Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[JohnnieWalker]

Just bringing together some thoughts on this and I'm posting it now for anyone planning to use the route soon so you know roughly what the costs are.

Albergues

There are currently albergues in Neda, Miño and Hospital de Bruma - these have been established through the enthusiasm of local Amigos Associations rather than an overall plan of accommodation needs on this route. A plan may only now be emerging.

Therefore most pilgrims use the following stages – Ferrol – Pontedueme
Pontedeume – Betanzos
Betanzos – Hospital de Bruma
Hospital de Bruma – Sigueiro
Sigueiro – Santiago de Compostela

Using hostal or hotel accommodation at each stage or either hostal accommodation or the excellent albergue at Hospital de Bruma.

New albergues planned:

Local authorities in the area have started meeting to discuss extending the network of municipal albergues along the Camino Inglés. New albergues are planned for Betanzos and Carral (the latter being on the A Coruña arm)

The new albergue in Betanzos will be ready in the second half of 2009 and will provide 40 places. It is situated at 1 Rua Cervantes in the town centre.

Last week I decided to not book in advance and simply test whether I could get cheap accommodation by just arriving on spec

Here is what I paid:

Flying into A Coruna staying overnight before getting the bus to Ferrol - 15 euros for a room

Pontedeume - 24 euros

Betanzos - 20 euros

Bruma ( Meson do Vento ) 18 euros

Sigueiro 15 euros

There are of course more expensive options at each of these stages.

John

[Rebekah Scott]

...and some cheaper options, too.

[JohnnieWalker]

apart from the albergues at Neda, Mino and Bruma which go without saying - do tell Rebekah? The more infor on cheaoer accomodation on this route the better.

[Rebekah Scott]

In Ferrol I stayed at the hostal Zanzibar or Zambia or something African that starts with Z... it was 25 Euros for a single.

In Pontedeume I stayed at the hostel run by Luis at Bar Luis. It was a dead-simple single room, but I had my own shower and bed, and who needs much more when you´re knackered? It cost 10 Euro.

The next night I paid 40 Euro for a deluxe room at a 4 star near the Guardia Civil barrack, as the Pulperia Universal is closed on Sundays. (I´d Love to stay at a place with such a wacky name!) The town was full of a biker convention, so all the cheap places were full. (I would advise all to NOT start this walk on a weekend!)

The following night I stayed at the pilgrim refuge in Hospital de Bruma for 3 Euros.

Then I stayed for 20 Euro at the Hostal Santa Cruz, somewhere about 7 km. along the main road north of Siguero. (I kinda got lost, OK?) But this was a high point of the hike for me... the room was clean and sunny with a million-mile view and cows lowing out back. And there´s an asador downstairs: a 10 Euro Menu included a monton of fire-grilled lambchops!

And that´s about all there is to tell... I suppose the prices really ARE comparable.

[lckgj]

Just for further comparison here are the places I stayed on Camino Ingles. All prices are for two people in twin room in August (which counts as 'high' season in places that have a variable tariff).

Ferrol - El Cairo, 35 euros for twin room with private facilities. Clean and good shower. Could have had room in same hotel with shared facilities for 30 euros.
Also looked at Hostal da Magdalena where a room with private facilities would have been 29 euros but the bathroom was miniscule and the place somehow didn't have a good feel to it. Also looked into Hotel Real where twin with bathroom would have cost 45 euros. Looked quite smart.

Pontedueme - Bar Luis, 30 euros with bathroom. Again clean and good shower. Menu del dia 10 euros - delicious! Open early for breakfast/coffee too.

Betanzos - Bar Cheino, 30 euros with shared facilities. My least favourite place. Stark room without even a socket to charge phone. Slightly unpleasant odour in so-so clean bathroom. Would recommend looking at Chocolateria down the road instead.

Hospital de Bruma - Albergue, 3 euros. Possibly the kindest hospitalero on the planet!

Siguiero - Polideportivo (sportshall), Free! Slightly grubby mattresses or plastic coated exercise mats to sleep on. Good hot showers.

Santiago - Hostal Fonseca, 30 euros with shared facilities. Kept regularly and scrupulously clean by Maria Jesus. Was able to leave luggage there whilst went to Finisterre for a couple of days.

Only other useful piece of info is to be aware that there were no bars open between Bruma and Siguiero on a Sunday and we had no opportunity to eat all day. (Apparently Bar Novo did open later in the day but not in time for promised late morning/breakfast stop) Suggest carrying provisions to be on safe side.

Good luck and Buen Camino to anyone walking this route in the near future.

Laura