Paradores

[voyagermoon]

Ahhhh, for pilgrim heaven that will completely blow your budget, you can't go past the Paradores Hotel, the 'oldest hotel in the world', which is right in the square beside the Cathedral.

It's an exquisite experience after a month on the road - clean white sheets on a soft puffy mattress in a room you have all to yourself, a bathtub deep and warm, clean towels, scented soaps, chocolates on your pillow .......

And then there's breakfast! What a feast! Vegetarian delight! Santiago almond cake, fried chillies and salt. And all those non-vego treats. All you can eat. Even if you don't stay at the Paradores, head this way for brekkie. Mmmmm-mmmmmmmmmm.

Stephanie Dale
Author, My Pilgrim's Heart
Voyager Moon

[Tanya Yaksich]

And just how much will this "slice of Heaven" set you back?
Cheers Tanya

[voyagermoon]

Oh, about three day's wages . . . although you can get deals online.

[Covey]

Spain - Galicia - Parador de Santiago de Compostella

On the other hand................... you could walk about 75m from the Cathedral steps, down the main street to the right (assuming you are standing in the square looking at the steps!!), first right then first left in to Calle Padron and you will see the main Santiago Police station for the National Police. Directly opposite the police station is the Café 25th July which has 8 double bedrooms with en-suite shower etc and who will charge you €40 for single occupancy (bliss) or €50 for double occupancy (could be bliss .............) They don't do main meals (Santiago has more than enough places to eat for every budget!) but do a nice breakfast.

I always stay there when I am in Santiago and it suits me fine!

[HuskyNerd]

The Parador is definitely worth a visit, but personally I think it's a little outdated, overly formal, and overpriced. The service is excellent, if a little highbrow. My favorite Parador (I don't pretend to have visited them all) is in Santo Domingo de la Calzada where the fine staff held onto my lost cap when I'd gone off to Copenhagen and remembered I'd left it in my room. Many swear by the Parador in Leon, but I've stayed quite happily at La Pasada Regia which is just steps off the Camino and quite near the cathedral.

My choice in Santiago this year once again will be the Altair HOTEL ALTA (Rua Roreiros 12). This is a boutique hotel, is much cheaper than the Parador, is close to the cathedral (perhaps 4 blocks) and has a modern/medieval vibe that sets it apart. You can just about squeeze 3 nights here for the cost of one at the Parador, yet the hotel feels modern and quiet, not stuffy, but comfy. An individual room is EU85 in high season, which after a month's walk is a small price to pay for comfort.

[Covey]

Two years ago I was a little late getting in to Santo Domingo and the albergue was full but I managed to get a room in the Parador. I tried not to feel too much guilt at sleeping in luxury, but had great difficulty in persuading myself at dawn that the time had come to get up and hit the road before they started serving breakfast!!

[HuskyNerd]

I know just what you mean, Covey! Somehow it doesn't feel right to get a great hotel, then leave at 6:00 in the morning. It's also odd to show up in gritty hiking gear in the afternoon covered in muck while there are beautiful Spanish women in stiletto heels passing you on the way to a wedding reception down the hall. But the clean sheets, warm shower, and soft beds make a nice break from the Camino. The Santo Domingo Parador is especially nice because of its location right in the square adjacent to the cathedral. And it must be one of the cheaper Paradors in Spain.

[Covey]

The Paradors do a special room rate for the over 60's!! but not Pilgrims.

When are you starting down the Way again?

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Covey ~
I'm leaving 11 July for 260 kms on the Via de la Plata, arriving in SDC 25 July. Then next year on 10 May from SJPP with my sister and son. Can hardly wait for both. You're going in September, eh?

[Covey]

Yep, on the 4th Sept I shall be on my way out of St Jean, bound for all points west vis Santiago to Finesterre. However, this year for the first time I am going to take the "bad weather" route to Roncesvalles because I have not done that route before. I like my Camino's hot and dry, so either go in early July or early September.

I should imagine that SDC will be very special on 25th July, if not a little crowded. You might have to use your elbows to force your way through the crowds into the Cathedral, but if you wore your collar they will undoubtedly make room for you. Just don't mention you are a Methodist!!

[Leslie]

Each time I walked I ended up in a pension twice. My head just gets to the point where it says "I can't stand this any more" and it refuses to go on with out a bit of privacy - however I was a mature student both times I walked and did not have the cash for a paradore - the next time perhaps...

[Covey]

Young Fellas like you have a long time to wait before you qualify for a free bus pass and cheaper nights at a Parador!! They do all sorts of deals in the Paradors and last year were doing 5 nights in any Parador for around €60 per night for the "over 60's".

The nice thing about the Paradors is that they are always beautiful historic buildings which have been very sympathetically converted to a luxury hotel. I think they are still owned by the Government so are well maintained and run.