Casa Matã­as

I paid for a nice, modern room, but after check-in they put me in a grandma-style room with two small beds. It turned out there was only one modern room, which the manager said was just for the pictures on booking.com!!! :D The manager also told me it wasn't up to me to decide where I stayed, even though I'd paid for a particular room category. No comments.

It's a basic place, but it was quiet and clean, and the shower was great. There’s no reception or staff on site, though you can call someone who speaks good English. The internet was practically nonexistent, so it's not a good choice if you need WiFi to plan your trip. The room lighting was very dim, with only the ceiling light working. It's close to the train station but farther from the trail. If you’re starting in Sarria and using luggage transfer, staying here makes sense so you don't have to carry your bag all the way down the road. The town is small, so everything else is close by.

The host was efficient and friendly, and check-in is at the photography store next door. I stayed at Casa Matías for my first night in Sarria before starting the Camino. The room was fine but quite dated, though the bathroom was very clean. The roller blinds didn't work, so the room stayed somewhat bright all night. The walls are thin too, and other guests played music until around 11 pm.

The owner came across as snobbish and arrogant, and I wouldn't recommend staying here. The room was big, but freezing cold. They only turned on the tiny heater at 7 pm, and it wasn't powerful enough to warm the room. We slept in heavy snow jackets and wool socks and were still cold. There was no hot drinking water either.