Would you pay extra for a lower bed?

[Tincatinker]

At Pieros. At El Serbal y La Luna I was tired, my digestion was suffering from a debatable cena in Molinaseca the night before and the only bunk left was an upper in the top left corner of the bunkroom, under the sloping roof and with that step down a couple of feet from the bunk foot. I looked and thought "problem". I also looked at my genial host and the large walking group who were occupying most of the bunkroom... He asked, "¿Problem?", "No".

Once everyone had gone to bed I spent the night on a comfy cushioned bench in the dining area in easy striking distance of the loo.

Would I have paid extra for a bottom bunk that night? Oh yes! But to whom? El Serbal hadn't earned an extra bung. So my option would have been to wander the bunkroom clutching €10 and a winning smile?

I just hope the private Albergues aren't reading this thread. If they are then the guidebooks will need more pages or smaller print: Upper bunk €x, Lower bunk €y, Hot Shower €y, Cold Shower €x, warm welcome €, indifferent welcome €......

 

[Delphinoula]

Lol pay more. No. I liked a lower bed , because of escaping fast if necessary. I may do somebody a favor by staying in the bottom bunk. I like the top one all my kids competed for the top one, but my knees back head don’t like the top punk anymore. O don’t ever get old.
Now serious if I got something that would help you and your need is greater than mine? No problem. And vis versa.
Maybe like good shoes fears may be a thing that you can do something about.

 

[Paladina]

I definitely prefer the top bunk at Albergue La Finca

Albergue la Finca - El Albergue

www.alberguelafinca.es

View attachment 53656View attachment 53657

The indvidual cells, however luxurious, recall the monastic sleeping quarters provided for recovering alcoholics in a former church, where I, in my youth and inexperience, once volunteered to work. The modesty curtains hid from my prying eyes the case of vodka with which one resident had settled down for the night. Pilgrims, take note!

 

[trecile]

Thanks! It's on my list! Wanted to find a place near Fromista.

They don't have too many beds, so you may want to reserve a couple of days ahead. They also have an excellent restaurant and pilgrim dinner.

 

[movinmaggie]

Just wondering. I have never seen it, but would it be profitable for albergues to ask 1 or 2 euros more for a lower bed? And would you pay for that? The question came to mind because I always fear to be assigned to an upper bed. Which (of course) happens in about half of the cases ;-)

I have to go to the toilet once or twice a night and I struggle with climbing down. Maybe it is just my clumsiness or it is because I prefer to only wear a nightgown and want to come down without flashing... For the pilgrims feeling I definitely prefer staying in albergues, but I would without any doubt pay 1 or 2 euros more to be sure to get a lower bed.

Or would it spoil the pilgrims experience of all being equal?

I think that even IF the hospitalero would agree to it, which I highly doubt, because then yes, all would not be equal, but should you be so fortunate, would you then give it up to someone who has a specific physical need for a lower bunk?

 

[Canche]

Just wondering. I have never seen it, but would it be profitable for albergues to ask 1 or 2 euros more for a lower bed? And would you pay for that? The question came to mind because I always fear to be assigned to an upper bed. Which (of course) happens in about half of the cases ;-)

I have to go to the toilet once or twice a night and I struggle with climbing down. Maybe it is just my clumsiness or it is because I prefer to only wear a nightgown and want to come down without flashing... For the pilgrims feeling I definitely prefer staying in albergues, but I would without any doubt pay 1 or 2 euros more to be sure to get a lower bed.

Or would it spoil the pilgrims experience of all being equal?

I would never use an upper bed as i have to get up tto many times in the middle of the night when i couldn’t get a lower bed I’d get a private room somewhere. One time the hospitalera took me to her house that had an empty 3 bedroom apt for 15 eros a night. Fully equipped

 

[Elmundodemone]

Am I the only one who acually prefers the top bunk? I like to have a view, to be able to sit up without bumping my head all the time (I am kind of stupid with the remembering thing sometimes) and to not have anyone above me. It's a lot lighter too up there.

I would pay more for the top bunk..clearly, I never had to. Now I understand why I had so many friends on the camino...

I prefer top bunk too. Don't like to have someone above me sleeping, so I am happy there will always a top bunk for me

 

[T0M]

This is interesting. We could do a camino version of Dr. Milgram's subway experiment:

'Excuse Me. May I Have Your Seat?' (Published 2004)

Two New York Times reporters do unscientific re-enactment of Dr Stanley Milgram's experiment of 30 years ago in which he sent graduate students into crowded New York City subway cars to ask riders to give up their seats; 68 percent of riders asked by Milgram's students gave up their seats; Times...

www.nytimes.com

68% of NY subway riders gave up their seats to healthy-looking individuals. How generous are pilgrims compared with NY subway riders?

The only way to answer this question is to put a large group of pilgrims on the NY subway and ask them to give up their seats to healthy-looking individuals.

To make it more interesting, fill the train with seated pilgrims (as you suggest) but select them because they had slept the night before in a hostel where someone asked them for their bottom bunk.

 

[Tincatinker]

The modesty curtains hid from my prying eyes the case of vodka with which one resident had settled down for the night. Pilgrims, take note!

That wasn't me. It definitely wasn't me. Though I can see its a good argument for needing a lower bunk

 

[Deleted member 73526]

You are taking this "unscientific" experiment to a whole new level of unscientificness by judging the motive to give up a seat as "generous".

Perhaps I should use the phrase "willing to sacrifice" rather than "generous" since the experiment measures behavior rather than motivation. It's a long time since I read a detailed description of the subway experiment, but as far as I remember the purpose was not to judge individual riders.

The only way to answer this question is to put a large group of pilgrims on the NY subway and ask them to give up their seats to healthy-looking individuals.

Alternatively, we could invite NY subway riders to spend a night at an Albergue.

 

[Tony Bobcat]

Just wondering. I have never seen it, but would it be profitable for albergues to ask 1 or 2 euros more for a lower bed? And would you pay for that? The question came to mind because I always fear to be assigned to an upper bed. Which (of course) happens in about half of the cases ;-)

I have to go to the toilet once or twice a night and I struggle with climbing down. Maybe it is just my clumsiness or it is because I prefer to only wear a nightgown and want to come down without flashing... For the pilgrims feeling I definitely prefer staying in albergues, but I would without any doubt pay 1 or 2 euros more to be sure to get a lower bed.

Or would it spoil the pilgrims experience of all being equal?

I wouldn’t pay any more,the normal procedure is most lower bunks are left for older pilgrims. Fully agree with that.

 

[ClaireJJ]

Thanks for that! It looks lovely. I’ve made a note of it.

Love the looks of this albergue. With stairs to the upper bed, I'm good. I too will make a note of it. Thanks.

 

[ClaireJJ]

I definitely prefer the top bunk at Albergue La Finca

Albergue la Finca - El Albergue

www.alberguelafinca.es

View attachment 53656View attachment 53657

Yes, these accommodations are lovely. I can do stairs!

 

[VNwalking]

I've just come here after navigating an airline website - and want to give a very loud and heartfelt shout-out to Tinca's post:

I just hope the private Albergues aren't reading this thread. If they are then the guidebooks will need more pages or smaller print: Upper bunk €x, Lower bunk €y, Hot Shower €y, Cold Shower €x, warm welcome €, indifferent welcome €......

Are you yes voters sure you want to go in this direction?

 

[C clearly]

Are you yes voters sure you want to go in this direction?

If the alternative were to double the standard rate at albergues, I would say maybe yes. Really the situation with airlines is so different that the comparison is only inflammatory! Air travel is ridiculously cheap compared to the old days, partly made this way by charging separately for bigger seats, meals, entertainment and extra luggage.

 

[VNwalking]

Well, yes, point taken, @C clearly.
And...aren't albergues also incredibly cheap? The thing is they're not generally so good at making money - but might be if someone started this kind of thing. It would be a ridiculously easy means of revenue enhancement.

 

[Luka]

I find that if the person in the upper bunk isn't a sound sleeper they keep me up as well.

That's why I shouldn't be in a top bunk ;-)
I move a lot during my sleep and I have to go to the toilet once or twice a night.

 

[SeaHorse]

If you want the lower bed for whatever reason just ask around in the room. There might be folks like me who would be happy to get the top. I don't look like the typical top bed demographics but I love the fresh(er) air and at 5'10 are tall enough to hit my head when sitting in the lower bed. I don't mind climbing. Ad a bit of claustrophobic feeling in the bottom bed. Enough reasons for me to swap. I wouldn't care if you look young, old, fit or tired. Just ask!

If extra is charged for a lower, that presumes that if a young and healthy person is willing to pay, they get the bottom bunk, thereby still taking it away from those who really benefit from having the bottom bunk.

I see no reason why young and healthy person without any problems which they don't want to advertise to a whole lot of strangers would want to pay more for something they don't need. Or possibly even dislike. So if they are willing to pay for bottom bed I would assume there is a reason for it. The same as with disabled parking where sometimes people feel entitled to harass disabled young looking person just because the disability is not of the kind that is visible to all by-passers.

I only voted "No" as I wouldn't pay for lower bed because there was no option "I want top". The poll is not accurate in this sense.

Disclaimer: I never met in person the 3-tier beds so I'm only speaking about 2-tier ones.

 

[SeaHorse]

aren't albergues also incredibly cheap? The thing is they're not generally so good at making money

Economy of scale. The private albergues are businesses and not the loosing kind. Look how many pilgrims with a fiver they get every day peak season, low season (or they close), how much the running expenses are. Private donativos even more so. The taxman may know how much they earn but can't prove it. If you don't believe me, look at property prices along the Camino compared to a few km off and Spain in general.
Don't get me wrong, not criticizing at all. Growth and development is a good thing. Not all tourists need or want ritzy hotels.

 

[VNwalking]

The private albergues are businesses and not the loosing kind. Look how many pilgrims with a fiver they get every day peak season, low season (or they close), how much the running expenses are. Private donativos even more so.

Maybe, but maybe not.
I spoke at length to one person who owns a private albergue - they thought they could make money, using exactly the rationale you've given - but found exactly the opposite. And talk to @Rebekah Scott about her experience of how people are not always so generous when they stay at a donativo....

look at property prices along the Camino compared to a few km away.

It may have nothing to do with potential profit. It could as easily be because the sellers are hoping to make a killing off the naive peregrinos who come from places where property is more expensive - IOW, sucker bait.

 

[Marie Helene Maguire]

Just wondering. I have never seen it, but would it be profitable for albergues to ask 1 or 2 euros more for a lower bed? And would you pay for that? The question came to mind because I always fear to be assigned to an upper bed. Which (of course) happens in about half of the cases ;-)

I have to go to the toilet once or twice a night and I struggle with climbing down. Maybe it is just my clumsiness or it is because I prefer to only wear a nightgown and want to come down without flashing... For the pilgrims feeling I definitely prefer staying in albergues, but I would without any doubt pay 1 or 2 euros more to be sure to get a lower bed.

Or would it spoil the pilgrims experience of all being equal?

I always booked my Albergue in advance and requested a lower bunk and never had a problem, They were always accommodating!

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I see no reason why young and healthy person without any problems which they don't want to advertise to a whole lot of strangers would want to pay more for something they don't need. Or possibly even dislike. So if they are willing to pay for bottom bed I would assume there is a reason for it. The same as with disabled parking where sometimes people feel entitled to harass disabled young looking person just because the disability is not of the kind that is visible to all by-passers.

One would think such would be the case, but the application of common courtesy these days is an increasingly missing commodity, which is why I disagree with your premise. All one needs to do is look at public bus or subway transportation during times when every seat is taken, and look at all of the 'young and healthy' people sitting while an elder senior(s) is standing in the aisle.

As far as your example for disabled parking is concerned, I have no idea where in the world you live, but your example doesn't really apply in America. Here, one must either have an officially issued placard on display in the car's window, or a license plate marking, indicating that one is legally entitled to a disabled parking space.

Why the placard or license plate requirement? That system was developed because healthy people WOULD take that disabled specific space. And even now, the police issue a lot of tickets every day where lazy folks are willing to risk getting caught.

 

[Antomuchacho]

If theres no safety side panels on the top bunk just put the mattress on the floor and sleep if theres room

 

[Stivandrer]

No , but I would like the "old" consideration from hospitaleros being given to the pilgrims of high age or of physical predicament...
(I have not yet read the whole thread)

I once asked, nicely, for a lower bunk, due to a knee injury.
What I got was an audible ´tut tut´ clicking of his tongue, then he dove right down into the box with paper sheets and on it the next number on my bunk.
It was a upper bunk.
He did not consider it a legitimate issue, it seemed, and even my tender age of 60+ did not weigh in, either..
I cursed in pain when I had to get into the upper bunk, this was just bad luck, I thought...
Should I ask one of the Korean youths for a swop.? I chickened out.

It was when he later gave a Korean elderly lady an upper bunk. - She was 80+ !! ... fortunately a younger countryman swapped places with her...
It dawned upon me, that he was not even looking at, or considering this issue but just handed out the next pre numbered sheet automatically.
Before I went to bed I had to ask him what happended with this old rule of considering infirmities ?

This really was informative..he said he was instructed by the corps of other hospitaleros, to just make a lottery of it, to avoid this eternal begging of good bunks becoming a problem. And he was not going to stick out....
I told that I was satisfied he did not believe me, when I said I had a stiff knee, but what about this really old old Korean lady, he must have seen her crouched back and the heavy rollerbag she was linked to ??

This really upset him, because now he was penitent and begged forgivenes!!
I did not intend to psych him, but I seemed I had given him a problem to think about.

I think if I ever get this problem again, of being infirm and not getting a bunk down, I would rather checking out again and go private lodging,...

times seem to have changed on this point...

 

[Anniesantiago]

No, because bedbugs fall onto the lower bed in my experience.

 

[Canche]

No , but I would like the "old" consideration from hospitaleros being given to the pilgrims of high age or of physical predicament...
(I have not yet read the whole thread)

I once asked, nicely, for a lower bunk, due to a knee injury.
What I got was an audible ´tut tut´ clicking of his tongue, then he dove right down into the box with paper sheets and on it the next number on my bunk.
It was a upper bunk.
He did not consider it a legitimate issue, it seemed, and even my tender age of 60+ did not weigh in, either..
I cursed in pain when I had to get into the upper bunk, this was just bad luck, I thought...
Should I ask one of the Korean youths for a swop.? I chickened out.

It was when he later gave a Korean elderly lady an upper bunk. - She was 80+ !! ... fortunately a younger countryman swapped places with her...
It dawned upon me, that he was not even looking at, or considering this issue but just handed out the next pre numbered sheet automatically.
Before I went to bed I had to ask him what happended with this old rule of considering infirmities ?

This really was informative..he said he was instructed by the corps of other hospitaleros, to just make a lottery of it, to avoid this eternal begging of good bunks becoming a problem. And he was not going to stick out....
I told that I was satisfied he did not believe me, when I said I had a stiff knee, but what about this really old old Korean lady, he must have seen her crouched back and the heavy rollerbag she was linked to ??

This really upset him, because now he was penitent and begged forgivenes!!
I did not intend to psych him, but I seemed I had given him a problem to think about.

I think if I ever get this problem again, of being infirm and not getting a bunk down, I would rather checking out again and go private lodging,...

times seem to have changed on this point...

I agree with you. I have physical problems and also get up frequently during the night. Once when an upper was all they had left the hospitalera took me to her house where she rented rooms and I got one with kitchen, bath, TV etc for about 30 Euros. It was well worth it for me. Another Camino angel.

 

[Albertagirl]

When I began my service as a hospitalera in the large municipal albergue in Najera this past September, I noticed that we were not assigning beds but just handing out bedding (one lower sheet, one pillow case), which ran out when we ran out of beds. I asked about this, as I had been assigned a bed on the two previous occasions when I had spent a night there. As a pilgrim in my late 60's, both times I was assigned a lower bunk. Now, I was told that the hospitaleros no longer assigned beds, but just left the choice to the first persons who arrived after we opened. Of course, these were often younger persons, although older pilgrims sometimes arrived fairly early and waited for us to open. But the long walk from Logrono made it easier for those who had started closer or were faster walkers to have a chance to get their choice, usually a lower bunk.
"But what about the needs of older and slower pilgrims?" I asked. I was told that the pilgrims worked this out for themselves, offering lower bunks to the pilgrims who needed them and were later arrivals. As a hospitalera, I had a separate sleeping space, and I never was requested to give a physically challenged pilgrim a lower bunk when none was still free. As a healthy senior, I would have accepted an upper bunk without comment if that had been the only bunk available when I arrived from Logrono. I don't know whether this is a good way to get the bunks filled in an albergue, but it did relieve the hospitaleros of an additional, and possibly challenging, chore.

 

[martin1ws]

...
I think if I ever get this problem again, of being infirm and not getting a bunk down, I would rather checking out again and go private lodging,...
...

I am rather sure that many pilgrims would be glad to swap a lower bad with you if you just ask them and explain them your problem.
And while you may hesitate to ask for help... I think it is an important part of the camino to help other pilgrims and to get help from other pilgrims... and for this it is sometimes important to ask for help because otherwise the other pilgrims may not see that you need help.

And if no pilgrim wants to swap you can still go private lodging.

 

[Stivandrer]

I am rather sure that many pilgrims would be glad to swap a lower bad with you if you just ask them and explain them your problem.
And while you may hesitate to ask for help... I think it is an important part of the camino to help other pilgrims and to get help from other pilgrims... and for this it is sometimes important to ask for help because otherwise the other pilgrims may not see that you need help.

And if no pilgrim wants to swap you can still go private lodging.

I think you may be right,
it was a first for me....

 

[Derrybiketours]

I voted No but not surprised the majority of pilgrim's voted Yes.

Would they have voted differently had they have read my pov.

Based on nothing but my personal experience of walking 2000 kms in last year.
I have never had a bedbug bite despite staying in 100's of albergues, mainly municipals.

I have a theory that the little critters drop down from underside of mattress above. They can be found in between the slats and corners of the bed frame.

At night the warmth of our bodies and CO2 we emit attracts them and they fall and abseil like something out of Mission Impossible and begin their nocturnal feeding frenzy.

I've stayed in albergues and top bunks that the majority of pilgrims affected made the decision to take the lower bunk. In September I met a couple who had bedbug bites. The woman was covered but her boyfriend was unaffected. It transpired that he would always offer his partner the bottom bunk. I suggested that they both try completing their Camino and avoiding bottom bunk. I met them again after a couple of weeks and the girl thanked me as she hadn't received any further bites.

I recommended purchasing an anti bed bug sheet and travel pillow for their next camino. I'm not keen on using chemicals and not sure of the theory of silk sleeping bag liner versus cotton but I use silk liner and always sleep on top unless bunk is solid wood on base which many albergues seem to be adopting such as Jesus Y Maria in Pamplona.

September 2019 there was more outbreaks than previous September and Canadian volunteers suggested that they had carried out a deep clean but next morning pilgrims complained of infestation. I won't mention the albergue as I made them aware of outbreak and Im sure it will be rectified.

My only hope is that there will be top bunks left for my next Bite -free top Camino

 

[trecile]

No, because bedbugs fall onto the lower bed in my experience.

I have a theory that the little critters drop down from underside of mattress above. They can be found in between the slats and corners of the bed frame.

The only bedbugs that I have actually seen were on the mattress of the bunk above mine.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The only bedbugs that I have actually seen were on the mattress of the bunk above mine.

So far, the MOST bedbugs I've seen were on the bed below me where they dropped on the poor kid all night long. In the morning, he had a pile of dead ones he'd killed. I have a photo somewhere. That broke me from bottom bunks. lol!

 

[DeansFamily]

The municipal alburgue at Embalse de Acantera on the VdlP has the best design for their top bunks. They split level the room and you walk up the stairs to a generous upper level that joins the foot of the upper bunks. It was a really well designed alburgue and a pleasure to stay in for everyone. Not a ladder in sight

 

[nycwalking]

The municipal alburgue at Embalse de Acantera on the VdlP has the best design for their top bunks. They split level the room and you walk up the stairs to a generous upper level that joins the foot of the upper bunks. It was a really well designed alburgue and a pleasure to stay in for everyone. Not a ladder in sight

Do you have a pic?

If so, please post.

 

[C clearly]

Do you have a pic?
If so, please post.

 

[Anniesantiago]

View attachment 68293

Have reservations here this spring! YAY!

 

[JabbaPapa]

No, no, no, no, no -- and this includes the fact that my disability requires me to.

Anyone not understanding these notions is most likely in the wrong place, else still has much to learn about being a Pilgrim.

BTW in my youth, I'd preferentially go up to the top bunk instead -- though last time 'round decades post-youth on the 2014, I got stuck on the top in Leon by virtue of being the last one accepted and so having no choice. (and even then, I only got the bed because it was clear that I was the absolute last pilgrim that day, and they had over-counted the previous ones by +1)

The simple fact that I remember the oddities of that particular stay should clue you in that it had its slight imperfections. Climbing up and down that monkey frame all night long, forced each time to disturb the sleep of my fellow night hikers, in knee pain and ankle difficulty, multiple times that night is not a proud memory.