Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

202  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

international card, which you the washing-up; they are also
can buy from any hostel. Prices expected to observe house
per person are much lower rules. Some convents admit
than in hotels or guest houses, only women, and some
but so, too, is the standard monasteries only men. Be sure
of accommodation – basic to book well in advance if you
shared rooms with no private plan to stay in a monastery,
bathrooms. There is no age since many are located in
limit for guests staying in beautiful historic buildings and
youth hostels. Note that, are consequently very popular.
during term time, many fill
up with school groups. Self-Catering
Youth hostels can be booked
through the Red Española de In larger Spanish towns,
Albergues Juveniles (Spanish particularly those on the
Network of Youth Hostels). coast, it is possible to rent
The period exterior of Hotel Calle Mayor in A number of pilgrims’ hostels a holiday flat or villa. These
Logroño (see p206) can be found along the Road are usually fully furnished
to Santiago. They vary from lodgings, most commonly
Casas Rurales
basic to quite comfortable. studios or flats with one or
Hotel accommodation in Mountaineers heading for two bedrooms, a living room,
Northern Spain is supplemented remote areas may use the bathroom, kitchen, and
by a large number of family-run refugios (refuges). These are balcony or terrace. Some,
casas rurales. These country shelters with a dormitory, especially inland, have
homes make ideal places for cooking facilities and heating. swimming pools. Check in
those seeking quiet relaxation Some are huts with only about advance whether you need
in a family setting rather than six bunks; others are mountain to bring your own towels and
the anonymous atmosphere of houses with up to 50 beds. bedding, though these are
a hotel in a bustling city centre. The refugios are marked on generally provided at no extra
Casas rurales usually offer large-scale maps of mountain cost. You are expected to keep
accommodation to a dozen or areas and national parks, and the flat clean and tidy. A
so visitors. Guests can expect they are administered by the deposit is usually payable
to find clean, well-kept rooms regional mountaineering at the beginning of your
and a friendly atmosphere. In associations. The Federación stay and will be returned
addition, many casas rurales Española de Montañismo to you when you leave.
provide excellent home cooking and the local tourist offices
and traditional regional cuisine, will supply their addresses.
while others are offered on a Camp Sites
self-catering basis. In Spain, camping is permitted
Another major advantage of Monasteries and only at official camp sites. Most
Convents
casas rurales is their affordable camp sites have electricity and
price. However, due to their Some Benedictine and running water; some also have
popularity, they are in great Cistercian monasteries in launderettes, playgrounds,
demand, particularly in high Northern Spain have rooms restaurants, shops, a swimming
season, and it is always worth available for overnight guests. pool and other amenities. The
booking ahead by phone, Many pilgrims on the Road Camping Card International
online or through local to Santiago choose to stay at (CCI) can be used instead of a
tourist agencies. monasteries or convents along passport to check in at camp
Casas rurales are especially the way. The rooms are modest, sites, and it covers you for third-
popular in the regions of with few amenities. party insurance; visit www.
Asturias, Cantabria and Guests are expected to tidy campingcardinternational.com
Navarra. In Cantabria they their rooms and to help with for more information. Cards
are known as casonas, while are issued in the UK by the
in Catalonia they are often AA, RAC and the Camping
called cases de pages. and Caravanning Club.
An invaluable source of
information about Spanish
Youth Hostels and camp sites is the Guía Oficial
Mountain Refuges de Campings, published each
To use the network of albergues year by Turespaña.
juveniles (youth hostels) in A lot of useful information
Spain, you need to show a can also be obtained from the
YHA (Youth Hostel Association) A colourful living room in a self-catering Federación Española de
card from your country or an holiday flat Clubes Campistas.

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