Parking at hostels or auberges?

[Becky 59]

I plan to walk the Camino, but my husband works (on-line college instructor) but wants to share as much of the experience as he can. He plans to drive a rental car to our next night's lodging, doing his on-line work during the day, and join me for part of the walking. Will we be able to find parking at the places we stay? We are open about staying at pilgrim hostels/auberges or little hotels. Does anyone aniticipate we will run into animosity on the Camino?

 

[mvanert]

Well, first thing, I'm sorry to say, if your husband doesn't have a pilgrims passport he won't be staying at an albergue, hostels and little hotels no problem but albergues are only for pilgrims who are walking or cycling.

As for animosity, I would say no, none, nada, unless, of course, you take someone's parking place .

As for parking in a small village or town in Spain, well, I don't think parking would be an issue and in the larger centres it definitely would not be an issue any more than it is anywhere else in the world.

Have fun!

 

[natefaith]

Welcome to the Forum, Becky!

As @mvanert said above, your husband will need to be walking or cycling and have a pilgrim's passport if he wants to stay in the pilgrim albergues. However, hostales (smaller hotels with private rooms) and hotels should be fine. You can even check on Booking.com for places with parking and/ or contact the establishments to check on parking before booking.

One suggestion I would have - many places don't allow check-in until about 3pm or 4pm. So I'd suggest that your husband wake up and work in the morning in the hotel room until checkout time (usually 12noon), and then drive to meet you at the next place. Since the usual Camino rhythm is to wake up early and get started walking early (usually between 6am and 8am depending on the season), this schedule allows him to get up with you and work for a few hours in the room. Then after he drives to the next place, you will likely have arrived, or will be 1 - 3 hours from arriving.

(You'd mentioned he'd drive out to meet you and do some work, but I'd suggest the opposite, that he stay put and work until checkout, and then drive over. That way you guys maximize time in the hotel rooms, and he won't have to drive, find cafes to work in, and while away his time until he meets you or checks in. Unless he likes that idea! )

Hope that helps. Enjoy all the planning and Buen Camino!
Faith