Julia Mumford
Adventure Geek
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Camino Ingles (2018)
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When researching hostales for my Frances I saw that the reviews for all of the places in Torres del Rio were poor so we opted for Sansol. It was a great decision. The old hostal where we stayed was basic but comfortable. The menu del peregrino was very cheap and delicious with no lack of wine. The hostelros were a very friendly couple and on the other side of the plaza the local sold ripping Rioja at 50 centimos for a generous glassful. Sansol, always.Last week I received a message from Hotel San Andres and Hostal Casa Mariela saying that "due to a personal matter the hostel would be closed between 5th-9th October and therefore they needed to cancel my booking". As it was two places that messaged me within the space of 3 hours, I assumed that there had been a death in the village or something similar. I had 15 people booked into Hotel San Andres and a room for four in the hostel. I later found out (via another hostel) that it was total rubbish, and that they simply had a better offer. He was right. When we walked by, the hotel was open and pilgrims were packing up and ready to leave. Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me. If you can, try and book direct. Your booking will be more secure that way.
Anyway, panicking, I set to work trying to re-organise the accommodation. I ended up with 6 people in an Albergue in Torres Del Rio, and the rest of us ended up at Palacio de Sansol.
The Camino Provides!
I would highly recommend the Palacio de Sansol. It is a recently renovated palace and the owner is a 77 year old who provides the most delicious pilgrim meal. It is brand new, they have private rooms and bunk rooms and the views from the balcony are amazing. The best part of the experience was the "Camino Game" which the host introduced after the meal. It was a set of Camino cards that we had to choose to represent our life before we set out on the Camino, and then a card to represent how we would like our lives to be after the Camino. We had tears, laughter and lots of hugs.
It was a fantastic Camino with lots of challenges, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me.
Did you report this to booking.com? I'm pretty sure that it goes against their policies.had this happen on my last stay in SJPDP (also via booking dot com)
A week out from our arrival our booking was cancelled as they had a tour group book the whole place.
I also enjoyed my stay at the Sansol Palacio, and dinner with the lovely owner and his gracious Dutch assistant. Absolutely loved the grand old building upgraded to comfort and convenience.Last week I received a message from Hotel San Andres and Hostal Casa Mariela saying that "due to a personal matter the hostel would be closed between 5th-9th October and therefore they needed to cancel my booking". As it was two places that messaged me within the space of 3 hours, I assumed that there had been a death in the village or something similar. I had 15 people booked into Hotel San Andres and a room for four in the hostel. I later found out (via another hostel) that it was total rubbish, and that they simply had a better offer. He was right. When we walked by, the hotel was open and pilgrims were packing up and ready to leave. Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me. If you can, try and book direct. Your booking will be more secure that way.
Anyway, panicking, I set to work trying to re-organise the accommodation. I ended up with 6 people in an Albergue in Torres Del Rio, and the rest of us ended up at Palacio de Sansol.
The Camino Provides!
I would highly recommend the Palacio de Sansol. It is a recently renovated palace and the owner is a 77 year old who provides the most delicious pilgrim meal. It is brand new, they have private rooms and bunk rooms and the views from the balcony are amazing. The best part of the experience was the "Camino Game" which the host introduced after the meal. It was a set of Camino cards that we had to choose to represent our life before we set out on the Camino, and then a card to represent how we would like our lives to be after the Camino. We had tears, laughter and lots of hugs.
It was a fantastic Camino with lots of challenges, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
So sorry to hear about this happening and unusual for such a large group bookingLast week I received a message from Hotel San Andres and Hostal Casa Mariela saying that "due to a personal matter the hostel would be closed between 5th-9th October and therefore they needed to cancel my booking". As it was two places that messaged me within the space of 3 hours, I assumed that there had been a death in the village or something similar. I had 15 people booked into Hotel San Andres and a room for four in the hostel. I later found out (via another hostel) that it was total rubbish, and that they simply had a better offer. He was right. When we walked by, the hotel was open and pilgrims were packing up and ready to leave. Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me. If you can, try and book direct. Your booking will be more secure that way.
Anyway, panicking, I set to work trying to re-organise the accommodation. I ended up with 6 people in an Albergue in Torres Del Rio, and the rest of us ended up at Palacio de Sansol.
The Camino Provides!
I would highly recommend the Palacio de Sansol. It is a recently renovated palace and the owner is a 77 year old who provides the most delicious pilgrim meal. It is brand new, they have private rooms and bunk rooms and the views from the balcony are amazing. The best part of the experience was the "Camino Game" which the host introduced after the meal. It was a set of Camino cards that we had to choose to represent our life before we set out on the Camino, and then a card to represent how we would like our lives to be after the Camino. We had tears, laughter and lots of hugs.
It was a fantastic Camino with lots of challenges, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
What office was that?I sent a complaint to the Burgos office on my return home
I can’t remember rightly now but I phoned the tourist office and they gave me the relevant phone number who said they would contact that albergueWhat office was that?
Albergues can be reviewed on Gronze.com.
There are also reviews on Wise Pilgrim, but I don't know what the process is to submit one. Perhaps @wisepilgrim will chime in.
Last week I received a message from Hotel San Andres and Hostal Casa Mariela saying that "due to a personal matter the hostel would be closed between 5th-9th October and therefore they needed to cancel my booking". As it was two places that messaged me within the space of 3 hours, I assumed that there had been a death in the village or something similar. I had 15 people booked into Hotel San Andres and a room for four in the hostel. I later found out (via another hostel) that it was total rubbish, and that they simply had a better offer. He was right. When we walked by, the hotel was open and pilgrims were packing up and ready to leave. Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me. If you can, try and book direct. Your booking will be more secure that way.
Anyway, panicking, I set to work trying to re-organise the accommodation. I ended up with 6 people in an Albergue in Torres Del Rio, and the rest of us ended up at Palacio de Sansol.
The Camino Provides!
I would highly recommend the Palacio de Sansol. It is a recently renovated palace and the owner is a 77 year old who provides the most delicious pilgrim meal. It is brand new, they have private rooms and bunk rooms and the views from the balcony are amazing. The best part of the experience was the "Camino Game" which the host introduced after the meal. It was a set of Camino cards that we had to choose to represent our life before we set out on the Camino, and then a card to represent how we would like our lives to be after the Camino. We had tears, laughter and lots of hugs.
It was a fantastic Camino with lots of challenges, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
We had a few days notice and just rebooked........Did you report this to booking.com? I'm pretty sure that it goes against their policies.
We stayed in the Palacio in May. Great place. The owner doesn't have much English and when an American rang enquiring about the cost of rooms, my husband acted as translator for both of them. For dinner we were served thistle soup - a first for me. Quite tasty and, let's just say - very high in fibre!Last week I received a message from Hotel San Andres and Hostal Casa Mariela saying that "due to a personal matter the hostel would be closed between 5th-9th October and therefore they needed to cancel my booking". As it was two places that messaged me within the space of 3 hours, I assumed that there had been a death in the village or something similar. I had 15 people booked into Hotel San Andres and a room for four in the hostel. I later found out (via another hostel) that it was total rubbish, and that they simply had a better offer. He was right. When we walked by, the hotel was open and pilgrims were packing up and ready to leave. Be aware, if you book via booking.com then the hostel/hotels need to pay fees (rightly so). But, this could leave you high and dry like it nearly did for me. If you can, try and book direct. Your booking will be more secure that way.
Anyway, panicking, I set to work trying to re-organise the accommodation. I ended up with 6 people in an Albergue in Torres Del Rio, and the rest of us ended up at Palacio de Sansol.
The Camino Provides!
I would highly recommend the Palacio de Sansol. It is a recently renovated palace and the owner is a 77 year old who provides the most delicious pilgrim meal. It is brand new, they have private rooms and bunk rooms and the views from the balcony are amazing. The best part of the experience was the "Camino Game" which the host introduced after the meal. It was a set of Camino cards that we had to choose to represent our life before we set out on the Camino, and then a card to represent how we would like our lives to be after the Camino. We had tears, laughter and lots of hugs.
It was a fantastic Camino with lots of challenges, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world.
I also always assumed Booking.com was the safer way to go to ensure that you actually had accommodations when you arrived.Thanks for sharing this information. It is disappointing to see this happening, and worrying for those of us who like to pre-book. Is it appropriate to “name and shame” accommodations that do this? I think so - I have seen accounts of such behaviour in reviews and taken my business elsewhere.
Perhaps I am being naive, but I would have thought booking.com bookings would be safer.
Both places would not take payment up front so it was payment on arrival.Just curious if you paid for the accomodations at the time of booking or were planning to pay onsite?
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