Hello! Walking the Camino Francais in September 2014

[Zarniwoop]

Hello there, first timer here

I can't tell you how awesome it is to find such a forum. The other ones I checked has closed down a while back. Hopefully you guys can keep this going as long as possible.

my name is Steve, I'm from Greece and 18 years old, and am going to walk the Camino Francais with a friend, from the 16th of September to the 5th of October. We've reserved our tickets with RyanAir to Lourdes, hopefully everything will go well with that.

We are looking to do it all with minimal cost. We have around 300 euros excluding flights in/out, at our desposal. We're going full cheapskate. We have most of our equipment already which is a plus. Has anyone done the Francais like this and have any helpful tips?

We're also running on a tight schedule (just 21 days), so we'll be hitchhiking some parts of it, and/or visiting places just out of our way. Starting in SJPDP and hitchhiking from Lourdes Airport.

I have to say we're totally hyped about doing this, and I just can't wait. Something I guess I'll regret on the first day of hard walking. :3

Best Regards
Steve

 

[koilife]

Steve, not sure if your plan is to make it all the way from SJPdP to Santiago in just 21 days, but that is a very aggressive schedule (essentially a marathon every day with no rest days or delays), especially once you exclude your travel days and a day from Lourdes to SJPdP. Also, at only 300 euros, that leaves you roughly 15 eruos per day, which is probably not enough unless you're camping out most of the time. Assuming 10 euros average per pilgrim's meal, that leaves only 90 left over for all other meals and expenses, or you need to bring stove and cooking equipment, buy your food along the way, and cook out as you camp.

You might want to consider flying into some place like Pamplona, which saves you a travel day and gives a little more relief to the intensity of your schedule. It doesn't really solve the financial challenge, however.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

"so we'll be hitchhiking some parts of it"

I have never seen a hitchhiker, but you are more familiar with Europe than I. An acquaintance who was injured tried hitchhiking, but had to take buses, taxis, and trains instead.

Good luck, and have fun. Be sure others are having fun, too, by not being a burden to them.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Steve, not sure if your plan is to make it all the way from SJPdP to Santiago in just 21 days, but that is a very aggressive schedule (essentially a marathon every day with no rest days or delays), especially once you exclude your travel days and a day from Lourdes to SJPdP.

No we won't be walking all of it, we'll be be skipping a few bits (not actually sure which yet) and probably going out of our way sometimes to visit nearby towns.

Also, at only 300 euros, that leaves you roughly 15 eruos per day, which is probably not enough unless you're camping out most of the time. Assuming 10 euros average per pilgrim's meal, that leaves only 90 left over for all other meals and expenses, or you need to bring stove and cooking equipment, buy your food along the way, and cook out as you camp.

You might want to consider flying into some place like Pamplona, which saves you a travel day and gives a little more relief to the intensity of your schedule. It doesn't really solve the financial challenge, however.

Yes camping out was what we had in mind for most nights. Taking into mind what you say, we'll probably be saving up over the summer, which may leave us with about 100 more, so 400 to spend there. I am aware of the prices of the albergues and they are way out of our budget (for every night at least), so most nights we'll be camping out.

I have never seen a hitchhiker, but you are more familiar with Europe than I. An acquaintance who was injured tried hitchhiking, but had to take buses, taxis, and trains instead.
Good luck, and have fun. Be sure others are having fun, too, by not being a burden to them.

I'm not sure how the hitchhiking situation is in Spain, but I don't think it should be any different from the rest of Europe?

Thanks for the kind replies and tips,

Regards
Steve

 

[santiago_67]

Welcome Steve, this is an incredible forum and you will find the answers to all your questions plus those of us who have walked the Camino love to share our experiences and what we have learned. I suggest you find out which of the albergues don't have a set price, but just accept a donation. A hot shower and a real bed now and then would be great. Buen Camino!

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Ahhh, to be 18 again! Last fall I met one Pilgrim from Greece, he was a sweetheart. Buen Camino, have a ball!

 

[Zarniwoop]

Thanks for the kind wishes ladies/gents! I looked up the hitchhiking situation in Northern Spain and we should be able to make it work. Our budget doesn't allow for much use of busses and/or other means of travel.

Hope the cash is enough, it's gonna be great either way!

Kind Regards
Steve

 

[freeflyer123]

No we won't be walking all of it, we'll be be skipping a few bits (not actually sure which yet) and probably going out of our way sometimes to visit nearby towns.



Yes camping out was what we had in mind for most nights. Taking into mind what you say, we'll probably be saving up over the summer, which may leave us with about 100 more, so 400 to spend there. I am aware of the prices of the albergues and they are way out of our budget (for every night at least), so most nights we'll be camping out.




I'm not sure how the hitchhiking situation is in Spain, but I don't think it should be any different from the rest of Europe?

Thanks for the kind replies and tips,

Regards
Steve

Steve, you need to check out if you are allowed to camp in the wild in Spain. You will need to check out the commercial campsites, and they are just as expensive as the cheaper albergues. Indeed, you should be able to find the albergues are pretty cheap as some of them only ask for donations (we never did find those ones ourselves so a little research is called for); or even Euros 3 a night for a bed in the dorms. We stayed for Euros 5 or Euros 10 on most nights in dormitory accommodation; only when we stayed in a private room on a few of those nights did we pay Euros 40 for the room.

We did see a tent along the way, but it was nicely hidden out of the way of the general thoroughfare. I suspect also that if you pitch your tent quite late at night, and get it back up very early in the morning, you should manage to camp without problems. What I am trying to say is you may be moved on by the police if you are seen by them to be putting up a tent. We had initially thought to camp along the way, but then realized that it might be more hassle than help. It is great to eat with the other pilgrims, and you would be expected to pay out Euros 10 per meal in the evenings for a cooked meal. However, many of the albergues have cooking facilities, so you could very easily rustle up a great meal for very little money yourselves. To be honest, I never saw anybody hitchhiking, but there were quite a few who caught the odd bus from one part to another - you find them all along the way. And I don't think they were very expensive.

Good Luck and Buen Camino

 

[Zarniwoop]

Hello again.

Did a bit of searching into train times etc to get to SJPDP. I need advice on whether this timeframe is possible. So: Arriving at Tarbes Lourdes Airport 1345. Got to get from there to Lourdes Train Station to catch the 1420 to Bayonne... It says there's buses approx. every hour from the airport to the Train Station. That's going to be tricky methinks. Then a few hours layover in Bayonne waiting for the 1810 to SJPDP arriving there 1936. You think it's doable? This is possibly the best solution for starting from SJPDP on the 17th that we've got atm. Other options involve staying at (Edit) Lourdes for the night.

Regards
Steve

 

[Metropolly]

Hello again.

Did a bit of searching into train times etc to get to SJPDP. I need advice on whether this timeframe is possible. So: Arriving at Tarbes Lourdes Airport 1345. Got to get from there to Lourdes Train Station to catch the 1420 to Bayonne... It says there's buses approx. every hour from the airport to the Train Station. That's going to be tricky methinks. Then a few hours layover in Bayonne waiting for the 1810 to SJPDP arriving there 1936. You think it's doable? This is possibly the best solution for starting from SJPDP on the 17th that we've got atm. Other options involve staying at Bayonne for the night.

Regards
Steve

No, it won't be possible unless your flight arrives exactly on time and the cabin doors are opened immediately and you are the first out and there are no queues at the passport check. Anyway, Lourdes itself is worth a stop on your pilgrimage

 

[Zarniwoop]

Hi,

Thanks for your answer Metropolly. We've ruled that out now, in favour of a potential bus route, since our budget has been cut considerably.

I need some info on bus services in the area, providing a cheaper and/or faster way from Lourdes to SJPDP. I've had a good search but have failed to find anything much really.

Thanks,
All info welcome.
Steve

 

[kweeva]

I would stay away from the pilgrim menus, not always good value even for 10 euro, many hostels provide cooking facilities which would help your budget. 21 days doesn't allow time to see this beautiful countryside!