Wondering whether you can walk the Camino de Santiago while staying in hotels rather than pilgrim hostels? The answer is yes! If you prefer having your own room, a private bathroom, and somewhere comfortable to recharge at the end of the day, walking the Camino Frances while staying in hotels is entirely possible.

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Best Accommodation on the Camino Frances for 5-7 days

Camino Frances with Family for the First Time

I have just returned from my first Camino de Santiago experience, walking part of its most famous route, the Camino Frances (also called the French Way), from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela in five days with my parents.

This is the most popular itinerary because it covers the minimum 100 km required to qualify for the pilgrim certificate, called the Compostela. While the full French Way takes around 30–35 days to complete and starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, most travelers I know walk it in stages, usually doing a week of the Camino each year and gradually completing the entire Camino Frances over time.

In this post, I will share exactly where we stayed along the way, which hotels I liked and which I didn’t, as well as some places I wanted to book but that were unavailable for our dates.

Hostels vs. Hotels on the Camino

From the very beginning, my parents loved the idea of experiencing this spiritual journey, disconnecting from everyday life, and exploring the natural beauty and rural landscapes of Northern Spain. However, they were also clear about one thing: they wanted their own space and had reached the point where shared bathrooms and hostel dormitories were no longer appealing. So, during our Camino experience, we stayed only in hotels, and I really liked how it all turned out.

If I am honest, I was not entirely sure how I would feel about staying in hostels (albergues) along El Camino myself. It was not because I thought they were unsafe, but because, as a traveler, a mother of two girls, and a business owner, I have come to appreciate having some privacy and quiet at the end of a busy day.

At the same time, I was curious about the albergue experience. There is something appealing about stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the simpler, more communal side of the Camino. Perhaps I will try it on a future trip!

For our first Camino, though, I am glad we stayed in hotels. Walking for several consecutive days was already a challenge, and I did not want to add worries about sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings or sharing a room with strangers to the experience.

If you are planning your first Camino, you probably have similar questions about the difficulty of the route, accommodation, and how everything works. You can also read my Camino de Santiago tips for beginners guide to help you prepare.

Can You Walk the Camino Frances and Stay in Hotels?

Absolutely! You do not have to stay in albergues (hostels) to walk the Camino de Santiago. Along the Camino Frances, particularly on the popular final stretch from Sarria to Santiago, you will find small hotels, guesthouses, and rural accommodation.

Staying in hotels can be a good option if you are traveling with parents (or kids), prefer a private bathroom, need a comfortable space to recover, or simply know that you sleep better when you have your own room.

Where to Stay on the Camino Frances: From Sarria to Santiago

We traveled as a family of three, and these are our personal experiences rather than a definitive ranking of Camino accommodation. Hopefully, they will help you plan your own journey!

Night 1: Santiago de Compostela

Our trip did not start as smoothly as we had hoped! We arrived in Santiago de Compostela late at night after our flight made an emergency landing in Vigo instead of Santiago. The airline took some time to organize buses to Santiago, but the biggest problem came when we finally arrived at the airport.

We ended up waiting in the taxi queue for around two hours in the middle of the night. After an already exhausting journey, this was probably the worst part of our entire Camino experience.

As I have experienced in other Spanish cities, ride-hailing services such as Uber do not always operate at airports in the same way they do elsewhere. At Santiago Airport, there is an official fixed taxi fare to the city (23 euros), but that night we struggled to find enough available taxis to accommodate everyone.

I hope the situation improves, but for my next trip, I would seriously consider arranging a private airport transfer in advance with Welcome Pickups, especially if arriving late at night. After a similar experience in Gran Canaria, I learned that organizing a transfer beforehand can save a lot of unnecessary stress.

I have almost no impressions of our first night’s stay in Santiago, as we stayed at Exe Area Central, which was fine for a short overnight stay before continuing our journey and taking a bus to Sarria the next day.

One thing I noticed was that there was a supermarket right in front of the hotel, which was convenient for buying water and snacks. Given how late we arrived in Santiago on our very first night (around 3–4 a.m.) and how little sleep we got, we were mostly interested in having somewhere to rest.

Night 2: Sarria

Our original plan was to stay at Hotel Roma 1930 in Sarria. We booked directly through the hotel’s website because it was not available on Booking.com for our dates.

Unfortunately, when we arrived in Sarria, we discovered that our reservation had been canceled. The hotel had sent me an email, but the message had ended up in my spam folder, and I had not seen it.

Of course, I could have checked my emails more carefully, but I also wish the hotel had called to make sure I knew about the cancellation, especially as our arrival date was approaching.

Luckily, we managed to find Casona de Sarria through the Booking.com app, even though we were already in town. In the end, it turned out to be one of our favorite places to stay along the Camino!

The staff spoke very little English, which was not a problem for me, but it is worth keeping in mind if you do not speak Spanish. This is not unusual in Galicia and rural Spain, where smaller family-run establishments may have limited English-speaking staff.

That said, you do not need to speak much Spanish to enjoy the Camino if you have familiarized yourself with the basic arrangements and planned your accommodation in advance.

Night 3: Portomarin

On our first day of walking, we continued to Portomarin, where we stayed at Pons Minea, which offers both hotel-style rooms and hostel accommodation. For some reason, finding accommodation in Portomarin with a private bathroom was already proving more difficult than I expected, and this was honestly the only suitable option we could find at the time.

We booked a room for five people but used it just for the three of us. The beds were not particularly comfortable, so this was probably the most hostel-like of all our overnight stays.

I had originally wanted to stay at Pazo de Berbetoros, which looked lovely, but unfortunately, it was fully booked.

This was a good reminder that staying in hotels along the Camino sometimes means making compromises. You might find a beautiful place that suits your plans perfectly, only to discover that there is no availability. When traveling with family and needing private facilities, it is worth booking early and having a few alternatives in mind.

Night 4: Palas de Rei

Our next stop along the Camino Frances was Dos Romeiros in Palas de Rei.

The property is a little outside the village center, but it appeared quite new and was a comfortable option for our overnight stay.

One thing I particularly appreciated was the dinner menu. After a long day of walking, it was wonderful to be able to eat at the accommodation and relax without having to go back out in search of a restaurant.

They also provided free water, which was a thoughtful detail. We could refill our bottles without needing to visit the supermarket.

Night 5: Arzua

On our next stage, we reached Arzua, where we stayed at Hotel Arzua. It was an okay place for an overnight stop, although it was not one of the hotels that particularly stood out during our trip.

This was also the longest day of our five-day walking itinerary from Sarria to Santiago. Many pilgrims choose to split this stage and spend the night in Melide instead, which can make the overall journey more manageable.

We had considered doing the same, but when we were booking our accommodation, there was nothing suitable left in Melide. Hotel Lux Melide and Urban Pension were two places I had hoped to book, but both were fully booked for our dates.

If you have more time than we did, I would seriously consider splitting this long walking day. It gives you more opportunity to rest, enjoy the villages along the route, and avoid feeling that you need to push through the distance.

Night 6: Amenal (O Pedrouzo)

Our original plan for Day 6 was to spend the night in O Pedrouzo, an official overnight stop along the Camino Frances, but by the time we booked our accommodation, we couldn’t find any suitable hotels available there.

Instead, we booked Hotel Amenal, which is a little farther along the Camino route. It worked out well because it meant we were closer to Santiago for our final walking day.

The hotel itself was a typical small Camino establishment. One thing to be aware of is that the same person was working at the bar and reception when we arrived. There was a long queue at the bar, so we had to wait around 30 minutes before we could check in and get into our room.

It was not a major problem, but it is a good example of why I recommend keeping your expectations realistic when booking accommodation along the Camino. Small rural hotels may have limited staff, and things do not always run as smoothly as they would in a larger hotel.

Still, the location worked well for us, particularly because we wanted to arrive in Santiago early the following day.

So, if you cannot find accommodation in O Pedrouzo, look at nearby places along the Camino route, including Amenal. Just confirm that your luggage transfer company can deliver your suitcase to your chosen accommodation.

Night 7: Santiago de Compostela

After completing our Camino, we spent the night at Nest Style Santiago.

It was a good value-for-money hotel, although quite old, and it was not right in the historic center next to Santiago Cathedral. The walk to the cathedral area takes around 15 minutes, and the neighborhood had plenty of shops and restaurants, which we appreciated after several days on the trail.

The only drawback on this final day had nothing to do with the hotel itself, but with our luggage arriving late. We were able to take a shower, but we couldn’t change our clothes until around 6 p.m., when our luggage finally arrived.

Apparently, this is quite common on the final day of the Camino, when several different Camino routes converge in Santiago de Compostela and luggage transfer companies are at their busiest. Knowing this in advance, I would pack a small change of clothes in my backpack!

As I mentioned in my Camino vlog, we arrived in Santiago de Compostela before 11 a.m. on our final day (to get the Compostela). We started walking at 6 a.m. and were a few kilometers closer to Santiago than we would have been if we had stayed in O Pedrouzo.

So, if you want to get your Compostela but would rather not get up too early on the final day, you might consider splitting the last stage into two days or staying an extra day in Santiago de Compostela.

Along the way, we stopped for breakfast at Casa de Amancio, a restaurant that also has accommodation, which I liked. I also spotted Paso Xan Xordo and Las 12K Guest House along the route, and both looked like great options for splitting the final day of the Camino into two shorter stages.

My Tips for Staying in Hotels Along the Camino de Santiago

After organizing our first Camino Frances and staying in hotels along the route, I learned a few things I would do differently next time.

Book as Early as Possible

My biggest piece of advice is to book your accommodation well in advance if you want to stay in hotels or private rooms.

Ideally, start looking around six months to a year ahead if you plan to walk during July or August, when demand can be particularly high. Even for our mid-September trip, I was surprised by how little accommodation remained available when we booked around two months in advance.

I had assumed September would be quieter and that most pilgrims would be staying in albergues anyway. That was not the case for the places we wanted to book.

We booked all of our hotels through Booking.com. As I mentioned earlier, one reservation made directly through a hotel’s website was canceled without me noticing the email, which is why I personally prefer having everything organized in one place. Yet, whichever booking method you choose, check your confirmations and keep an eye on your messages before traveling.

Check Whether Your Luggage Transfer Company Can Deliver to Your Hotel

If you are using a luggage transfer service, remember that companies may have designated stops or delivery arrangements along the Camino.

Most of the time, your accommodation will be in one of the usual stopping points. However, if you stay in a nearby village or somewhere slightly off the standard route, check with the company before confirming your reservation.

For us, this was relevant on the final walking day, when we stayed in Amenal rather than O Pedrouzo. We contacted the company, and they confirmed that delivery was possible.

During most of our walk, our luggage was already waiting at the hotel when we arrived. On the final day in Santiago, however, it did not arrive until around 5-6 pm.

Manage Your Expectations About Camino Hotels

I find it funny when people say that walking the Camino and staying in hotels doesn’t qualify as an authentic Camino experience. Yet, hotels in some villages were completely booked, and around 70% of the people we saw were using a luggage transfer service rather than carrying their backpacks.

And, more importantly, the hotels along the Camino are not exactly resorts on the Mexican Riviera! While some have been recently renovated and the Camino has become increasingly popular in recent decades, leading to more accommodation options, most of the hotels are still quite simple and humble places.

Also, if you have never travelled around Spain and stayed in local accommodation, keep in mind that traditional Spanish beds can be quite small, especially in rural areas. If you are used to larger beds, check the room descriptions and photographs carefully before booking.

I would recommend approaching Camino accommodation with the right expectations: these are often humble, practical places to rest during a walking pilgrimage, rather than destinations in themselves.

For me, the essence of the Camino lies in the journey itself, not in whether you sleep in a hostel dormitory or a private hotel room.

Is It Worth Staying in Hotels on the Camino de Santiago?

For us, absolutely. I was curious about the albergue experience and may try it on another Camino, but I am glad our first journey was a family trip with private accommodation. It allowed us to focus on walking, enjoying the countryside, and spending time together without worrying about shared facilities or whether we would sleep well.

Staying in hotels does not mean you miss out on the spirit of the Camino. You still walk the same paths, meet other pilgrims, pass through Galician villages, and experience the unique atmosphere of the journey. You simply choose a different way to rest at the end of the day.

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