Places to stay between Ponferrada and Villafranca

[dacksgirl]

We're 3 days from leaving for our first Camino. Nervous and excited at the same time!
C'mon sunshine....

We are flying in to Madrid on Monday and taking the bus the same day to Ponferrada, arriving at 3:30pm in to Ponferrada. The following morning we plan to embark on the camino, so we're not sure how we'll be feeling our first day out. Jetlag is the biggest concern.

Question we have is, if we decide not to make it all the way to Villafranca the first day, are there any places in between the two that anyone would recommend staying? Not sure how strenuous the first few days will be since we know that we will be starting to climb.

Any suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated.
Buen Camino!!!

 

[mspath]

dacksgirl,

Welcome to the Forum!

Check out day 26 on Ivar's wonderful new Camino Frances: Stages & albergues list >>

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/camino-f ... el-bierzo/

to see what other pilgrims have thought of the either the municipal albergue in Cacabelos or the Albergue Pierros El Serbal in Pierros. Both albergues are on the section of the camino that you will first be walking.

Happy planning and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Deleted member 3000]

A great place to stay in Ponferrada:

Hostal Rio Selmo
Calle del Río Selmo, 22
24400 Ponferrada, León, Spain
987 402 665
hostalrioselmo.com

A great place to stay in Cacabelos:

http://www.hostalsantamaria.net/

 

[fortview]

The municipal albergue in Cacabelos is memorable and most unusual. Chalet type accommodation, arranged around the courtyard ,divided into tiny rooms with two beds , for 5 euros each. Plenty of drying space and lots of showers and toilets.
As an introduction to communal living, this would be quite a good option for you.
Buen camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Thirty minutes past Cacabelos is this very nice place:

Albergue El Serbal y la Luna
Dirección: C/ El Pozo, 15
Localidad: Pieros (León)
Teléfono de contacto: 639 888 924
Email: alberguedepieros@gmail.com

The only food is at the albergue, and it is vegetarian.

Impresión general:
Estado de conservación: Inaugurado el 11 de marzo de 2011
Disponibilidad del albergue: De marzo a noviembre
Precio: 5 euros
Plazas
Plazas totales: 19
Nº de plazas en litera: 19
Nº de plazas en suelo:
Nº de colchones en suelo:
Nº de camas:
Descripción de habitaciones: 3 habitaciones: de 1, 8 y 10 plazas. La habitación de 1 está adaptada
Reserva de plaza en el albergue: Sí
Condiciones de admisión para acceder al albergue: Peregrinos
Hora de apertura: 12:00
Hora de cierre: 23:00
Posibilidad de salir o no cuando se cierra: No

 

[Peronel]

El Serbal y l Luna was one of my favourite albergues. Friendly, warm, weloming hosts. A delicious (veggie) meal. Cosy dorms with comfy beds. Good showers. And puppies, although they'll be all growed up. Recommended.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

If you are feeling jetlagged and need a bit of your own space, I stayed in the hotel in Cacabelos last year and heartily recommend it. They have a pilgrim price when you produce your credential.
Margaret

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

In November 2012 I spent the night at the municipal albergue in Ponferrada and then had a shorter walk to La Luna. Both really nice and recommended.

I would not start the Camino after arriving so late. Get a taxi to the municipal albergue unless you fancy a walk. You will need to print out a Google map to do so. Around half an hours walk.

There is an important church attached to the Ponferrada albergue and it is worth visiting and attending worship there. It has a good kitchen but there are also a couple of good eating places across the car park.

Get a feel for the Camino by being with other pilgrims.

The next day walk to La Luna. There are some nice villages to walk through and some sights to see. Unless you are on a tight deadline don't rush the first day.

The advantage is that from La Luna you can walk to one of the albergues beyond Villafrana and then the walk to O Cebreiro is not so far. You will cope with the hills if you do them over three days, but I'm unfit and unwell, so that is a jaundiced opinion.

When I was well I walked from Molinseca to OC in two days but it was tiring and I had started at St Jean so was well fit..

 

[dacksgirl]

Thanks for the incite.. We so appreciate this forum and the people on it.

@ Methodist.pilgrim- Our goal is to start out the following morning on the Camino. The concern for us was whether we can make it to Villafranca the first day from Ponferrada or if there were places closer to rest in case our jetlag kicked in.