Hostel Recommendations in Santiago and Leon?

This hostel cost me 15€ in december, though it was 16€ in June 2009.

It can be pre-booked from anywhere in the world with a credit card.

It is 5 minutes walk from the Santiago bus station so is brilliant for an early morning start.

A taxi from the airport is fixed at 16€ but if you catch a bus http://www.empresafreire.com/ (look for the timetable of airport to Santiago Bus Station) it is much cheaper.

It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk into the old city and the Cathedral.

there are some good bars and a small supermarket nearby. the warden speaks good English.

Internet available. provides sheets and pillow case. access is via number pad.

I like this place.

http://www.meiga-backpackers.es

follow the links to Santiago.

The entrance is not immediately obvious and you need to look carefully for the brown door

You can get by train from Santiago to Leon.

http://www.renfe.com

then click the small welcome link at the top of the page to get the site in English.

The journey looks to be only about 6€ more expensive than the bus, but a train caught at 09.25 will get you into Leon at 15.07 instead of 08.00 and 14.00. by bus.

There will be a bus from near the Meiga backpacker to the station. The tourist office on Rua do Vilar will tell you where to get on and off (unless someone here already knows the answer!)

Though I prefer trains to buses it would certainly be easier to catch the bus.

This place is a short walk to the bus station in Santiago:

http://www.hostallasalle.com/ing/hostal.html

There needs to be a PS.

If you have flown in on one day and take a six hour bus trip the next, watch out for swollen ankles.

Get your feet up and use every opportunity to walk.

In 2004 I got home with more damage to my feet from a 12 hour bus ride than the 875km Camino.

Train:

00280 ARCO 09.25 15.07 5 h. 42 min.
Internet Price Buy
Turista: 32.50
Turista Child: 19.50
Preferente: 43.10
Preferente Child: 25.85
Station Price
Turista: 32.70
Turista Child: 19.60
Preferente: 43.40
Preferente Child: 26.00

There are additional buses connecting through Lugo:

SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA LUGO 07:00 09:15 2h 15min 17,53€ 33,31€
SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA LUGO 08:00 10:30 2h 30min 11,26€ 21,39€
SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA LUGO 09:45 12:15 2h 30min 11,39€ 21,64€
SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA LUGO 16:00 18:15 2h 15min 17,53€ 33,31€
SANTIAGO COMPOSTELA LUGO 18:00 20:45 2h 45min 11,39€ 21,64€

LUGO LEON 07:10 11:20 4h 10min 19,17€ 36,42€
LUGO LEON 09:15 13:35 4h 20min 21,41€ 40,68€
LUGO LEON 10:30 14:20 3h 50min 16,22€ 30,82€
LUGO LEON 12:15 16:20 4h 05min 16,22€ 30,82€
LUGO LEON 15:00 19:20 4h 20min 16,22€ 30,82€
LUGO LEON 17:30 20:45 3h 15min 16,22€ 30,82€
LUGO LEON 18:15 22:20 4h 05min 21,41€ 40,68€