In 2018 (Sept.-Oct)
camino Frances I thought I was being a good citizen by using a "SNOREBAN" mouthpiece so as to not disturb my fellow albergue pilgrims. First three nights, no comment from roommates in St. Jean, Orrison, & Roncesvalles . Fourth night in Zubiri at the Municipal (6 euro). I'm the last guy to arrive, go up to 4 person room and am met upon entering by two lovely ladies. First one comes up to me, about a foot from my face, and before saying hello, or how are you, or what's your name, she says "DO YOU SNORE?" I smile, pull out my trusty SNOREBAN, and tell her to relax, they won't hear a peep out of me. We all go out for dinner & wine and I get the company of a lovely widow from Ireland, and a lovely mother of two from Brisbane. Both are educators in the Netherlands. The last couple of nights they have not gotten much sleep due to snoring roommates. We all go to bed. I sleep great. Next morning they are staring menacingly at me as I greet them with a cheery "good morning". Turns out I was the worst night yet! The SNOREBAN was a complete failure!
Amazingly they let me walk with them to Pamplona, and we continued to enjoy each other's company. At Zabaldika, about 8 km from Pamplona, we stopped at the San Esteban church so we could climb the belfry and ring the church bells. Unfortunately, we were told by the adjacent hospitelara that the nun would not be there until 6pm to open the church. 4 hour wait wasn't going to work so we were on our way out the door (2pm) when the cook comes into the lobby. "Do you like roast beef? We have a little left over from last night, come have a taste". So we go into the big dining room/kitchen where he places 3 plates, wine glasses and a bread basket in front of us. Then he goes over to the oven and pulls out a roasting pan with a big chunk of roast beef and carrots, and potatoes. Places it on table and fills our wine glasses. We are the only ones at the albergue and it's now closer to 3pm. "OK, you convinced us, we'll stay here tonight! " AH, but the ladies (I call them my Dutch treat) wanted to make sure that they could be in a room at one end with my room off on far side or different floor. They were no dummies. Later on the Albergue filled up (they were turning pilgrims away), we got to climb the belfry and ring the bells, nice service for about 20 of us, followed by a great dinner from Juan (the other hospitalero/cook). The albergue was a donativo, but I left 20 euros for a great experience. The girls & I spent the next day/night in Pamplona (separate rooms and my italian roommate kept me awake with horrible snoring. The girls were going to take the bus back home from Pamplona, but decided to keep me company to Puente La Reina before the left me standing at the bus stop with a surprise peck on the cheek from each before they boarded the bus and waved goodbye, leaving me with a huge lump in my throat. For the rest of the camino, whenever possible, I would ask for a private room if available and ended up paying 20 to 40 euros per night. My contribution to fellow pilgrims sanity. 2nd camino in 2019, I brought my 4 pound CPAP breathing/anti snoring machine. If you can believe this, Loretto and Frances met me where they had stopped the year before, at Puente La Reina, and we walked together to Burgos, for another sad parting- but no issues about Mike's sleep apnea snoring, and I was back in the typical albergue dorm experience.
So I cannot sleep in dormitories or albergues without ear plugs. There is no doubt that ear plugs are necessary to have a good sleep. Which type of ear plugs can be more effective a typical sponge/foam model or layered model?
