Sleeping on the Camino
This story covers the basics of Albergues.
When to Book
This decision is going to be based on many factors. If you are going during a less busy time you will have more flexibility and you can book the day of or even go reservation-less. Other ways to gain flexibility is to travel a less busy Camino route, have a list of possible options to book, travel a little off stage, or to end for the day around 3–3:30pm. Ending your day around 3–3:30 will be especially effective at municipal albergues. Municipal albergues do not take reservations.
I do recommend booking your first Albergue in advance just to simplify day 1. Some will book everything in advance. This might be the right solution if you plan to go during the Summer. June, July, and August are the busiest months for the Camino Santiago and the Camino Francais is the busiest route. If you are considering advance booking your entire trip find out what happens if there is a problem such as injury, illness, or simple mistake.
Choosing an Albergue
What do you need from your Albergue? Do you need blankets, towels, internet, breakfast provided? Laundry facilities?
I packed to balance weight and flexibility. I had a camp towel, inflatable pillow, and merino wool liner so I wasn’t dependent on the Albergue for those. I brought quick drying clothes that would allow for hand washing and line drying. I chose mostly Albergues costing around 20€. Those tended to supply breakfast, bedding, towels, and internet. They also had smaller rooms. I prefer a four bed room when I can get it as I’m a light sleeper and snoring and movement will wake me. I’ve found that others paying a little extra to sleep in those rooms are similar. It was the perfect balance for my budget.
Municipal Albergues are often under 10€ . I bought my passport from the one in Vila do Conde and got directions to the Albergue I booked. That one was cash only so I had to find an ATM and come back. That is another consideration. I stayed in one in Vigo. The facilities were nice but it was a large room with a lot of people. These are a good choice for a budget first hiker with bedding who can sleep through the usual noises and light. If this is your plan make sure to have cash and a back up plan.
When I do my 2024 Good Friday trip, I’m planning to carry less. I will plan to choose Albergues that provide bedding, towels, and breakfast. In 2024 the Camino will be the focus of my trip rather than a side excursion.
Rest days
Rest is so important to your mental and physical health. I would book a private room every few days and have a short hike. Where you stay those days is more important. You want to choose a place that you will enjoy hanging out. Otherwise you may find yourself doing just as much walking on your rest days out of boredom or because the Albergue doesn’t have the facilities to support a day guest comfortably. My first rest day was at a beautiful location with a great kitchen and grounds where I arrived early and rented a private room. It is Ok to decide after you reach a location too. I arrived at the next location and was suprisingly wiped out. That Albergue featured a private room and bath for 25€. I booked two more nights.
Don’t lock yourself in
It is hard to know when a location is going to be perfect and you want to take a rest or explore a city. Other times an Albergue won’t work out due to unpreditacnle circumstances. The best of them might have a rowdy group or have just been unwittingly infected with bed bugs. Under the best of circumstances you meet people that you enjoyed conversing with and want to walk with for a few days. Leaving if not your schedule open at least having bookings with flexible cancelation policies will help you enjoy your trip.
I intentionally decided to leave details such as where I was going to be day to day unplanned. I didn’t want to lock myself into a specific plan that wouldn’t allow for how I was feeling that day or the opportunity to travel with others.
I’m a certified project manager and not much of a risk taker deep down so I didn’t go completely blind. I spent my three days consuming as much information about the route I was taking in advance. Stingy Nomads have a pdf of places to stay organized by stage that I used along the way. I booked only my first night in advance so that I had a destination to start from.
I had some internal stress over this decision as I readied myself for my trip. I did not want to end up at a place with bed bugs or finding myself without a place to stay. I worried that I might end up walking after dark or have to walk when I was simply too tired.
It was exactly the right decision. I had my starting point in Vila do Conde which I chose based on my time constraints and my physical condition at the time. That night I had dinner with one of my roommates and the next day we booked our next bed for the night at the same Albergue.
How to book
I booked in a few ways. I often used the Stingy Nomad pdf. That typically took me to Booking.com, at times it might take me to the Albergue’s website. On occasion the Albergue would show nothing available on Booking.com. I would check their site or contact them via What’sApp and there would still be a room available. I was traveling during a not too busy time so I was fortunate to not have to do any last minute juggling on the Camino. I had some issues with age restricted hostels during my Eurail travel. The demographics of pilgrims are ages 30–60 largely(1) so age issues shouldn’t occur, but be careful to read over confirmations and communications to avoid the stress of figuring out where to stay last minute.
Interested in discussion?
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/HikersLife4Me/
Facebook: https://hikerslife4me.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikerslife4me
Signing off. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum a hiker’s life for me.
Sources
Red Pública de Albergues del Camino de Santiago - Camino de Santiago en Galicia: web oficial
La Red Pública de Albergues del Camino de Santiago en Galicia, gestionados por la S.A. de Xestión do Plan Xacobeo…www.caminodesantiago.gal