Daily Opening times for Refugios

[Oak Hill Walkers]

Since we're planning to set our maximum daily mileage to approximately 10 miles, we will be trying to arrive at our accommodation sites early to mid afternoon. In your experience, will the refugios be open to accept our request for bedspaces if we arrive at 13:00 to 15:00? My Brierley guidebook suggests that some of the refugios don't open until approximately 16:00.

Just trying to structure our siestas.

[Covey]

There are two different types of Albergue.

The "Official" albergues are "state" owned and tend to open after 2pm and work on a first come, first served basis. Many pilgrims put their pack in the queue outside the door / gate and wander off to grab a bite to eat if they arrive before opening time.

The private albergues are exactly that. They are licensed by the provincial Government to provide accommodation to pilgrims on the same basis as the official ones, though they usually charge a little more. If you know the telephone number/email address you can usually book a private albergue in advance, and they often do a communal meal, which more ofter than not, is well worth having!!

All albergues lock the pilgrims in the building at night (except Finisterre!) which is why I suggest that in Burgos, Leon and Santiago you check in to a small cheap hotel (no matter how cheap, it will probably be better than an albergue!!) so you can go out and enjoy the nightlife.

The Spanish go out to eat at 10pm, which is the lock up time at the albergues!! NOT a coincidence!!

[mosesmew]

What!?Getting locked in sounds scary. What if a fire breaks out/or someone goes nuts,Ugh! Whatever would a pilgrim do?

[Covey]

At the age of 60+ I find it a little disconcerting being locked in my bedroom again!!

Especially, when in July/August, the sun is still out when they chain the doors shut.

It is said that the locking up is designed to ensure that all pilgrims get a good nights sleep, undisturbed by those wishing to drink till dawn!!

My own view is that it convieniently clears the streets of scruffy looking pilgrims searching for a cheap meal by the time the Spanish go out for their evening meal.

When I say chain the doors, I mean exactly that. I refused to stay in the old albergue in the park at Burgos which was made up of 3 single story wooden buildings, with the beds packed in as tight as possible and the windows and doors had steel bars covering the glass. A fire would have done for the 100 pilgrims locked in there in less than 5 minutes.

[mosesmew]

Hi Covey, my goodness the thought of being locked in is too scary.I really do not know now if I'll even walk this Camino. I have a HUGE fear of being locked in!! OMG!!!!Nancy

[Covey]

Live with it!!

You will be worrying more by the carnage which used to be your feet, than worrying about the door being locked.

Peering intently at the soles of your feet is the pilgrims substitute for TV