Which albergue or hostel should I definitely stay at?

San Nicholas was particularly sweet.
San Anton was lovely - the ruins lit up at night by candlelight was a special experience.
In Viana, I LOVED the parochial. Although we slept on floor mats, we had a wonderful family style meal and the priest took us on a tour of the church treasures held below the sanctuary.
Grañon was wonderful - floor mats again, but a very sweet priest.
Rabanal was a treat - afternoon tea

gosh.. so many favorites.

A very personal and subjective list from me...

Casa Paderborn in Pamplona , samll albergue from the german confraternity of St James, close to the river.
Parroquial in Estella.Also donativo , please give what you can miss...
The municipal with donativo menu in Redecilla del Camino...such nice ladies from the village who cook for you.
The parroquial in Tosantos : nice vibe...
Private one Casa Nostra in Castrojeriz, clean , lots of space and a very nice owner!
The Sisters of Espiritu Santo in Carrion de los Condes : individual beds. ( also a well run centro de salud in that town but that's another story ).
The municipal in Mansilla de la Mulas...hospitalera takes care of all blisters!!
Indeed, Gaucelmo from the english confraternity in Rabanal , loved it there!
Aitzenea , a private one in Triacastela...beautifuly restored old building with again a very nice lady.
Ultreia, another private one in Portomarin.
The last two a bit more expensive than the other ones, 10 and 12 € but I guess it also had to with the fact that both are on the last 100 K...

To avoid : municipal in Hornillos del Camino : mould and mould and yuck...
San Juan de Ortega : some more mould maybe?
Villadangos del Paramo municipal : uninterested deskperson and I saw at least four beds with blood on it...Say no more!!!

I agree about avoiding Hornillos.
A LOT of bedbug issues begin there.
Also, there are bedbugs in Astorga at Javier and they just shrugged when I told them!
The municipal there is clean and nice.

Thanks for the tips. I refuse to freak out about the bedbugs, but I appreciate the opportunity to be prudent!

Also remember, people's experience will vary greatly depending on who happens to be the hospitalero or hospitalera at the time. One person may get a cranky, tired, worn out grouch and a week later a pilgrim will find a sweet, kind, helpful angel in their place. lol

If you do find the grouch, cut them some slack.
Consider how you might deal with all those needy pilgrims, including the ones who think you owe them something more for their tiny donation than a shelter from the elements.

Anniesantiago said:

Also remember, people's experience will vary greatly depending on who happens to be the hospitalero or hospitalera at the time.

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Which is certainly true, even though they have to work in facilities with the given tools.
Facilities may not be star-rated but the atmosphere, created by hospitaleros (or owners) amongst pilgrims, will make up for the odd imperfection.
Unfortunately ( :?: ) I am not aware of a "Camino Tripadvisor", and after having stayed in more than 100 albergues of the Camino Francés over the past years, I realized that Anniesantiago's appreciation is spot on :!: