Accommodation and Camino Albergues - Mike on the Camino

Where do you sleep on the Camino de Santiago? In this episode we look at Accommodation and Camino Albergues.
At first glance, the big picture of Accommodation for pilgrims is a little confusing with so many options. Hotel, Hostel, Hostal, Casa Rural, Parador, Parroquial, Pension, and then the variety of albergues including Municipal, Private and Donativo!
Is your stuff safe?
Are YOU safe?
Will you need a sleeping bag, pillow or sheets?
What are all these options?

[@Lautaro_Guindulain]

Thanks for the video! you just won a subscriber. I am planning to do my Camino Frances in September. I would love to see a video on bed bugs and how to avoid them. Thanks!

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Are you psychic? Just finishing off my script on the next episode about bed bugs!

[@Cheeky_Sheikhy]

Im planning Spetember too! See you there!

[@peterbarber5442]

good content and well made

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Thanks Peter, I'm just starting with youtube. My first edit was longer but it got a little too long and doubled on some info so I will keep those ideas for another future episode. I'm pleased you enjoyed it, looking forward to your future comments.

[@cindyrodriguez166]

Enjoying your videos ... just subscribed! 😊 I am doing the Camino Frances in Aug - Sept of 2022. I LOVE your t-shirt, did you buy it on the Camino? I notice you have a different one on in each video, very clever. I think this one is my fav so far tho. Thank you putting all this information together.

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Thanks Cindy! I do love t-shirts! The ones you have see so far were purchased in Santiago. I do have some new ones coming including a custom one that I'm really excited to see if my design worked. I really liked this video too. I think the info is so important for a pre-pilgrim. Oddly enough, it's one of my lower performing videos, although the analytics on it show those that watch it, stick with the episode and it has a relatively high number of likes even if it has less views than others. When my custom shirt arrives I hope you post me a comment on your thoughts.

[@PaladinBlades]

Is the albergue in the thumbnail Hostel Casa Ibarrola in Pamplona? I stayed there for a couple days on my most recent Camino I just got back from last night. I think I actually stayed in the bunk you're sitting in!

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Awesome observation there! It sure is. It was great. SUPER fast internet. I was up the back and to the left. The only downside, someone got my paypal password while I was there. I'm just back from Camino again (back less than a week) and I will be doing a video in the upcoming season 2 on phone security, so make sure to subscribe. I was pretty lucky they only got into an account that had a zero balance, but they tried withdrawing hundreds!

[@Lautaro_Guindulain]

One more question. If you were to do the Camino again, would you consider trekking poles? I'm 45 and exercise regularly, including walking. I've never used trekking poles, but I am wondering if these are right for me. What was your experience. Looking forward to your next video!

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Excellent question. I will be doing a video on equipment and poles at some stage. To answer your questions... Firstly, aching for another Camino, secondly I was in a car accident and my left wrist and poles do not work. I used 1 pole from time to time with my right hand with mixed results from the odd gait, my son had 2 poles and loved them. We got them for free along the way as pilgrims leave them behind by accident or dump them to save weight / don't use them. He also lost a set along the trip, but go another, and lost sunglasses too, joys of travelling with an 11 year old. Some folks love them, some hate them. It's personal. Try them at home with full days of walking with a weighted pack. Do some sleep ups and downs (most people carry them for the steep bits) as well as the flat. Do you get a big enough benefit from the extra weight and clunkiness when they are not in use? It's your call. Don't spend a fortune on them, they may not come home with you, or may not even make the final pack. If you have any back, knee or feet issues, less weight is ALWAYS the goal. The bigger the pack weight the bigger the chance of injury.

[@peregrinusjacobaeus]

🌺👍🌸

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Thanks!

[@michelemoran3267]

Interesting Aussie accent and jokes. al-BER-gay St- Jon -peed-d-por Walking sticks are so helpful taking 30% of the weight- bearing off hips, knees, ankles. Good for going down & up. I understand your wrist problem but please recommend them! One stick creates imbalance in the body over days. (I've walked 7 caminos) thanks

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Accents are funny Michele. Australia has no Spanish speaking neighbouring countries, so we are far less used to the sounds of the language. My youngest boy learns Indonesian at school and the eldest learns Japanese. No schools within koowee (Australian slang for nearby) or any I know even offer Spanish electives. As a result, Australians’ have fantastically appalling Spanish pronunciations. However, we have no trouble with towns like Woolloomooloo or Goondiwindi. Thanks for your technical info too. Pre-injury I used walking sticks. My son loved his. It really is a personal thing though, many pilgrims swore they were the best things even on the flat terrain, others would dump them as excess weight with minimal benefit, and some say they are worth it for the steep stuff. It’s not quite as polar as wool socks though, you love ‘em or you hate them, rarely in between.

[@michelemoran3267]

I'm Australian too

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Well stone the bloody crows and bugger me dead. Another Aussie!

[@carolinesaunders6656]

Cutest dog on the Internet. How did you choose where to stay, did you do research beforehand?

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

He looks a bit like the dragon from Never Ending Story! Thanks for your feedback, I will do an episode on choosing an Albergue at some stage, it's a great question. In short, I lost my Camino guide book long before I left, so I did almost no research. I got a few apps which had reviews. I mostly used the Wisely app and looked for what facilities (like do they have a kitchen, offer meals, laundry etc), price and fellow pilgrim reviews. I'm also going to do a full review episode of the single worst albergue, which I lightly mentioned in this episode. Looking forward to your future comments!

[@jasperfields4856]

Yes Griffo is very Cute! [doggo moment] 11:47 [NO moment] 6:26 🙂

[@paulkoval9138]

Great doggie and an excellent video. 👍

[@Lautaro_Guindulain]

One question, For Septmeber, should I bring a sleeping bag? I found very uncomfortable to sleep inside a sleeping bag, so perhaps I should only bring perhaps two liners? Thanks!

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

One silk liner and thermals will see you through for September, unless you intend camping out which is not allowed. It's still quite warm and almost all albergues have blankets. You are if you start in late sept at SJPDP you may get some cooler weather by the time you get to Cruz de Ferro. Mountain weather is variable. Just remember you have to carry that bag the whole way. Watch your pack weight.

[@JudyG745]

Orisson 47 Euro

[@MikeOnTheCamino]

Wow, that's gone up. I hear they provide wifi now which is a minimum these days - especially for a such an expensive albergue. As we had no simcard my family did not hear from us until the end the end of the second day of Camino. Not ideal. I also did video on Orisson kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn_KfK2Mibt9nbMsi=cu0T2yHFQJUaFCzP