A Casa Da Meixida

I was booked here through Camino Ways as a “Country Cottage” and left feeling deeply disappointed, especially since it was my final night before finishing a two-week Camino. After walking all day in extreme heat, I arrived to find nobody there, just my key on the counter. There was no water or other drink, and no nearby town where I could get food. The cottage sits beside a busy highway facing a gas station. There’s no air conditioning, which I understand is common in Spain, but with the windows open the room filled with flies. Traveling alone as a woman, I didn’t feel safe staying there. I called the number on the door and said I planned to go to another hotel down the road. They said they’d get me a taxi, but an hour passed and none came, so I had to arrange one myself. The driver charged 15 Euros for the 2km ride. I’ve told Camino Ways this place should come off its hotel and cottage list, particularly for solo travelers.

As a Camino stop, the location makes sense since it’s only a few hundred yards from the trail, and the night was cool enough for me to sleep comfortably without AC. The next morning you can get going on the Camino quickly. The innkeeper was gracious and breakfast at the Casa was lovely, though we had to communicate both ways through Google Translate because there was no Ingles. They said they were trying to fix the AC, but if late August guests are still hearing that, there may be more to the story. Others in our party were less comfortable without it. One good tip from the innkeeper was a free ride to Hotel Gastronómico Casa Rosalía for lunch or dinner. It’s about 15 minutes away, and the delicious made-to-order meal in a lovely old building with a courtyard was worth the 20-30 Euros per person, excluding alcohol. The driver brought us back once we’d eaten. Breakfast at the Casa was nice too. The house itself is beautiful and clean inside, despite reports from others of bed bugs, but it’s tucked behind a gas station near a busy road. The AC was broken, and depending on the time of day the showers only dribbled. There’s a restaurant between the house and gas station serving standard Galician food. We didn’t eat there, though it looked a little greasy. There are more places in town, Escrivatude, but the 20 minute walk along the road is dangerous. We learned too late that the Camino goes behind town and makes for a pleasant walk to Buen Camino, other spots, and the church. Avoid the taxi whose number ends in 811. The driver was a surly older guy and charged 15 Euro for a two minute trip into town. I understand supply and demand, but it would have helped if the innkeeper had told us the price. Fifteen euros could take you quite far in the cities.

For pilgrims wanting something with local character and a higher standard, this traditional building is a useful alternative not far from the Portuguese Way. It has been renovated to a high standard and kept in great shape, with rooms decorated tastefully.

After so many kilometers on El Camino, this quiet, spacious old house felt like such a treat. The hostess welcomed us wonderfully, and the food was fantastic. A lovely place to pause and recover after a great day of walking.