Accommodation

Traveling long distances on foot, by bike, or in a wheelchair is a challenge.

Every day, the focus is on finding accommodation. Rarely do you stay more than once in the same place on a journey.

Accommodation options include:

Communal Accommodation:
Pilgrim hospices, hostels, albergues, huts, monasteries, etc.
In communal accommodations, several people always sleep in the same room. Consideration for others is essential. Only well-fitting earplugs help against snorers, because nobody snores on purpose and nobody can prevent their own snoring.

Private Accommodation:
e.g. a B&B offers an inexpensive overnight stay.

Accommodation establishments:
Hostels, guesthouses, hotels, refuges, etc. are accommodations in all price ranges. From these offers, you can choose the right price-performance ratio yourself.

Finding Accommodation:
At Camino Europe, only accommodations that have been verified once a year are listed for each stage.

If no suitable accommodation can be found shortly before the end of the day, a search on Booking.com is often a viable alternative.

Consideration in Common Areas
In communal accommodations, the inexpensive and therefore very popular crinkly bags should only be used for food. If you store your laundry in them, the loud crinkling of these plastic bags will wake up everyone who doesn't want to leave so early. For nightwear, therefore, use slightly more expensive plastic zip-lock bags that can be opened and closed almost silently.

By assigning each task its place in the daily routine, you can also leave calmly in the early morning, even if you are still a little sleepy. You have already taken care of everything that could be done the evening before. In addition, you do not cause unnecessary noise, as you have already prepared everything you need the evening before.

Waking up other travelers at the same time as your own departure is extremely rude.

Headlamps are also very disruptive when worn on the head. Like a searchlight, you swing them around and occasionally hit the head of a person who actually wanted to sleep with the cone of light. Held in the hand, a headlamp can be dimmed somewhat and you have better control over where the light falls.

Anyone who relies on medical devices that make noise while sleeping does not belong in a shared dormitory.

You should only wake yourself up with your smartphone in vibrate mode, because your own start to the day is not necessarily identical with the ideas of other people in the same room for the right time to start the new day.

Hygiene should actually be a matter of course. In a luxury hotel, you can probably leave empty cosmetic containers everywhere and the shower does not have to be cleaned. In shared showers and toilets, everyone ensures that everything is clean again after them. If you did not find something in the desired clean condition, that is no reason to leave it that way again. If everyone thought and acted that way, showers and toilets would be completely dirty in a very short time.

Sleeping bag?
Do you really need a sleeping bag? In summer, you can do without a sleeping bag. In addition, in many communal accommodations, you receive a mattress cover and a cellulose sheet. Both are intended for single use and are then disposed of. However, you can also pack them and take them with you for a next overnight stay. If the night is a bit cool, there are usually also woolen blankets for additional comfort.

Where there are only mattresses and woolen blankets, a simple fabric sleeping bag, often called a hut sack, made of synthetic fiber, silk, merino, cotton or linen, is sufficient. This prevents the perhaps not so hygienic woolen blankets from having direct skin contact. You can use your own bath towel as a pillow.

In spring and autumn, a proper sleeping bag is recommended. You can get a slightly thinner sleeping bag and use the hut sack as an inner layer at lower temperatures. In winter, a down sleeping bag is of course optimal.

Sleeping mat
You almost never need your own sleeping mat. Except, of course, in your own tent. Usually, there is a mattress that you can use. In Europe at least, you can do without a sleeping mat.

Bed bugs
Information on bed bugs can be found under "Tips & Tricks" in the "Equipment" section.

Washing clothes
The topic "washing clothes" is also covered under "Tips & Tricks".

Sleeping outdoors
Sleeping outdoors, be it in a tent or just in a sleeping bag, always offers an impressive nature experience. Those who love it would not want to miss it. Unfortunately, camping is not permitted everywhere. The relevant regulations are absolutely unclear and are often changed at short notice. Before starting any trip, you should therefore re-read what is currently valid. The website of the TCS (Touring Club Switzerland) provides a good overview of this.

Below you will find accommodation lists for your pilgrimage. The Jakobsweg.ch eV provides this information free of charge to all pilgrims. Click on the respective section of the route and the download of the list (PDF format) will begin automatically.

The corresponding route descriptions in paperback format can be ordered directly from the shop for 12.-.

(Please help us keep the lists as up-to-date as possible. If you notice that an accommodation is no longer up-to-date, please notify us briefly at web@jakobsweg.ch.)