An albergue is a hostel designated only for pilgrims. It is identified by a blue sign with a white “A” in the middle. In order to stay in an albergue you need to present your credentials, or pilgrim passport, at check in. The credentials show your starting location on the Camino, and a stamp from all the places you have stayed along the way. Each stamp is different. You can also get stamps from museums, tourist info offices, churches, some restaurants, and other places of interest. We even got a stamp from a guy selling trinkets from his car, and from two guys on bikes taking donations for kids in India.
Why an albergue instead of a hostel? Comaradity and cost. Since allergies only host pilgrims there is much to share. The staff is there mostly on a volunteer basis to help the pilgrim reach his goal. And...the cost...is about half that of a hostel. Albergueschave been costing us from 5 -10 Euros ea per night. Some are even free, and some are on a donation basis. Hostels seem to cost about 20 euros ea per nite.
Our credential stamps so far.
There are 3 kinds of albergue: The first is a municipal albergue. It is operated by the community. We have stayed at several of these and they have all been great. The one on Tajeras was even free. The municipal ones tend to be the least expensive. Seems like a lot of people gravitate toward the other types for some reason. I guess the municipals are considered the lowest level, but we have not been disapointed. Last night for example we were at a terrific one. 2 rooms, 20 beds ea. We had only 1 other person in our room. Can you imagine a community opening itself up and funding an operation like this? Most communities have a municipal albergue. Sometimes they are in abandoned churches.
The second type is an albergue is associated with a religious organization. We have stayed at several of these and they have all been great, too. They normally have earlier hours for closing, tend to be very quiet at night, and sometimes offer a mass or a pilgrim blessing. They are all very friendly and welcoming and don’t expect you to take part in these activities. You can come and go as you please, and participate or not. We have started to gravitate to these as they seem to offer a more authentic pilgrim experience.
The 3rd type is a private alburgue. We have stayed in these and they are also very fine. They tend to be smaller and cost a few more euros than the other types. People seem to like these, but we don’t see any particular advantage.
About half of the albergues have separate men’s and women’s bathrooms and showers. The other half are co-ed. A line of toilets, showers, and sinks with everyone coming and going in various stages of dress. Pepe, our albergue host in Burgos said, “In the albergue we are all family”. That may be true, but I don’t remember the last to time I changed clothes in front of family members.
Albergues also offer a kitchen equipped with all the dishes, utensils, pots & pans you need to prepare a meal. Many people take advantage of this and save a lot on restaurant food. They get groceries and a bottle of wine and have a feast. We have not done that yet but plan to soon.
Often they offer dinner. Typically for 10 euros. It is at a set time and you dine with whoever else signs up for dinner. Lots of languages. One night our server explained there were 3 choices for dinner (held up 3 fingers). Finger 1 - she rolled up her nose and said oink, oink. Finger 2 - she clapped her arms and said cluck, cluck. Finger 3 - she wiggled her hand (fish). You ordered by saying oink oink, cluck cluck, or wiggled your hand.
They also offer breakfast. Normally for 3 euros you get coffee or tea, and some dried French bread. It’s a pretty bad deal, so we skip it.
You have to depart by 8 am. No problem for us so far.
After 16 nights, aside from one night in a hotel, and 1 night in a monastery dorm room for two, our average cost for lodging has been 7.50 euros per person per night.
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