Hostal Albergue La Posada del Druida

The good ratings made us reserve two beds in the albergue, but we quickly decided to leave the place after our arrival. The ratings must reflect the individual rooms, because the dormitory was simply cold, small, and badly lit - like a jail cell, basically. Cannot recommend... especially for 15 euro a night.

The hostel rooms are fine, definitely prepare with low expectations, but it does the job. The staff in our experience were unwelcoming. Two of us paid for beds and two pilgrim meals (€60 total). After the meal we went for a walk in the town and picked up a snack in the shop. When we returned, we sat with our roomates who had just finished their meal in the sitting area of the hostel. We were very loudly shouted at and told we couldn't eat anything not purchased in the hostel there. It was torrential rain outdoors and we were told we had to eat outside and it was the "bosses rules". Strange rule, but I found the way it was communicated to be extremely rude and embarrassing, especially as we had spent a lot of money in the hostel already. There is no common area for guests other than the restaurant or very dimly lit rooms so it feels uncomfortable to be in. I would advise others to spend their money at some of the other nice hostels and restaurants in the town.

The private rooms may be good, but the bunk bed room we got, was the worst I have experienced on my four times on the Camino Frances. No windows, and no natural light. Only light was one pale light in the seeling, 6 beds in a small room with no where to hang or put your close. One chair taken by the lucky first one to get in there. One little table by one of the other bunkbeds The room was cold, and the door in was also to the door to the outside yard. So every time someone left the room, the wind, and rain got directly into the room and on the two beds closest to the opening. The other opening in the room did not have a door and was to a hallway. We joked about this being a prison cell, with the night light on at day time. The one star is for the lady who gave us our money back for this insult of an accommodation when we left to find something else.

Perhaps the private are ok but here’s my experience: the dorm was the least pleasant I’ve stayed in with little natural light. Everyone staying in it joked that it was like a prison cell, and even the electric light was sad and dim. To be called an Albergue for Peregrinos I think you should have to satisfy some basic criteria - like having some sort of area for preparing food, and refrigeration because us pilgrims often carry food. The lady in charge last night was not happy that one of our friends had a pizza from elsewhere, even though the other 5 of us on the table ate the Albergue food - a true Albergue allows you to hang out and do what you need to do - fortunately the friend bought a drink and all was good. All in all it wasn’t the real Albergue experience with a warm welcome and help that you often get from people who have walked the Camino themselves. The food was ok so thank you for that.

Double room is lovely. Interior is atmospheric and clean. My only complain is that we could not start our walk at 6:30 and had to wait until 7:00 because the door of the building was locked and we could not get out.