Where we stay:
We stay at three and four-star hotels, elegant Paradors, old monasteries that have been converted to hotels and comfortable inns. All have old-world, Spanish atmosphere yet with modern comforts. All rooms in the hotels which we use have a private bathroom.  Luggage is transported from hotel to hotel. Our support bus is usually available for assistance at various points along the way each day.

Roncesvalles   We stay in the Posada located near the "Collegiata". The Posada is a charming mountain inn with beamed ceilings, tiled floors, huge fireplace in the bar and antique furniture. Stunning views can be seen in all directions - the Pyrenees mountains, the ancient Collegiata and miles of  wooded countryside. Rooms are very comfortable and attractive and at night the only sound is of the wind in the mountains. The Posada is famous for its fresh trout and Pilar, the hostess, has a wonderful recipe for roast lamb with herbs.

Olite/Pamplona   The Parador of Olite is a 15th century castle which has been converted to a magnificent 4 star hotel. It is spectacular with heavy Spanish antiques, vaulted ceilings and tapestries. It is in the centre of a quaint medieval town and we have a chance to wander the streets and visit the wine shops as well as to explore the castle. This is one of the most atmospheric of all the Paradors of Spain and it is worth the trip just to stay here for a night.

Puenta La Reina  The charming Hotel Bidean is located on a narrow cobblestoned street which is the original "Camino de Santiago" through the old village. The street looks much like it did 1000 years ago in the days of the pilgrims and here we truly get the feeling of going back in time with the medieval bridge at the end of the street leading to the continuation of the Camino.  The historic inn has recently been restored with wooden beams and many antiques. Rooms are small but comfortable. The dining room is in an old wine cellar that has been cleverly converted in a mixture of ultra modern and medieval architecture..

San Millan    We stay at the remote Monasterio de San Millan which is a beautiful 4 star hotel located inside the Monastery of Yuso in an out-of-the-way village in a spectacular setting. This monastery dates back to early Christian times when a hermit, Yuso, lived in seclusion in a cave in the hills. A monastery was built nearby and the most ancient documents written in Spanish language have been found in its libraries. Today, part of the monastery has been turned into a superb 4 star hotel with luxurious rooms all with gorgeous views, antique furniture, comfortable beds and classical music playing in the halls. Its dining rooms provides excellent regional wines and local cuisine.

Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Here we stay at the Parador de Santo Domingo Bernardo de Fresneda  This lovely old Parador is sited in the Convent of San Francisco, 800 meters from the historic center of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The convent was rebuilt in 1595 and is composed of three clearly differentiated sections: Church, Museum-WorkShop and Guest House. Under the modern cupola which covers the novices patio, is the "Recreo" Restaurant, whose name refers to the break the monks used to take in that same patio. The Parador is located in the centre of the town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada which is one of the most atmospheric towns in Northern Spain.

Burgos   The 3 star Meson del Cid is ideally located facing across an historic plaza to the front of Burgos' magnificent Cathedral in the heart of the city's historic quarter. A former convent, the hotel has small but comfortable rooms, a well-regarded restaurant and great views of the old section of town.

Carrion de Los Condes   We stay at the wonderful old Real Monasterio de San Zoilo in a quiet location outside the town of Carrion de los Condes and right on the Camino de Santiago path. The hotel is beautiful with original 12th century cloister and a dining room in the original stone-walled refectory. The rooms are large and old-fashioned with the original shutters opening onto the cloister and courtyard. The only sound is the birds in the trees in the courtyard and an occasional creaking floor. Rooms have some of the original furniture but the beds are comfortable and the bathrooms are modern. Soft Gregorian chants mix with the clink of glasses in the bar.

Leon   The 3 star Posada Regia is just a block from the Cathedral and in the heart of the historic quarter. The hotel has antique furniture, beamed ceilings and lots of atmosphere. It has been completely renovated and is very comfortable without losing its old world charm. Its restaurant is one of the best in the city. When we were there last time a restaurant critic from an Italian newspaper was there doing an article and he claimed the Posada Regia restaurant had a reputation for wonderful organic food - the chickens used are free-range from nearby farms - carefully selected for flavour. The vegetables are organic and the chef prides himself on cooking everything to perfection. He even makes his own organic ice-cream.

Astorga   The 3 star Hotel Gaudi is a very comfortable hotel located on the main square facing the Cathedral and the fanciful Bishop's Palace which was designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. The bar is a gathering spot for locals and serves a joltingly strong cup of espresso or a glass of local wine. Just down the street one finds an array of chocolate shops - Astorga was one of the first places in Spain to use chocolate brought back by the Conquistadores from South America and it is famous for its delicious chocolate confections.

Villafranca del Bierzo   The lovely Parador Villafranca del Bierzo is located at the edge of the historic town. This is part of the Parador Hotels of Spain - comfortable and atmospheric with excellent food including the sumptuous buffet breakfast for which all Paradors are famous. Rooms are large, comfortable and quiet. There is a lovely outdoor patio surrounded by roses where once can have a quiet drink before dinner (the Parador is currently closed for renovations. If it does not reopen in time we will stay in the Floriana Hotel in Molinaseca.  In 2010 the Parador at Villafranca is closed for renovation so we will return to Astorga where we spend two nights.

Parador Monforte de Lemos   This 4 star Parador is situated at the highest point of the town of Monforte de Lemos and is comprised of the Keep, the San Vicente do Pino Monastery and the Condes de Lemos Palace; the latter two house the Parador de Monforte. The origins of the monastery date back to the 9th century, although the current building, erected on the site of an earlier one, is Neo-classical and dates to the 17th century. The original doorway, with the shields of Lemos and the Castro y Osorio and Enriquez families has been conserved.  The stark monastery has been restored and converted into a Parador with 50 rooms distributed around the central cloister.

Portomarin   The 3 star Pousada de Portomorin is a lovely, two-story inn set on a hill at the edge of town and with wonderful views over a lake and the hills beyond. It was built in the 1960's by the dictator Franco to encourage tourism to his native area of Spain and no expense was spared in the construction.  This is our favorite hotel along the Camino. Rooms are quiet, spacious and well-appointed with huge marble bathrooms. The hotel has three stars but we think it deserves more. The highlight of dinner here is the flaming quemada drinks that follow dessert. There is a traditional story that accompanies the drink whose origins come from the folk-lore of the area.

In Santiago Our hotel, the Virxe de Cerca, is an 18th century former Jesuit residence located in the old quarter near the Cathedral.  It is an atmospheric, four-star hotel that still has the stone walls of the former monastery but now is a comfortable hotel surrounding a garden courtyard. Rooms are equipped with hairdryer, safe, satellite TV, minibar, phone and air conditioning.

Meals: Breakfast is always included (usually a buffet). Most dinners are included except in the cities where there are are a variety of nearby restaurants available. The dinners that are included are in hotel and Parador dining rooms allowing everyone to sample regional cuisine which changes along the route. The food is excellent and plentiful. Picnic lunches are included on the days when restaurants are not available at mid-day. Walkers who have been on the tour in the past agree that the picnics are wonderful with lots of red wine, fresh gazpacho soup, crusty bread, local cheeses and a variety of local ingredients for sandwiches. Spain is famous for its fruit and vegetables. The avocados are superb, the white asparagus memorable.
Along the route there is often a chance to stop in a local bar for a drink or for a steaming cup of Spanish coffee along with a fresh pastry and there are ice-cream sellers tempting you on warm days.  Our walks traverse the famous La Rioja wine region and there is plenty of opportunity for sampling.