantages for domestic use you can make cheap calls between countries. Recently I described it in more detail here:I recently made a reservation for May and called on the phone to give my CC info. I have a phone card that gives me cheap international calls, though the rates to Spain went way up last year - now it’s 25 cents a minute instead of the previous 3 cents. But the convenience is worth it for me, and I’ve been just too lazy to hunt around for a cheaper price. I seem to remember that @trecile has a cheap way of making international calls, but I think it may be VOIP and I like to have the card available on my phone at all times.
I just sent my cc by email today and got an immediate reservation confirmation (45 Euros per person including breakfast). Crossing my fingers and praying that my CC# and other info don't get into the wrong hands.I received a room quote by email (very fast response!) They are asking for a credit card number to confirm - is there another way to securely send this info rather than by email?
I use Viber with "Viber Out" credits. Calls to and from Spain are less than 2¢ a minute when I buy $4.99 worth of Viber Out credits. It's available on my phone at all times.I recently made a reservation for May and called on the phone to give my CC info. I have a phone card that gives me cheap international calls, though the rates to Spain went way up last year - now it’s 25 cents a minute instead of the previous 3 cents. But the convenience is worth it for me, and I’ve been just too lazy to hunt around for a cheaper price. I seem to remember that @trecile has a cheap way of making international calls, but I think it may be VOIP and I like to have the card available on my phone at all times
Good! More rooms available for the rest of us !Black mold can be seriously detrimental to ones health. I would not stay.
PS:
All the mattresses in the Peregrino floor will be brand new by early 2024, many have already been replaced.
I have stayed there many times but I don't know who Lucifer is!!! Maybe he is the one who managed to get me chips when there were none on the menuI was looking forward to seeing Lucifer there again, but he was on holidays !! He is such a character and makes everyone feel special.
A pic from late October 2023. As usual in pics my eyes are closed … Lucifer is standing beside me. In front are my 3 raucous Irish friends. I won’t name two others tho (privacy ). Peregrino behind and happy peregrina wearing glasses …. Both of the un named are forum members.I have stayed there many times but I don't know who Lucifer is!!! Maybe he is the one who managed to get me chips when there were none on the menuLoved that man!
While you were out with your 3 Irish buddies that evening Lucifer was feeding Alison and me with yummy chocolates, free with our gin and tonicsI was looking forward to seeing Lucifer there again, but he was on holidays !!
OH I just LOVE that man!A pic from late October 2023. As usual in pics my eyes are closed … Lucifer is standing beside me. In front are my 3 raucous Irish friends. I won’t name two others tho (privacy ). Peregrino behind and happy peregrina wearing glasses …. Both of the un named are forum members.
Note / we stayed there twice as that pic was after walking the invierno with 2 other friends & before walking the portugués espiritual with 3 Irish amigos. - we returned to SMP in November.
A pic from late October 2023. As usual in pics my eyes are closed … Lucifer is standing beside me. In front are my 3 raucous Irish friends. I won’t name two others tho (privacy ). Peregrino behind and happy peregrina wearing glasses …. Both of the un named are forum members.
Note / we stayed there twice as that pic was after walking the invierno with 2 other friends & before walking the portugués espiritual with 3 Irish amigos. - we returned to SMP in November.
Oh thank you! What a lovely pic!A pic from late October 2023. As usual in pics my eyes are closed … Lucifer is standing beside me. In front are my 3 raucous Irish friends. I won’t name two others tho (privacy ). Peregrino behind and happy peregrina wearing glasses …. Both of the un named are forum members.
Note / we stayed there twice as that pic was after walking the invierno with 2 other friends & before walking the portugués espiritual with 3 Irish amigos. - we returned to SMP in November.
Yes! He is always sneaking freebies for PeregrinosWhile you were out with your 3 Irish buddies that evening Lucifer was feeding Alison and me with yummy chocolates, free with our gin and tonics.
Me too!OH I just LOVE that man!
He is HILARIOUS and such a joy!
Annie, you know that’s me.and happy peregrina wearing glasses
Of course I know it’s you. I just wanted you to identify yourself. Many people don’t like being tagged. (Me for one ).Annie, you know that’s me.
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