Locating Albergues

[colinPeter]

Hi!

I believe that the "way marking" is good on the Camino Frances route, but how difficult is it to locate Albergues along the way.
Do "first timers" (with only basic travel Spanish) need to print out google maps etc. to find them in towns & cities.

Colin

 

[Deleted member 397]

I'm tempted to say "just follow the crowds" but any of the current guide books will tell you where the albergues are. Even just saying 'donde albergue per favor?" would probably be enough. Also you will encounter leaflets posted on trees etc advertising this or that albergue or even touts along the way. That's another reason I don't like the CF-the rampant commercialism evident at times.

 

[jl]

Very early on your journey you will come across a little leaflet that has almost all the albergues you will come across. i don't think it has all the Muicipal ones but they try and list all the private one complete with the services they offer - internet, washing machine etc. (I doubt that it is ever up to date because there are new albergues appearing and perhpas closing all the time) indeed, I think that I have seen that same information on a website - try this -

http://www.redalberguessantiago.com/documents/50.html

Omar is right - you can just "follow the crowd", but I used to meander along and when I saw something that appealed I would stop! I had both a guide book (1st time I used the CSJ guide & 2nd time I used Brieley) and the lieaflet that I picked up somehwere along the way. Apart from a couple of places where I really wanted to stay (and decided that I would try my best to get to them - the CSJ Rabanal being one of them) I actually never reffered to either source for Albergues, only for periodic directions, as I took many of the detours in Brieley's guide.

Happy planning, Janet

 

[WolverineDG]

The albergues are marked, many times with arrows leading to them. The private ones do advertise, but they are all on or close to the Camino itself. If you want recent reviews of the different albergues up to Leon, check out my blog. Well, not so recent now, but they will give you an idea of what to expect.

Kelly

 

[alipilgrim]

Finding an albergue is not a problem, finding a good one can be. The CSJ is updated annually (with online updates too) and quite thorough but to me dry and clinical. The Brierley guide is much more personable but may be outdated. Don't be afraid to pop into the ones you come across first to see if you would be comfortable there, then go and check out the next one in town!

 

[sillydoll]

If there are no pilgrims to follow - which will often be the case - follow the yellow arrows. Many in the towns and villages lead to the albergues.
Pilgrims have different definitions of what 'good' albergues are. 'Good' can mean up-market, home-from-home comfort with comfortable beds, modern ablutions and kitchens or 'good' can mean, 'different' as in basic, no electricity, no running water, perhaps no toilet, no beds - but dinner by lamplight around a table with other pilgrims, sleeping on mattresses on the floor, pilgrim blessings and conversations under the stars.
I have a post devoted to accommodation on my blog.

 

[spursfan]

For me, one of the great features of the Brierley guide is the maps of towns and villages, with locations and pictures of albergues - especially helpful for the bigger towns

 

[colinPeter]

Hi!

I Appreciate all of the advice provided.

Thank you for sharing so much of your experience, the responses have been very helpful.

Colin

 

[Anniesantiago]

Many times, we simply asked the local people, who were very helpful!
Buen Camino!

 

[sillydoll]

If you would like maps, the John Brierley maps are selling on Amazon for

Camino de Santiago Maps / Mapas / Cartes: St. Jean Pied de Port/Roncesvalles - Finisterre via Santiago de Compostela for $12.89

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1844091341/?tag=thecelpho-20

 

[Wehner]

Hello here a page with hostels

http://www.jakobus-info.de/jakobuspilger/96-spain.htm



Gruß Wehner aus Deutschland