Villafranca Montes de Oca

[LdnWalker]

Unless it has moved, the municipal albergue is currently closed. The hotel albergue will also be closing for the season soon. Just a heads up for anyone wanting to stay here soon, maybe phone ahead to check what's open. It's a long way to San Juan for a bed.

 

[NorthernLight]

That hotel albergue is apparently the reason why the municipal is closed. They charged the muni rate and so diverted a lot of pilgrims whose presence in summer would subsidize the municipal's winter cost of running.

And since heating those dorms is expensive, the hotel likely doesn't want to keep their own open in winter. Perhaps they hope those winter pilgrims will get a room.

 

[LdnWalker]

That makes sense. I was surprised because the muni was plenty busy last time I came through but that was a few years ago. Many of the off stage albergues are experiencing a significant drop in numbers this week. There was maybe a dozen of us in Villafranca the other day. In Tardajos last night I was on my own until four bicigrinos turned up around 6/6.30pm.