Camino September 2013

[katri42]

I'm curious to know if a phone is really necessary to reserve a place for the night? If it is a good idea, what product would you recommend? Gracias. I am 66 years old, and I don't anticipate any problems, but should I have a traveler's insurance? Do I sound a bit wobbly? It's so exciting to me!

 

[colinPeter]

I'm curious to know if a phone is really necessary to reserve a place for the night? If it is a good idea, what product would you recommend? Gracias. I am 66 years old, and I don't anticipate any problems, but should I have a traveler's insurance? Do I sound a bit wobbly? It's so exciting to me!

Hola katri42,
Welcome to the forum. Travel Insurance is something I'd always take, but it's a personal thing. Again, I'd always take a mobile phone, local SIMS (spain) are probably the best for making bookings locally.
Buen Camino
Colin

 

[zilla.kzilla]

I just returned from walking the Frances. No phone. Every host/hospitalero I asked was happy to help by making a call for me. I provided the phone number, usually from Brierley. Re travel insurance, yes, a good idea.

 

[freeflyer123]

I'm not sure we even intend to phone ahead to book a place - as we will be cycling, we are well aware that we might not get one anyway, until all of the walkers have been catered for. We will have a tent as backup - and for getting through France to St John first. But I suspect that phoning ahead as a walker would be a good idea. We intend to get a local sim card for our 'ancient' mobile phone - must have been one of the very first models :lol:
Insurance - every time we go away we use our annual insurance through our bank. We have yet to actually 'test' it as we have never made a claim. But would never dream of going anywhere without it - just in case. Even at 66, you shouldn't find any problems with getting reasonable coverage at a good price. If you are from any EU country, also don't forget your European Health Insurance Card (old EH111). It "should" help you if you need attention in a hospital, although ours didn't when we were in Italy some years ago, although we did show it to the doctors. But then we were only charged Euro20, so didn't bother pursuing it. Insurance should be mandatory - I well remember a friend who came off her bike once in France and the insurance paid for her husband's hotel bill while she was in hospital, and then paid for her (and her husband) to be transported back by plane once she was better. Knowing you have that sort of cover takes a lot off your mind!

 

[skilsaw]

At 66 years young, you are in the prime of your life for becomming a pilgrim.

I don't think a cell phone is needed if you are walking in spain because there are lots of albergues (hostels) on route. On a couple occasions, I've had to walk an extra hour to the next village to find a bed, but this is no great hardship. Making reservations along the way is not necessary in Spain. France however, is another issue. I haven't walked any of the 3 or 4 routes in France that converge in Spain, but pilgrims I know have told me that they carry a cell phone and make reservations a day or two in advance.

Spain has a good public health system, and when I went to see a Doctor for a minor ailment, he didn't want my money, asking, instead, for me to pray for him in Santiago. However, should the unthinkable happen and you need to be hospitalized, travel insurance is worth having. It only costs me about $ 2.00 per day so is cheap peace of mind.

Enjoy the dreaming and planning for your Camino. And do lots of walking ahead of time with your loaded backpack to become accustomed to carrying the load.

Buen Camino,
David, Victoria, Canada.