Sorry if this is a dumb question - Single vs. double rooms

[pwgavin]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

 

[C clearly]

No. Most hotel rooms anywhere can accommodate 2 people. It is best to indicate "1 person" since there are some rooms that only have 1 bed. It is perfectly normal and acceptable to take a private room that happens to have 2 beds.

 

[Grousedoctor]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

I might be wrong, but I don’t think it’s bad etiquette for a single person to book a double room. I think that you’ll be paying the going rate for the room regardless of whether it is rented to one person or two. Most likely this will be the common room configuration that you’ll run into. On my Caminos, generally and I’m sure there are exceptions, I’ve just reserved a double room and paid that rate.

 

[CWBuff]

I had only 2 private rooms for 1 person they were at Hostal Carales in Burgos and at Casa Maruja in Castromaior.
Couple of others were clearly big enough for 2
I'm not sure I can say that I paid double for them... its almost like here in US the price was "per room"

 

[jsalt]

Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself?

No, not at all. And in Europe the price for one person in the room can often be slightly cheaper than if there are two people in the room. Go for it!

 

[jsalt]

Sometimes the 2-person room is a double bed (“matrimonial” in Spain), but other times it can be two single beds. I booked a 2-bed room for myself one year in Samos. During the day I walked parallel with another peregrina. After several hours I told her I had a two-bed room and she was welcome to share with me, which she did and we split the bill. We had a great evening together just chatting.

 

[trecile]

You can often get a lower price - they will say "double room for single use" or similar. When there are two beds I make sure to leave one undisturbed when I have received this discount.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

the standard is twin on the Camino, which makes sense. that said, when there are no singles, i book DUIs (dobles uso individual) all the time and have never felt guilty.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Certainly no need to feel guilty. Vendors have the ability to manage their offerings as to whether they offer credit card payment, whether they choose to offer sales via a third party, and how they manage occupancy.

As a single traveller I have been staying in double rooms for the last few weeks (as no single rooms available) always booked through booking. com. Double rooms tend to have a options to book as a ‘double room for single occupancy’ which is the language used. Intypically book a room for €20. The room for 2 people comes in around €25 per room so not too much more. This is at the low end of the market with high levels of availability so it’s a buyers market which may not be the case on the Camino!

I might be staying in a quadruple room tonight for single occupancy for €9 though the double room for single occupancy is only €12 for tantalising!!! Not feeling guilty!

 

[JulieandPeter]

If you snore, you could book your own dorm room and my guess is everyone would be thrilled. My comment is tongue in cheek, but true nonetheless. You should not feel guilty about booking a double room for yourself!

 

[clarkandkaren]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

Typically yes, it would be inconsiderate to take two beds for one person. Accommodations can be very difficult to find during the high season and/or if a holiday occurs during your walk. As an option, and a more reasonable, less inconsiderate solution, would be to find a hotel and stay there instead of a hostel or Albugee. There are more than enough in any of the cities of any size and you won’t have to worry about many/any of those walking with you “impeding on your privacy.”

 

[GaryRobArms]

I like to book a room for myself quite often. If I can get it, I book twin beds rather than a double because it is nice to have one bed to sleep in and one to lay out my pack and gear on. Also, I've found that with twin beds you are more likely to be provided with two sets of towels, and that can be handy, such as shower in the evening AND the morning, or roll up and wring the clothes I've washed so they dry more quickly.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I like to book a room for myself quite often. If I can get it, I book twin beds rather than a double because it is nice to have one bed to sleep in and one to lay out my pack and gear on. Also, I've found that with twin beds you are more likely to be provided with two sets of towels, and that can be handy, such as shower in the evening AND the morning, or roll up and wring the clothes I've washed so they dry more quickly.

Yes agree. Prefer a twin to a double when on own as you can lay stuff out.

 

[RESOMERS]

Word of caution in booking double room (two person) in Spain. A "matrimonial bed" is usually a double bed. If you are from the US and used to sleeping in a queen or king with your partner, a double does not give you much room. You do better to reserve for two people, twin beds.

 

[C clearly]

You do better to reserve for two people, twin beds

Except that the OP is asking about having one person in the room, in which case there is no advantage to requesting twin beds or a matrimonial bed! One should reserve for however many people will use the room, and add any specific bed requests if appropriate.

 

[auburnfive]

Frequently the twin beds are pushed right up beside one another in a twin bedded room, it can be helpful to look at the photos on gronze or booking.com if there are 2 of you and you prefer a little separation

 

[Kathor1]

I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

No, it is not.

As a single person you don't have to feel guilty when you wish to have the same level of privacy as a couple.

First of all, albergues offering beds in private rooms in addition to beds in dormitories are usually "albergues turisticos" which means that they are not exclusively for pilgrims but merely "oriented towards pilgrims". Whether it is such an albergue or a hotel, proper single rooms with just one bed in it are rare. You will be assigned a room with two sleeping spaces (twin beds or 'matrimonial' bed) and you have to pay a premium - either the full price for a double room or a slightly reduced price but it will still be more than what each of the two persons of a couple will pay for their bed.

I also don't agree with the idea that it is more "considerate" to stay in a hotel as a single person instead of in an albergue. Let us think it through: A couple and a single person are each booking a private room. No matter who stays where, there will be an empty bed. Per occupied bed, the single person will pay more than each of the couple will pay for their sleeping space in the same establishment. Why then ought the single person have to go for the most expensive option (hotel instead of albergue) so that the couple can enjoy the cheapest option (albergue instead of hotel)? It does not make sense to me.

Enjoy your stays in private rooms and Buen Camino!

 

[Samos]

Many times in Portugal/Spain/Italy I have found that private rooms on AirBnB are cheaper than hotels and you can find many with their own private bathroom. Plus you also get to meet locals - and at one farmhouse we got a home cooked dinner and breakfast from grandma Also, in the small towns many of the ones we have stayed in had an agreement with a local bar/cafe/bakery and breakfast was included.

 

[Isabelpilgrim]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

I've done it when that was all that was available and I really needed sleep, or if I wasn't feeling well. On most of the Camino's I've walked most people whether single, couples, groups seemed to be okay with staying in albergues with everyone else. If private rooms are wanted, they can generally book ahead. There are some albergues that do have rooms for couples, maybe the hospitaleros offer them when couples show up.

 

[MethaV]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

Booking a double room for just one person is not rude in my opinion, but considering the time of year you'll walk there will be a lot of pilgrims on the Camino. Maybe you should try to have a single room, or why not share a double with some Camino friend. You'll meet a lot of nice pilgrims out there and they will all need a bed.
I will start in SJPDP mid September hoping that the Camino will not be too crowded since I prefer staying in pilgrim hostels.
Buen Camino

 

[trecile]

Maybe you should try to have a single room, or why not share a double with some Camino friend.

When I book a private room it's because I need my own space, and I don't want to share with anyone, regardless of how nice they are. If I'm going to be in a shared space I'd just as soon sleep in a dorm with 10 others which feels less intimate to me than being in a room with one to three other people.

 

[Liica]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

Of course not.
Usually there are bedrooms with one double bed or with 2 separated beds and you can choose for one or 2 person.
I have booked even entire apartments only for myself when I had no other option. The only difference is the price.
Just make sure to read all the comments and that you have a private room with private toillet for you.
Sometimes, it’s an apartment with other people in the other rooms. Be aware.

 

[Drifter]

OP, it doesn't matter. Most "double" rooms are just big enough to hold one person comfortably anyway.

 

[Canche]

I'm hoping to embark on my first Camino (Frances) in July/August. I'd like to stay at albergues but also perhaps have some privacy once in a while via booking some of the private rooms at Albergues. I have noticed, however, that many of the rooms are clearly for more than one person (aka 2 beds, etc.). Price aside, is it considered *rude* to book a 2 person (or 2 bed) room for just yourself? Is that considered bad etiquette, as it might prevent, say, a couple from having that room? Thank you very much for any input.

I wanted a private room in an algergue and the owner offered me a room with 4 beds and only me. I think I paid more than for single but it was well worth it