A Laxe or Lalin?

[Raindrop]

Is it worth going off the regular path to Lalin or stay and go to A Laxe? Thanks

 

[AlanSykes]

The Invierno goes right through Lalín, or it's a few km detour from the Sanabrés. It's a lively town with some nice restaurants and hotels. A Laxe is 4km closer to Santiago and has a xunta albergue, with a restaurant nearby on the main road than can deliver food (the albergue kitchen had one bowl and a grapefruit knife last time I stayed there).

 

[Robert Wawrzyniak]

We stayed at A Laxe in August 2024 and it's the typical Xunta albergue (lots of concrete, push showers and two dormitory rooms; the kitchen situation hasn't improved). If we had our time over, we would have stopped at Lalin simply for the variety it offers

 

[Sydney Peregrinos]

We stayed in Lalin in 2018 when we walked the Invierno. It was a lovely little town with some good food options. Last year when we were walking the VDLP/Sanabres we heard many accounts and saw the evidence on people’s arms of mosquito bites in the Xunta albergue in A Laxe.

 

[pilgrimjim]

Just finished the Invierno. Lalin, definitely. More choices. Nice city. Almost missed Laxe as I walked by.

 

[Blister Bill]

We had no choice in 2022 but would do Lalin again because there are loads of accommodation and eating options, it's the centre of Galicia and it was a lovely walk out by the river following the arrows.

 

[Raindrop]

We stayed at A Laxe in August 2024 and it's the typical Xunta albergue (lots of concrete, push showers and two dormitory rooms; the kitchen situation hasn't improved). If we had our time over, we would have stopped at Lalin simply for the variety it offers

I’m bringing a friend and they might walk ahead. Do you pick your own room or does the hospital pick one of the rooms and show it to you?

 

[Raindrop]

I’m bringing a friend and they might walk ahead. Do you pick your own room or does the hospital pick one of the rooms and show it to you?

Oh sorry I mean at A Laxe

 

[trecile]

Whether to stay in Lalín or A Laxe make sure to stop by Punto de Información al Peregrino in Lalín for a sello.

Here's my post with a picture of my sello and their address and hours:

I stopped by the Punto de Información al Peregrino in Lalín today and got this really cool wax sello with a hórreo charm. (the charms vary, sometimes it's a concha)

View attachment 173067

Asoc. PEREGRINUS DEZAE (Punto de InformaciÃn al Peregrino) · Rúa Observatorio, 8, Bajo, 36500 LalÃn, Pontevedra, Spain

âââââ · Tourist information center

maps.app.goo.gl

Here are the hours

View attachment 173068

 

[trecile]

I can also recommend the restaurant Bodegón A Cunca, which is very close to the Punto de Información al Peregrino. I had an excellent menú del día there.

Bodegón A Cunca · Lalín, Pontevedra

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Robert Wawrzyniak]

I’m bringing a friend and they might walk ahead. Do you pick your own room or does the hospital pick one of the rooms and show it to you?

When we were there, two dormitories were in use with each having about 5 or 6 sets of bunk beds. You cannot reserve so it's first come first served

 

[JDM]

Lalin definitely. A Laxe Albergue has a mosquito issue when I stayed there in 2019

 

[Raindrop]

We stayed at A Laxe in August 2024 and it's the typical Xunta albergue (lots of concrete, push showers and two dormitory rooms; the kitchen situation hasn't improved). If we had our time over, we would have stopped at Lalin simply for the variety it offers

Because my friend wants to walk ahead of me she will get to A Laxe first can she just pick a room or does the hospital just take you to where they want you to go if there are 2 dorms?

When we were there, two dormitories were in use with each having about 5 or 6 sets of bunk beds. You cannot reserve so it's first come first served

 

[Raindrop]

Because my friend wants to walk ahead of me she will get to A Laxe first can she just pick a room or does the hospital just take you to where they want you to go if there are 2 dorms?

Oh that makes sense but when you arrive do you just walk in and pick a room? Or does the person working there pick your room? Lol my friend is a bit nervous that I’ll be in one room and she gets escorted to another one

 

[trecile]

Oh that makes sense but when you arrive do you just walk in and pick a room? Or does the person working there pick your room?

My experience at other albergues on the Invierno was that they only opened the second room if the first filled up. That never came close to happening when I was there.

 

[Robert Wawrzyniak]

Oh that makes sense but when you arrive do you just walk in and pick a room? Or does the person working there pick your room? Lol my friend is a bit nervous that I’ll be in one room and she gets escorted to another one

In my experience, at all the Xunta run alburgues you simply pick your bed as you arrive. So if your friend arrives after you and your room fills up before she arrives then she would find herself in a different room (although the chances of that would be pretty slim)

 

[A Crackpot Abroad]

Lalín!

4 years ago, I stayed for several days at Albergue Pensión Lalín Centro because it was raining and it was time for me to take a break to recover. I’m a bit of a fair weather pilgrim and wanted to reduce the risk of injury to my old body.

It was a wonderful stay right in the center of town and close to everything. The wonderful family who run the Albergue also runs A Casa do Gato restaurant right around the corner (90 meters). The food there was delicious. I ate most of my dinners there and made my breakfast at the Albergue.

The place was spotless. Highly recommend. I called ahead. It was middle of the week and I was able to secure a 3 or 4 day stay no problem.

Look at Google maps for location details as spotting the entrance is a little tricky.