Kcorbharas
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Future: Sept 2023
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
You still need to be careful about the security of important personal belongings whenever you are among strangers, which are most other people in albergues. Temper the level of trust by taking precautions about money and other valuable items. I try and have these with me at all times, including having them in a hard to access place where they cannot be moved without disturbing me when I am sleeping. People here will provide a variety of suggestions about that, but I don't personally discuss the details of my security arrangements, certainly not with other pilgrims. It would be a real flag to me if someone were to start a conversation about what I did to secure my valuables, and one that I would avoid completely.I feel a sense that it’s okay to trust the people on this journey… but I’m curious what other have done.
Your bag will usually be hanging off the end of your bunk, as will everyone else’s. Your valuables should be on your person at all times.Once I check in and get my bed, how will my bag be stored while I get dinner, explore the city, go to the bar, etc?
Do I need to bring it everywhere with me?
Is it typically fine to just leave my bag unattended?
Is there usually a locker?
I feel a sense that it’s okay to trust the people on this journey… but I’m curious what other have done.
I take my valuables into the shower and toilet too. I have a money belt that I put all my valuables in. I also take it with me whenever I go out. I too often stay in small villages. This year I walked on the Aragones where there were many nights of villages as small as 30-40 people. Ruesta had 3 people. I still take my valuables with me. It isn't any effort to take them and boy would it be alot of effort if I had to replace them.Hehehe... on my caminos I usually would take my valuables to the shower and toilet... in the beginning... luckily I haven't had bad experiences so far, but to be honest I have mostly been staying in smaller villages.
I know… I have walked a few caminos and to be honest I have been a little casual with my valuables, not so much when I went out, but when I went to the bathroom or to another room etc.I take my valuables into the shower and toilet too. I have a money belt that I put all my valuables in. I also take it with me whenever I go out. I too often stay in small villages. This year I walked on the Aragones where there were many nights of villages as small as 30-40 people. Ruesta had 3 people. I still take my valuables with me. It isn't any effort to take them and boy would it be alot of effort if I had to replace them.
I don't think I've ever been to an albergue that didn't have lockers to store stuff. I always wear hiking zip off pants with pockets--so I always keep my passport, cash, and money on me at ALL times.Once I check in and get my bed, how will my bag be stored while I get dinner, explore the city, go to the bar, etc?
Do I need to bring it everywhere with me?
Is it typically fine to just leave my bag unattended?
Is there usually a locker?
I feel a sense that it’s okay to trust the people on this journey… but I’m curious what other have done.
It is so interesting that you have always been in albergues that have lockers. Very lucky. I have to say that for me the vast majority of municipal albergues/donativos that I have stayed in over the years do not have lockers. I think on the CF when you get to Sarria there are alot more albergues with lockers. But on less traveled (maybe I should say even popular ones too) routes and municipal and donativos I have rarely if ever seen lockers.I don't think I've ever been to an albergue that didn't have lockers to store stuff. I always wear hiking zip off pants with pockets--so I always keep my passport, cash, and money on me at ALL times.
On my first Camino, we met 3 young college students walking from SJPP. We ran into them again in Pamplona and they all 3 were devastated. They had walked all the way from SJPP with a "nice pilgrim lady" who offered to watch their belongings in Pamplona while they showered. They returned from their shower to find all of their credit cards and cash gone, along with her. Their Camino was over.As dougfitz wisely suggests in the above post never tell anyone where and what you have !!
A few years ago in Trinidad de Arre an actor from LA who was bunked next to me asked anxiously "Where do you have your money?"
As if on cue I rolled my eyes and answered "Why in the bank! And you?"
For further advice read these earlier forum threads with useful tips on camino security and here.
On my first Camino, we met 3 young college students walking from SJPP. We ran into them again in Pamplona and they all 3 were devastated. They had walked all the way from SJPP with a "nice pilgrim lady" who offered to watch their belongings in Pamplona while they showered. They returned from their shower to find all of their credit cards and cash gone, along with her. Their Camino was over.
I trust NOBODY except God these days, no matter how nice they seem.
Leave your pack on the bed, but take anything that cannot be replaced with you.
That's my advice.
If I were to take a lock for the occasion when a locker is provided without a lock, how large would it need to be? A suitcase size or a gym locker size?Some rooms have lockers with locks provided. Some rooms have lockers with no locks provided. Many rooms don't have lockers. But for the most part - your backpack and gear are safe - but never leave your valuables unattended.
Gym locker sizeIf I were to take a lock for the occasion when a locker is provided without a lock, how large would it need to be? A suitcase size or a gym locker size?
Fine except for one essential detail: never leave your backpack on the bed, if for no other reason than that most albergues ask you (or tell you) not to. Hang it off the frame. Otherwise all sound advice.On my first Camino, we met 3 young college students walking from SJPP. We ran into them again in Pamplona and they all 3 were devastated. They had walked all the way from SJPP with a "nice pilgrim lady" who offered to watch their belongings in Pamplona while they showered. They returned from their shower to find all of their credit cards and cash gone, along with her. Their Camino was over.
I trust NOBODY except God these days, no matter how nice they seem.
Leave your pack on the bed, but take anything that cannot be replaced with you.
That's my advice.
This is widely considered to be bad practice and a probable cause of the unwitting spread of bedbugs. Many albergues and hostels have notices telling pilgrims never to put their pack onto their bed.Leave your pack on your bed
In one albergue that I stayed in a couple of pilgrim put their packs on their beds then went to shower. The hospitalero came in and saw the packs, and angrily removed them and took them away. The two peregrinos were surprised and upset to return from showering to find all their things gone!This is widely considered to be bad practice and a probable cause of the unwitting spread of bedbugs. Many albergues and hostels have notices telling pilgrims never to put their pack onto their bed.
Yes, you should NEVER put your pack on the bed. Never ever ever.In one albergue that I stayed in a couple of pilgrim put their packs on their beds then went to shower. The hospitalero came in and saw the packs, and angrily removed them and took them away. The two peregrinos were surprised and upset to return from showering to find all their things gone!
Yes, yes, and yes.Yes, and packs are often dirty because they have resting on the ground or floor. Just like you should not put your feet up on the furniture, don't put your pack on the bed please.
Yes, yes, yes.This is widely considered to be bad practice and a probable cause of the unwitting spread of bedbugs. Many albergues and hostels have notices telling pilgrims never to put their pack onto their bed.
Oh God, I'm dying here.Fine except for one essential detail: never leave your backpack on the bed, if for no other reason than that most albergues ask you (or tell you) not to. Hang it off the frame. Otherwise all sound advice.
I have a pretty small lock - not as big and heavy as a gym locker lock (with the dial), but big enough to not easily be broken without tools. I didn't carry it on the Frances, but I did feel I needed it on the Norte since a lot of accommodations also housed tourists.If I were to take a lock for the occasion when a locker is provided without a lock, how large would it need to be? A suitcase size or a gym locker size?
A broad assumption, Anniesantiago! But I am sure that we all understand your embarrassment and realise that you would never dream of plonking your backpack on the bed. However, it provided the opportunity to reinforce an important point. So, well done!I figured people knew what I meant.
I didn't mean you specifically, @Anniesantiago. Just the nonspecific "everyone". Not scolding, just letting people know the thinking behind it. I would not ever throw pilgrims' things off the bed, but might ask them to move a pack to another location.Yes, you should NEVER put your pack on the bed. Never ever ever.
I figured people knew that.
I realize they do not.
I changed my post after being scolded by all of you.
:::crying:::
I never once worried about it.Once I check in and get my bed, how will my bag be stored while I get dinner, explore the city, go to the bar, etc?
Do I need to bring it everywhere with me?
Is it typically fine to just leave my bag unattended?
Is there usually a locker?
I feel a sense that it’s okay to trust the people on this journey… but I’m curious what other have done.
I don't mean to prolong the discussion, but it seems odd the albergues would invest in lockers if there was no need.I never once worried about it.
I believe this statement sums things up.Trust in Allah, but tether your camel.
Albergues would invest in lockers if pilgrims want them. Pilgrims want them based on a perceived need. How realistic that perception is, I don't know. People are notoriously unreliable in their perceptions and assessments of risks, worrying a lot about things that may be low risk and not so much about things that are higher risk.I don't mean to prolong the discussion, but it seems odd the albergues would invest in lockers if there was no need.
How do you charge your phone if you can't leave it unattended? Last camino, I charge it at night while I was sleeping.A lot of pilgrims are victims of theft on the Camino, especially the Frances. I've had a couple of things stolen off my pack (sunglasses) and I've met pilgrims who had large quantities of money stolen from them.
Never leave your money, credit cards, passport etc unattended as well as any phones or devices. Don't even leave them in the backpack at night when you're sleeping.
There are a small percentage of albergues that provide lockers to secure your backpack.
What many do is to charge their battery bank when it is convenient and then use that to charge their phone in bed at night. In the case of a thief being around in the albergue you only lose the battery bank and charger, both easily replaceable.How do you charge your phone if you can't leave it unattended?
I use an extra long charging cord so that my phone is right next to me at night while it's charging.How do you charge your phone if you can't leave it unattended? Last camino, I charge it at night while I was sleeping.
Similar to @Rick of Rick and Peg except that I charge my power bank when I get to the albergue and then use that to charge my phone the next day while I walk.How do you charge your phone if you can't leave it unattended? Last camino, I charge it at night while I was sleeping.
I almost never use my cellphone when I walk the Camino so probably 75% of the time it's turned off. When it does need charging I just do it whenever. I certainly wouldn't leave it or anything of value like money, wallet, documents etc unattended ever while on the CaminoHow do you charge your phone if you can't leave it unattended? Last camino, I charge it at night while I was sleeping.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?