Has anyone found a hotel in Madrid that will hold their luggage while on the Camino

[trecile]

I'm thinking that I will probably spend a night or two in Madrid before heading out for the Camino, then a a few nights afterwards. I'd like to be able to leave a suitcase in Madrid, rather than mailing it to Santiago. Does anyone have a hotel/pension to recommend for this?

 

[t2andreo]

I am doing something similar in April. However, based on my three previous Caminos, I will plan to either mail a Caja Verde Grande or Supergrande box to Ivar, OR to my reserved lodgings at Santiago. I regard having clean clothes at Santiago as more important to having them back in Madrid. But, everyone is different.

You can find the box sizes at www.correos.es, or rely on my research. Here are the Caja Verde box sizes (from the correos.es web site):

• Caja "mediana" 317 x 215 x 125 mm (12.4” x 8.4” x 4.9” ) [a hiking boot-sized box]
• Caja "grande" 390 x 280 x 190 mm (15” x 11” x 7.4”) [the size of a small toaster oven]
• Caja "supergrande" 590 x 390 x 390 mm (23” x 15” x 15”) [the kitchen sink" - could hold a rolling suitcase]

Just as an FYI, while at Ivar's I have seen shrink-wrapped luggage, as well as suitcases that were shipped "as is" through the correos. So, this is an option. But, I do not know their "rules" for doing this. However, and to avoid the vagaries of counter staff at the correos, I avoid the potential for drama by using the soft duffle bag approach to packing.

As mentioned, to facilitate sending tourist stuff and fresh clothes ahead from my starting point to Santiago, I use a soft, ballistic nylon, packing duffle for checked luggage instead of hard-sided luggage. The collapsed duffel bag goes into the Caja Verde box...

Also, there is a maximum size limit of 200 cm for overall dimensions. It is calculated thusly: L + W + H = 200 cm.

As regards weight, I recall there is a bracket in which up to 4 Kilos can be shipped cheaply in the "mediana" or "grande" boxes. Above that, it starts to get more expensive.

You simply buy the box at the Correos, then fill it, seal it (they self-seal), and pay for the postage. You can pack your stuff while at the correos. I do it all the time, dumping my rucksack on a table, or the floor, and sorting stuff back into the rucksack or into the shipping box. The staff see pilgrims do this every day, so they usually do not say anything. Just be neat and quick about it and do not disturb the other customers.

The Spanish Correos is very inexpensive and offers excellent value for service. Mailing things within Spain is MUCH less expensive than domestic USA shipping. To send maybe 4 kilos from Madrid to Santiago should cost about 10 - 12 Euros if I recall correctly.

I KNOW Ivar will be glad to accept and hold my tourist clothing and stuff I picked up in Madrid before starting out on the Camino de Madrid. However, I must check with the Santiago hotel before I leave the States to find out which place I will mail my stuff to.

My approach to sending clothing ahead to Santiago allows me to have a complete change of clean clothing, including footwear, to change into as soon as I arrive and bathe. I can then find a local "lavanderia" (laundry) to get all my Camino clothes washed in one go. That enables me to head out and ramble...

I hope this helps.

 

[MiraN]

Hostel Hispanol in Madrid. They take care our luggage when we were in camino

 

[CarlaAbanes]

I am doing something similar in April. However, based on my three previous Caminos, I will plan to either mail a Caja Verde Grande or Supergrande box to Ivar, OR to my reserved lodgings at Santiago. I regard having clean clothes at Santiago as more important to having them back in Madrid. But, everyone is different.

You can find the box sizes at www.correos.es, or rely on my research. Here are the Caja Verde box sizes (from the correos.es web site):

• Caja "mediana" 317 x 215 x 125 mm (12.4” x 8.4” x 4.9” ) [a hiking boot-sized box]
• Caja "grande" 390 x 280 x 190 mm (15” x 11” x 7.4”) [the size of a small toaster oven]
• Caja "supergrande" 590 x 390 x 390 mm (23” x 15” x 15”) [the kitchen sink" - could hold a rolling suitcase]

Just as an FYI, while at Ivar's I have seen shrink-wrapped luggage, as well as suitcases that were shipped "as is" through the correos. So, this is an option. But, I do not know their "rules" for doing this. However, and to avoid the vagaries of counter staff at the correos, I avoid the potential for drama by using the soft duffle bag approach to packing.

As mentioned, to facilitate sending tourist stuff and fresh clothes ahead from my starting point to Santiago, I use a soft, ballistic nylon, packing duffle for checked luggage instead of hard-sided luggage. The collapsed duffel bag goes into the Caja Verde box...

Also, there is a maximum size limit of 200 cm for overall dimensions. It is calculated thusly: L + W + H = 200 cm.

As regards weight, I recall there is a bracket in which up to 4 Kilos can be shipped cheaply in the "mediana" or "grande" boxes. Above that, it starts to get more expensive.

You simply buy the box at the Correos, then fill it, seal it (they self-seal), and pay for the postage. You can pack your stuff while at the correos. I do it all the time, dumping my rucksack on a table, or the floor, and sorting stuff back into the rucksack or into the shipping box. The staff see pilgrims do this every day, so they usually do not say anything. Just be neat and quick about it and do not disturb the other customers.

The Spanish Correos is very inexpensive and offers excellent value for service. Mailing things within Spain is MUCH less expensive than domestic USA shipping. To send maybe 4 kilos from Madrid to Santiago should cost about 10 - 12 Euros if I recall correctly.

I KNOW Ivar will be glad to accept and hold my tourist clothing and stuff I picked up in Madrid before starting out on the Camino de Madrid. However, I must check with the Santiago hotel before I leave the States to find out which place I will mail my stuff to.

My approach to sending clothing ahead to Santiago allows me to have a complete change of clean clothing, including footwear, to change into as soon as I arrive and bathe. I can then find a local "lavanderia" (laundry) to get all my Camino clothes washed in one go. That enables me to head out and ramble...

I hope this helps.

 

[CarlaAbanes]

Hi, really appreciate your reply, really a big tremendous help! But you did mentioned the suit cases shipped as is, would you like to clarify how big these suitcases were? I plan to send to IVAR a 20kilo suitcase that I would like to ship as is. did see something similar?
TIA!

 

[t2andreo]

I have regularly seen suitcases at Ivar's office in Santiago. Some are "shrink wrapped" like from the machine at an airport. Others are just locked and tagged. Also, the Correos (Spanish Post Office) now has a formal luggage shipping scheme to deliver your bag to Santiago. Check out their web site at www.correos.es. I believe there is an "Ingles" page - look for the abbreviation "IS' not "EN". I recommend sending stuff to Ivar as the recipient not to the Santiago Correos office. I found over four Caminos that it is just easier. But, that is my opinion.

On this point, last week while there, I spoke to Alvaro, the fellow who manages the branch Correos, adjacent to the BEAUTIFUL, new Pilgrim Office at 33 Rua Carretas. Among other things he shared with me, he mentioned the new Correos luggage shipping scheme and said they were still "working the bugs out." So, word up folks... Use the Correos to send your stuff either to (1) Ivar, or (2) a hotel you have advance reservations at. But DO check with the hotel first. For Ivar, just follow his instructions.

A 20 Kg suitcase should be no problem, depending on the overall size. I am back in the US now, but on my recent trip to Spain, I shipped a 55 liter capacity duffle bag with a rectangular shape in a Correos Grande + box direct to the hotel where I had reservations at Santiago. The bag was approximately the size of the maximum carryon size airlines allow, but had no wheels. It weighed less than 20 Kilos, but could have contained that much weight if I packed differently. Of course, I sent the hotel an e-mail to ask for permission first. Then I addressed it to MY NAME; c/o HOTEL NAME and ADDRESS.

I also attached a pre-printed adhesive label I made at home before traveling, in the lower left corner with the annotation in Spanish:

Por favor, espera para: my reservation number & LAST NAME IN CAPS
Lllegada: (arrival date)
e-mail: (address)

The latter is so they so they could contact me if it became necessary. There was no charge for this. But that may or may not be the case with all hotels.

If you ship something to Ivar, he will charge you a nominal fee. The fee is for the incredible convenience he offers. Unlike a hotel, or the Correos, Ivar always acknowledges that he received a box or suitcase, bicycle, whatever you send him. If you are walking to Santiago for a month or more, it is reassuring to know your suitcase, or box, etc., is already there and securely stored. For information about sending stuff to Ivar at Santiago, click on "Services in Santiago by Ivar" on the menu bar above.

I hope this helps.

 

[Kanga]

Another option is to leave it at Madrid airport. They have two storage facilities, one in the international terminal (T4?). Costs a bit though.

http://www.aeropuertomadrid-barajas.com/eng/left-luggage-office.htm

 

[trecile]

I realized that I never came back to say thank you for the suggestions!

I may have the opportunity to stay with the friend of a friend in Madrid, so that should sort out my luggage situation.

 

[CarlaAbanes]

I have regularly seen suitcases at Ivar's office in Santiago. Some are "shrink wrapped" like from the machine at an airport. Others are just locked and tagged. Also, the Correos (Spanish Post Office) now has a formal luggage shipping scheme to deliver your bag to Santiago. Check out their web site at www.correos.es. I believe there is an "Ingles" page - look for the abbreviation "IS' not "EN". I recommend sending stuff to Ivar as the recipient not to the Santiago Correos office. I found over four Caminos that it is just easier. But, that is my opinion.

On this point, last week while there, I spoke to Alvaro, the fellow who manages the branch Correos, adjacent to the BEAUTIFUL, new Pilgrim Office at 33 Rua Carretas. Among other things he shared with me, he mentioned the new Correos luggage shipping scheme and said they were still "working the bugs out." So, word up folks... Use the Correos to send your stuff either to (1) Ivar, or (2) a hotel you have advance reservations at. But DO check with the hotel first. For Ivar, just follow his instructions.

A 20 Kg suitcase should be no problem, depending on the overall size. I am back in the US now, but on my recent trip to Spain, I shipped a 55 liter capacity duffle bag with a rectangular shape in a Correos Grande + box direct to the hotel where I had reservations at Santiago. The bag was approximately the size of the maximum carryon size airlines allow, but had no wheels. It weighed less than 20 Kilos, but could have contained that much weight if I packed differently. Of course, I sent the hotel an e-mail to ask for permission first. Then I addressed it to MY NAME; c/o HOTEL NAME and ADDRESS.

I also attached a pre-printed adhesive label I made at home before traveling, in the lower left corner with the annotation in Spanish:


Por favor, espera para: my reservation number & LAST NAME IN CAPS
Lllegada: (arrival date)
e-mail: (address)

The latter is so they so they could contact me if it became necessary. There was no charge for this. But that may or may not be the case with all hotels.

If you ship something to Ivar, he will charge you a nominal fee. The fee is for the incredible convenience he offers. Unlike a hotel, or the Correos, Ivar always acknowledges that he received a box or suitcase, bicycle, whatever you send him. If you are walking to Santiago for a month or more, it is reassuring to know your suitcase, or box, etc., is already there and securely stored. For information about sending stuff to Ivar at Santiago, click on "Services in Santiago by Ivar" on the menu bar above.

I hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for this reply! A big help really appreciate it!

 

[t2andreo]

You are most welcome. We are here to help as much as we can.

 

[Violet]

I'm a new member! I'm in the early planning stages for my first Camino. I will walk the CF for what will hopefully be the first of many routes taken. From what I gather the best place to fly in to is Madrid? I will be coming in from the West Coast of the U. S. Any tips here will be most appreciated as this seems like the best place to start. Thanks for the advice.

 

[SYates]

I'm a new member! I'm in the early planning stages for my first Camino. I will walk the CF for what will hopefully be the first of many routes taken. From what I gather the best place to fly in to is Madrid? I will be coming in from the West Coast of the U. S. Any tips here will be most appreciated as this seems like the best place to start. Thanks for the advice.

You might have a better chance of getting an answer if you post a new thread with your question instead posting in an existing one. Welcome to the forum & Buen Camino, SY