Accommodations on the Francés 2

“The system of pilgrim hostels known in Spanish as ‘albergues’ is a unique feature of the Camino, especially the Camino Francés, which allows pilgrims to sleep in dormitory-style accommodations for €3-10 per night.”   ―HikingTheCamino

Main Photo: Albergue Ferramenteiro in Portomarin. 130 “sitios” (65 bunk beds) in one big room.

Day 20: Residencia Universitaria Miguel Unamuno, León

• Beds: Unknown number but we each had our own room with private bathroom.
• Kitchen: Unknown
• Living area: Yes
• Garden: Yes
• Laundry: Unknown
• Stay again: Yes
• Other: Somehow Ana and Yeni had managed to find what during the school year is a dormitory for university students. We each had our own bedroom and bathroom for 15 euros. It was such a treat. It’s located around the corner from the cathedral.

 

 

Day 21: Casa de Jesús, Villar de Mazarife

• Beds: 50 (bunk style)
• Kitchen: Yes
• Living area: Sort of
• Garden: Yes
• Laundry: Outdoor laundry sinks and clotheslines
• Stay again: No
• Other: I didn’t care for the graffiti all over the bedroom walls
• Eroski Consumer

Day 22: Albergue de Peregrinos Siervas de María, Astorga

• Beds: 164 (bunk style)
• Kitchen: yes
• Garden: yes
• Laundry: washer, dryer, and sinks
• Other: foot care
• Eroski Consumer

 

 

Day 23: Refugio Gaucelmo, Rabanal del Camino

• Beds: 40 (bunk style)
• Kitchen: yes
• Garden: yes
• Laundry: outdoor sinks and clothelines
• Other: English-speaking hosts and afternoon tea in the garden

Day 24: Albergue Santa Marina, Molinaseca

• Beds: 56
• Kitchen: No
• Living area: Yes
• Garden: Porch
• Laundry: Not sure
• Stay again: Not if I could find something right in town.
• Other: A friend of mine negotiated getting a beautiful room at Casa Rural del Reloj right in the old part of town for 20 euros. We also passed some other nice hotels (like the Floriana) that were offering reasonable prices for pilgrims but my other friend wanted the cheapest possibility.
• Eroski Consumer and another good resource for accommodations

Day 25: Albergue de la Piedra, Villafranca del Bierzo

• Beds: 28
• Kitchen: Yes
• Living area: Yes
• Garden: No
• Laundry: I paid to have them wash my clothes. Clothesline were awkwardly placed outside the windows.
• Stay again: Maybe. I’d check out the other places first though.
• Other: There is a river “swimming pool” that is wonderful
• Eroski Consumer

Day 26: Albergue de O Cebreiro, O Cebreiro

• Beds: 104 (bunk style) in very large, crowded dorm rooms (some beds are side-by-side)
• Kitchen: yes (limited equipment)
• Garden: the great outdoors (stunning views)
• Laundry: indoor sinks and outdoor clothelines (with a view – see below 😉
• Stay again: No (I would stay in La Faba next time and get up early enough to walk to O Cebreiro in time for the sunrise)
• Other: Amazing sunset
• Eroski Consumer

Day 27: Albergue Complexo Xacobeo, Tricastela

• Beds: 48 (bunk style) 
• Kitchen: yes
• Living room: yes
• Garden: no
• Laundry: washing machine and outdoor clotheslines
• Stay again: Maybe
• Other: the room looked great in the afternoon but turned out to be stifling hot and brightly lit by a street lamp. I ended up sneaking downstairs to the room without windows. There are a lot of shabby places in Tricastela. This albergue was fine. I didn’t check out the municipal but I think it would be worth doing.
• (This is where I wish I’d stayed; it’s very small.)
• Eroski Consumer

 

 

Day 29: Albergue Ferramenteiro, Portomarin

• Beds: 130 (bunk style in a huge room; it was actually all right)
• Kitchen: yes
• Living area: yes
• Garden: no but patio furniture in front and beautiful views
• Laundry: sinks and clotheslines in a covered shed sort of place
• Stay again: yes
• Other: I didn’t care for the town of Portomarin at all
• Eroski Consumer

 

Day 30: Albergue Outeiro, Palas de Rei

• Beds: 50
• Kitchen: I think so
• Living area: yes, but way too modern for my taste
• Garden: I don’t think so
• Laundry: we paid to have them wash it in the machine
• Stay again: probably not; I’d check out the other places
• Other: We ate at a great restaurant, Meson Forxa. My friend ordered the best carbonara I’ve ever had.
• Eroski Consumer

Photo credit: Yeni B.

 Day 31: Albergue de Ribadiso, Ribadiso

• Beds: 70
• Kitchen: I didn’t see one
• Living area: no
• Garden: The great outdoors next to a beautiful river.
• Laundry: outdoor sinks and clotheslines
• Stay again: Maybe; I’d probably check out the the other albergue close to the river.
• Other: Very interesting architecture; the bathrooms are not completely enclosed so it would be very cold showering in cold weather.
• Eroski Consumer

 

 

Day 32: Albergue Monte do Gozo, Monte do Gozo

• Beds: 400 (bunk style in barrack-type buildings)
• Kitchen: Yes
• Living area: Yes (see picture below)
• Garden: No but plenty of outdoor space
• Laundry: I think I washed it in the bathroom sink. There weren’t enough clotheslines.
• Stay again: Maybe for the reason below.
• Other: The nice thing about staying here is that you can get up in the morning, walk the 5 km to Santiago, then sit in the plaza all day watching pilgrims arrive.
• Eroski Consumer

 

 

Day 33: Albergue The Last Stamp, Santiago de Compostela

• Beds: 62 (54 bunk style)
• Kitchen: Yes
• Living area: Yes
• Garden: No
• Laundry: I’m not sure
• Stay again: Yes
• Other: Great price for Santiago. They also will hold pilgrims’ luggage free for a few days. While you are there, you get a backpack-size locker, which is great!
• Eroski Consumer