El albergue |

What’s an albergue and what can you expect from it?

In short, it’s one of the types of accommodations you’ll find along the Camino de Santiago. In my previous post, I listed the main types: el albergue (both public and private), el hostal, la pensión and el hotel (you can read the whole post here -and check the pronunciation of these words too!). I briefly commented on each one and promised to elaborate on el albergue.

So, that’s what I’m going to do this week.

El albergue

Public municipal albergues are the most popular accommodation  for the Camino. They are especially designed for pilgrims, which means you need proof that you are a pilgrim if you are planning to stay in one of them. And how do you prove that you are truly a pilgrim on your way to Santiago? Your stamped credencial! 

• A very important thing to know about municipal albergues is that they do not take reservations. They operate on a first-come first-served basis, and this can be a problem during the busiest times of the year if you want to avoid the bed race. Also, generally you can only stay for one night. Pilgrims a pie have preference over those a caballo or en bici. 

• El albergue is a basic type of accommodation. The prices per night range from €6 to €12, with the private albergues being a bit more expensive. Some of them ask for a voluntary donation only. They usually have big dormitories with literas (bunk beds), which might not suit everybody. And you need to take a pillowcase and a saco de dormir (sleeping bag) or something similar with you. Of course, this means no private baños (bathrooms), but you can still have a much needed ducha (shower) after a long day’s walk. On the other hand, staying in albergues is a great way to feel part of the community, to meet other pilgrims and share your experience with them.

• Albergues offer a variety of services with pilgrims in mind. Many have a lavadora (washing machine) or at least a lavadero (facilities for hand washing). Some also have a cocina (kitchen), where you can cook yourself a meal. Since the services can differ a lot between albergues you should check beforehand in any of the available guides.

• Last but not least, we should mention the hospitaleros, those people in charge of the albergues. They are all volunteers who have at least once done the Camino de Santiago themselves. They take care of the place and will help you with information you may need about the route or the local area.

¿Qué hay en tu albergue?

What is there in your albergue?

* For changes in albergues due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please check this post.

Today’s Spanish for the Camino

For the pronunciation of albergue and litera, you can go to last week’s post.

For the pronunciation of credencial, a pie, a caballo and en bici check this other post.

Read about Gary’s experience as an hospitalero.

¡Buen Camino!

Where to sleep on the Camino

or ¿Dónde vas a dormir?

When choosing accommodation, you have a few options, depending on your circumstances and the type of experience you want to have.

• For some, you can only have a true pilgrim experience if you stay in public albergues (hostels). I will write another post just on albergues, but you should know, at least, that you need your stamped credencial to stay in them and that they operate on a first-come first-served basis, which means you cannot book them in advance. An albergue is a basic type of accommodation. They usually have big, shared rooms, with literas (bunk beds). The number of people per room varies from one albergue to another. The prices per night range from €6 to €12. Some of them ask for a voluntary donation only.

• Private albergues are a bit more expensive but they have the advantage that you can book a space in advance. Apart from that they don’t differ much from the public albergues: mostly shared dorms with several literas, although some of them also have private rooms.

• Hostales and pensiones (guesthouses). They are usually small family-run businesses, with less services than hotels. You’re more likely to find  rooms with private bathrooms in this kind of accommodation.

• Hoteles (hotels). In bigger towns you will find a wide range of hotels for all budgets and offering different services.

You don’t have to stay in the same type of accommodation every night. You could go for albergues most nights, but then one day you feel like pampering yourself, or you need more privacy, or… whatever and you give the albergue a miss for a night or two. No problem! Also, if you are travelling as a part of a group, it might be difficult to get literas for everybody in the albergue. So, have you decided where you are going to stay during your Camino?

Why don’t you leave a comment saying: Voy a dormir en… and complete with un albergue/una pensión/un hostal/un hotel. But before you answer, you might want to check the rest of available accommodations in this other post: ¿Dónde vas a dormir? (II)

If you prefer to listen, check this podcast episode:

Looking for the podcast transcripts? Click here to find them.

In previous weeks I wrote about decisions you have to make before you embark on this adventure that is the Camino de Santiago. If you missed these posts and you would like to read them as well as learn some more Spanish, just click on the questions ¿Cómo vas a hacer el Camino? and ¿Qué vas a llevar en la mochila?

Today’s Spanish words

For the pronunciation of credencial, check this other post.

¡Buen Camino!