Will albergue in Roncesvalles allow small carryon suitcase?

[cosmomom]

I will have my day pack, but also I’m bringing a small carry-on. Wasn’t sure that the albergues will allow a suitcase inside. Thank you.

 

[Ianinam]

Yes, this will be allowed. For security reasons we will ask you not to place it in the hallway (escape route in case of fire) but under your bed or in the locker-cabinet near your bed.

 

[trecile]

I met some young Irish women on my first Camino who were only walking to Pamplona, then traveling around Spain who had small suitcases.

 

[cosmomom]

Yes, this will be allowed. For security reasons we will ask you not to place it in the hallway (escape route in case of fire) but under your bed or in the locker-cabinet near your bed.

Thank you so much for your response.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I met some young Irish women on my first Camino who were only walking to Pamplona, then traveling around Spain who had small suitcases.

Not unusual - walking the Portuguese we met a Danish couple with two very large suitcases which were shipped from hotel to hotel. They dressed for dinner and when I say dressed I mean that the man wore smart trousers and a collared shirt while lady wore, well she actually wore a dress and heels

 

[JabbaPapa]

From recent experience, I would cautiously say yes -- except that if you were to turn up in high pilgrim season, things might be different.

In principle, pilgrims are under an increasing expectation to have just a backpack.

And increasingly, there are Albergues that are starting to refuse suitcases.

Doesn't mean you can't carry one, but be advised that they are not so well tolerated in practice as they used to be.

 

[hikentravel1234]

I will have my day pack, but also I’m bringing a small carry-on. Wasn’t sure that the albergues will allow a suitcase inside. Thank

From recent experience, I would cautiously say yes -- except that if you were to turn up in high pilgrim season, things might be different.

In principle, pilgrims are under an increasing expectation to have just a backpack.

And increasingly, there are Albergues that are starting to refuse suitcases.

Doesn't mean you can't carry one, but be advised that they are not so well tolerated in practice as they used to be.

I second this. Even if Roncesvalle, or some other hostels, allow a suitcase, there is no way I would even take a chance. Who wants to take a very big chance that this will be an issue you have to worry about every time you look for a place to stay (except if you stay in hotels). This doesn't even include whether or not you will have problems finding transport bag companies to transport your bag every day.

 

[SabsP]

Thank you so much for your response.

The transport companies will have in their listings the albergues that accept suitcases.
Jacotrans has this detail :

Transporte de equipajes entre tus alojamientos o cualquier cosa que quieras enviar o que te sobre.
Peso máximo por equipaje 15 kg. Medida máxima de uno de los lados del equipaje: 80cm

Home - Jacotrans

JACOTRANS backpacks and luggage transfer on the Camino de Santiago. At JACOTRANS baggage transfer we offer the transport of pilgrim’s suitcase, backpack or any piece of luggage over the Camino de Santiago along the French Way From San Jean Pied de Port or Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela...

www.jacotrans.es

 

[MonicaMcL]

Very few places will deny a suitcase -- I believe.

From what I have heard, some Albergues belonging to a single federation -- the French Way Federation -- will not accept a suitcase. These eleven traditional Jacobean shelters are prohibiting suitcases in the hostels managed by their association.
The eleven albergues are:

• Estella,
• Los Arcos,
• Canfranc (Aragon),
• Logrono,
• Najera,
• Santo Dominga de la Calzeda,
• Burgos,
• Astorga,
• Foncebadon,
• Acebo and
• Ponferrada.

 

[MonicaMcL]

I second this. Even if Roncesvalle, or some other hostels, allow a suitcase, there is no way I would even take a chance. Who wants to take a very big chance that this will be an issue you have to worry about every time you look for a place to stay (except if you stay in hotels). This doesn't even include whether or not you will have problems finding transport bag companies to transport your bag every day.

You wouldn't take a chance? What if you had severe scoliosis? Would you take a chance then? What if you had degenerative disc disease? How about osteoporosis? Would you take a chance then? Do you believe that the Camino should not allow any but those physically capable of carrying a backpack for 6 or 8 hours to walk?

Ableism is a term used to describe discrimination against people with disabilities. It characterizes people who are defined by their disabilities as inferior to the non-disabled.

 

[MonicaMcL]

From recent experience, I would cautiously say yes -- except that if you were to turn up in high pilgrim season, things might be different.

In principle, pilgrims are under an increasing expectation to have just a backpack.

And increasingly, there are Albergues that are starting to refuse suitcases.

Doesn't mean you can't carry one, but be advised that they are not so well tolerated in practice as they used to be.

This is not true at all. Many, many pilgrims travel with suitcases. I resent ableist comments like this. As a person with severe scoliosis who cannot carry a heavy backpack for hours on end, I resent this attempt to intimidate me and people like me and to try to prevent us from walking the Camino or to make us feel inferior because of our physical problems.

 

[trecile]

Very few places will deny a suitcase -- I believe.

From what I have heard, some Albergues belonging to a single federation -- the French Way Federation -- will not accept a suitcase. These eleven traditional Jacobean shelters are prohibiting suitcases in the hostels managed by their association.
The eleven albergues are:

• Estella,
• Los Arcos,
• Canfranc (Aragon),
• Logrono,
• Najera,
• Santo Dominga de la Calzeda,
• Burgos,
• Astorga,
• Foncebadon,
• Acebo and
• Ponferrada.

I don't believe that they take reservations or transported bags of any kind, which pretty much rules out anyone that would be traveling with a suitcase anyway. But there are plenty of private albergues that will accept a small suitcase.

 

[good_old_shoes]

This is not true at all. Many, many pilgrims travel with suitcases. I resent ableist comments like this. As a person with severe scoliosis who cannot carry a heavy backpack for hours on end, I resent this attempt to intimidate me and people like me and to try to prevent us from walking the Camino or to make us feel inferior because of our physical problems.

If you need or want to use a luggage service there's nothing wrong with that, and I'm pretty sure JabbaPapa's comment wasn't intended to imply that people with disabilities are inferior.

It is simply a fact that while the majority of albergues allows suitcases, at least some do not, and I think there has been some discussion about the issue of albergue volunteers having to handle piles of suitcases everyday, which adds a lot of work to their already high work load.

Therefore, if someone wants to forward their suitcase with a luggage service, that is something one should know: You won't be able to pick from all the albergues, because some won't accept the suitcase.

But that doesn't mean that someone who travels with a suitcase can't or should not do the Camino. Especially if that person has health issues.

There's enough private albergues to choose from for those who want / need to use a bag transport service, and places that even accept pilgrims who do not walk at all but travel by car ect.

So, basically everyone can do the Camino, by foot, by car, with a suitcase, with a backpack, backwards on a unicycle, whatever works for you.

But some of the more traditional non-profit albergues have quite strict rules, and won't accept suitcases, or reservations, ect.

That's simply a fact.

And to be honest I don't see how stating such facts is an 'attempt to intimidate people with disabilities to not walk the Camino'. That criticism seems a bit harsh.

 

[Corned Beef]

This is not true at all. Many, many pilgrims travel with suitcases. I resent ableist comments like this. As a person with severe scoliosis who cannot carry a heavy backpack for hours on end, I resent this attempt to intimidate me and people like me and to try to prevent us from walking the Camino or to make us feel inferior because of our physical problems.

@MonicaMcL, I hope you continue to pursue your dream of doing a Camino. May I gently ask you to check @JabbaPapa 's back story and why he comments as he does. You have more in common with him than you think and has blazed a trail for some.

Merry Xmas.

 

[JabbaPapa]

If you need or want to use a luggage service there's nothing wrong with that, and I'm pretty sure JabbaPapa's comment wasn't intended to imply that people with disabilities are inferior.

Certainly not -- and that would be weird indeed given that JabbaPapa is himself a person with a disability.

And to be honest I don't see how stating such facts is an 'attempt to intimidate people with disabilities to not walk the Camino'. That criticism seems a bit harsh.

Well quite.

 

[Ianinam]

It is simply a fact that while the majority of albergues allows suitcases, at least some do not, and I think there has been some discussion about the issue of albergue volunteers having to handle piles of suitcases everyday, which adds a lot of work to their already high work load.

This is so true! The storage area for luggage is in Roncesvalles not in the albergue itself but ten steps away in another building. So if people arrive in the afternoon we walk with them to their luggage, unlock the door, they pick their luggage and we lock the door again. 100 times a day. No problem. But sometimes the luggage is piled up high on the highest shelve and they want us to get it, or they ask us to carry their (heavy) suitcase. We cannot do that, we are careful for our own backs ...
And in the morning sometimes some demanding pilgrims want to leave their luggage in the albergue, near the reception desk (or sometimes even next to their bed!) and if we tell them they carry their own luggage while we walk with them to the luggage storage and will unlock the door, sometimes we hear a deep sigh....
And another sigh if the lower shelves are already filled so they have to put their luggage on one of the higher shelves.
Fortunately the majority of the pilgrims is not like that!

 

[cosmomom]

I met some young Irish women on my first Camino who were only walking to Pamplona, then traveling around Spain who had small suitcases.

Good to know, thanks so much.

Very few places will deny a suitcase -- I believe.

From what I have heard, some Albergues belonging to a single federation -- the French Way Federation -- will not accept a suitcase. These eleven traditional Jacobean shelters are prohibiting suitcases in the hostels managed by their association.
The eleven albergues are:

• Estella,
• Los Arcos,
• Canfranc (Aragon),
• Logrono,
• Najera,
• Santo Dominga de la Calzeda,
• Burgos,
• Astorga,
• Foncebadon,
• Acebo and
• Ponferrada.

Thank you for this information!

 

[MonicaMcL]

If you need or want to use a luggage service there's nothing wrong with that, and I'm pretty sure JabbaPapa's comment wasn't intended to imply that people with disabilities are inferior.

It is simply a fact that while the majority of albergues allows suitcases, at least some do not, and I think there has been some discussion about the issue of albergue volunteers having to handle piles of suitcases everyday, which adds a lot of work to their already high work load.

Therefore, if someone wants to forward their suitcase with a luggage service, that is something one should know: You won't be able to pick from all the albergues, because some won't accept the suitcase.

But that doesn't mean that someone who travels with a suitcase can't or should not do the Camino. Especially if that person has health issues.

There's enough private albergues to choose from for those who want / need to use a bag transport service, and places that even accept pilgrims who do not walk at all but travel by car ect.

So, basically everyone can do the Camino, by foot, by car, with a suitcase, with a backpack, backwards on a unicycle, whatever works for you.

But some of the more traditional non-profit albergues have quite strict rules, and won't accept suitcases, or reservations, ect.

That's simply a fact.

And to be honest I don't see how stating such facts is an 'attempt to intimidate people with disabilities to not walk the Camino'. That criticism seems a bit harsh.

There is plenty of accommodations that take suitcases -- like 99.9% of them. This is simply a fact. 11 alburges that are part of The French Way federation do not take suitcases. That's it. 11 in 500 miles. (Also consider that there are many countries where this type of exclusionary behavior would be considered as illegal discrimination.)

There is no need for anyone to instill fear into the experience of any of the disabled that they may find themselves sleeping outside if they cannot somehow manage to carry a heavy pack on their back. Simply mentioning the simple fact that that almost every accommodation will take a suitcase will suffice to ensure that all pilgrims feel welcomed no matter what their physical capabilities so long as they can walk or ride a horse or a bicycle.

 

[trecile]

11 alburges that are part of The French Way federation do not take suitcases.

I think that there are probably others outside of those 11 in that federation that don't accept transported bags (neither suitcases or backpacks) at all, so I wouldn't consider that to be a complete list.

Most private albergues do accept transported bags, but there was a report a while ago about a private albergue in Hospital de Órbigo that would accept transported backpacks, but not suitcases.

 

[JabbaPapa]

There is plenty of accommodations that take suitcases -- like 99.9% of them. This is simply a fact. 11 alburges that are part of The French Way federation do not take suitcases. That's it. 11 in 500 miles.

There are also many more that do not accept pack transport -- though if you can bring in and then carry out a suitcase by hand yourself, they typically won't turn you out. I have seen one of the Albergues with some of the more restrictive policies accept a disabled gentleman's e-bike and saddle packs whereas they normally accept only foot pilgrims carrying their packs.

Also :

There is no need for anyone to instill fear into the experience of any of the disabled that they may find themselves sleeping outside if they cannot somehow manage to carry a heavy pack on their back. Simply mentioning the simple fact that that almost every accommodation will take a suitcase will suffice to ensure that all pilgrims feel welcomed no matter what their physical capabilities so long as they can walk or ride a horse or a bicycle.

There are several general exceptions towards the disabled, though the Spaniards do want people to have documentary evidence thereto -- but the Albergues that normally do not allow suitcases should in fact accept them if a disabled person has need for one, and in principle they should even accept the driver of a car that a disabled person might need for support along the Camino.

None of this adds up to the Camino being easy as a disabled person, and whilst I've never had to carry a suitcase nor to use pack transport so far, and apart from the daily trials from hiking with such a handicap, there is also still a need to keep on providing explanations day to day which can be emotionally vexing.

On a more positive side, there are some Albergues that have small individual dorms or individual beds set aside for the disabled, including most but not all of the Xunta Albergues in Galicia -- and whilst those Xunta Albergues do not accept reservations, those dorms or beds are set aside so that if you arrive and the Albergue is completo, as a disabled pilgrim you can still get one of those beds if that Albergue has them.

Most disabled pilgrims try and be as independent as possible from all of that, but of course not every disability allows that.

Nevertheless it is still a general truth that the use of suitcases on the Camino is being increasingly discouraged from too many people in the past having greatly abused the good will of the voluntary hospitaleros -- so that the few who need such things not for convenience alone but for medical reasons will need to face that situation with a clear mind.

 

[MonicaMcL]

There are several general exceptions towards the disabled, though the Spaniards do want people to have documentary evidence thereto ....

Most disabled pilgrims try and be as independent as possible from all of that, but of course not every disability allows that.

Nevertheless it is still a general truth that the use of suitcases on the Camino is being increasingly discouraged from too many people in the past having greatly abused the good will of the voluntary hospitaleros -- so that the few who need such things not for convenience alone but for medical reasons will need to face that situation with a clear mind.

I am just going to have my suitcase transferred daily. I'm not going to wear a sign on my back explaining that I have a physical issue or carry any kind of special documentation with me. I don't have to explain myself to anyone the same as anyone else doesn't have to explain themselves to anyone. Suitcases are very very common on the Camino. Many thousands of pilgrims bring them. I am expecting zero issues.

Regarding "the few who need such things not for convenience alone but for medical reasons...".

The few? And you know there are only few because? Why? How would you have any idea why any particular person is using a suitcase? I look great. I look 10 years younger than my age even. No one looking at me would ever guess that anything at all is physically wrong with me. And guess what? I generally don't go around advertising it, and I'm not going to do so when I walk the Camino either.

 

[C clearly]

I don't understand what the argument is about. Everyone seems to be on the same side. I don't see any validity in the suggestion that some members are attempting to intimidate anyone or be anything other than supportive of people with disabilities.

The OP's question was answered very clearly in post #2, so I will close this thread.