Seeking nice place to relax after Camino

[sally_M]

Any recommendations on where to spend a couple of days relaxing after finishing the camino in late October? Perhaps one of the coastal towns near Santiago de Campostella? Any recommendations for specific towns and/or mid-price hotels?

Also--any specific mid-price hotel recommendations in Leon, where were will start our camino?

Also-- any recommendations for hotels in Madrid, the night before we fly home? And is it worth spending multiple days in Madrid?

Thanks!

 

[robertt]

Sally, you could consider sliding down the coast from Santiago to Pontevedra and Rias Baixas. You get a large and flavourful old city, but also water, beaches, fish and Galician countryside.

You can even walk there in a few days along the Camino Portugues, if you don't mind reverse caminos.

Whatever you decide, enjoy

Rob

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - as Robertt said Pontevedra is beautiful, so too is A Coruna - only 30 mins from Santiago with a huge beach and long promenade with a lot of visits and fresh seafood everywhere.

If you have the opportunity I'd spend time in Madrid. I love the city. It has unique art galleries, a huge park with boating pond and has everything you would expect in a European capital. If you look at Booking.Com and search for hotels near the Puerta del Sol (the every centre of the city and of Spain) you will get a very good selection at all prices. There are also local hostals such as: http://www.hostaltriana.com/


Good luck.

John

 

[mspath]

...
Also--any specific mid-price hotel recommendations in Leon, where were will start our camino?
...
Thanks!

Sally,

In Leon you can get your Credential at the Albergue del Monasterio de las Benedictinas (Sta Maria de Carbaial) They have a pilgrim albergue AND a very pleasant guest house. Perhaps for your first night after traveling the guest house would be more comfortable for you. You need a reservation for the Monastery Guest House or Hospederia. Here is a link to their Web page in English. >>
http://www.hospederiapax.com/ Both the Albergue and the Hospederia are next to each other on the same street which is listed on the web page. Be sure to visit the splendid cathedral in Leon which is near-by!

Walking out of Leon is dreary but it is only 7 km to La Virgen del Camino and an extraordinary contemporary church. The town is named for a famous 15th century figure of the Virgin holding the dead body of Christ. Today the figure is in a splendid church designed in the 1960s by a Dominican monk, Francisco Coello a follower of the Brutalist style of Le Corbusier. Basically a glass box, giant stylized metal sculptures of the Apostles cover the west façade. Located in the midst of chaotic suburb it is a superbly maintained architectural gem as well as a haven of peace.

Opposite the church you can either continue on the Camino Frances or pick up the peaceful alternative camino route going out of town slightly southwest towards Villar de Mazarife. It is very pleasant to escape the N120 highway noise and suburban sprawl while crossing wide flat plains up to V de M where there are several pilgrim albergues. From there the alternative camino goes on to Hospital de Órbigo where it joins the main Camino Frances.

Buen Camino,

Margaret

 

[sillydoll]

Tracy's Little Fox House retreat in Muxia would be perfect!

check this thread for more details

santiago-to-finisterre-and-muxia/topic12784.html

 

[wayfarer]

Lolo's in Muxia. Check thread "nice hotel in Muxia" Page 2. Lovely town, lovely hotel.

 

[sally_M]

Thanks everyone, for the great ideas!

Sally

 

[sally_M]

I think we will stay at the Hostal Triana in Puerta Del Sol, Madrid for 2 nights before we depart Spain (after spending a few days at the LIttle Fox House, which sounds absolutely wonderful). Our train from Santiago arrives in Madrid (at Chamartin, I think) at 9:48 pm on Weds. Oct. 31. Will the Metro trains still be running that late to take us to Puerto del Sol? Or would it be better to look for a hostal near Chamartin?

Thanks, Sally

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Sally,

Metro trains will still be running at that time. About 22 mins from Chamartin to Gran Via (Line 1), which looks to be the nearest metro stop to your hostal, although Sol on the same line is also fairly close. Trains every 6 to 8 mins at that time of the evening.

Timetable for Line 1 (and all lines) can be found here.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Sally,
Are you planning to walk to The Little Fox? I've learned that if you walk from Santiago in the direction of Muxia, all you have to do is take a right hand turn when you arrive at Merexo, a little village on the coast and its marked from there. I'm hoping to get there myself next year.

To go directly from Chamartin to Sol, consider the RENFE Cercanias (commuter) line. It's about a 9 minute trip, and there's only one stop between Chamartin and Sol. It'll be quicker than the metro and runs frequently at that time of night. The Cercanias platforms are closer to the RENFE platforms, right next to them, actually, so it's a shorter walk. Here's a schematic map of the train routes: http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercanias ... adrid.html and you can also see schedules there.

I have used the Cercanias trains a lot lately, sometimes to get out into the burbs but usually just for transportation to or from Barajas or a train station to the center, and I really prefer them to the metro. And I've never heard of a problem with pickpocketing on the Cercanias!(though at the time of night you mention, the metro is unlikely to be busting with pickpockets either).

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[sally_M]

wow, thank you Laurie and Miguel. These forums are such a helpful place to find information and to have questions answered quickly.

If we arrive in Santiago on schedule, then I think we will have time to walk to the Little Fox House. But if we are slower than anticipated, then we will take a bus as close as we can get.