Thanks! May I know what's the difference between Albergues, Municipals, Hostels and the different types of accommodation?
Albergue is basically a hostel: cheap accommodations for travellers with dormitories and shared washrooms. On the Caminos, there are several types of albergues, depemnding on who is operating them, as you've probably read above. They include the municipals, that you mention in your question. I tend to think of the albergues in the following categories:
- municipal albergues, operated by the municipality. These are often among the less expensive and more basic, and generally don't take reservations (although there are exceptions to this). I believe that in Galicia, these are operated by the Xunta (province), rather than the local municipality as is more common elsewhere on the Caminos. They are generally exclusively for pilgrims.
- parrochial albergues, operated by the Church or religious groups or orders. These also tend to be basic in their offerings and inexpensive. They may also be "donativo" (by donation). They are generally exclusively for pilgrims.
- association albergues, operated by various "friends of the Camino" associations. Like the parrochial albergues, these also tend to be basic in their offerings and inexpensive. They may be "donativo" (by donation). They are often staffed by volunteer "hospitaleros" who are, themselves, former pilgrims and with experience to empathize with what you are going through and pilgrim needs. These also often do not take reservations. They are generally exclusively for pilgrims.
- private albergues, operated by private individuals. These tend to be a bit more expensive and offer a bit more amenities. They are more likely to take reservations. Some have private rooms as well as the dorm rooms available. They may or may not be exclusively for pilgrims. They may or may not be run by former pilgrims. They often reflect the personality of the owner.
Other accommodation options are not aimed so much at pilgrims as at the general tourist population, although they are certainly used by some pilgrims, either regularly or as an occasional treat along the way. They include casa rurales (like bed and breakfasts), hostals (cheap hotels, not to be confused with hostels), and hotels of the various star levels. There are also "paradors" in several towns along the way. These are five-star accommodations run by the government generally in historically significant locations. You can't miss seeing the Parador de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago de Compostela along one side of the most famous square by the cathedral where everyone gets their photo taken. It was ordered to be built by Ferdinand and Isabela after their pilgrimage and originally used as a pilgrims hospice.
A note on "donativo" albergues: The practice commonly recommended in this forum for payment at donativo albergues is, if you can afford it, to pay a little more than you would at similar accommodations elsewhere in order to help cover the costs of those who are forced to pay less or not at all by circumstances. I tend to suggest thinking of it as if you are accommodated according to what has been paid by your predecessors and paying according to what you would like to be offered to subsequent pilgrims.