Need advise. Schengen visas & Santiago trip

[maxfff]

Hi All!
We are 5 ukrainian guys,who decided to make Santiago way walk travel next year.
We have a great experience in outdoor trips, but most of them were in Russia and Ukraine (Crimea, Ural mountains etc.). So maps, fitness, outdoor lifestyle is not a problem for us.

There is a big issue for us to make such travel - we need a Schengen Visas(EU and US guys, you're really lucky )

To get this visas we have to book hotels and confirm booking in Spain Embassy. But we wanted to live in pilgrim hostels, if we are booking hotels we'll run out of our budget . Another way is to buy a tour in agency but It's not possible to find such kind of tour in Ukraine.

Ok, in all cases this problem is new for us, so any advise will be helpful.
By the way, please give your suggestion which part of road is the best for us.
Our plan: 10-14 days, 30 km per day.
Thanx Yall!

 

[sillydoll]

South Africans also need a Schengen visa when visiting Europe.
The two Embassies know all about the camino and are very good about accepting our applications.
What they ask is that we type out an itinerary of our intended walk (you don't have to stick to it when you get there) and name all the pilgrim refuges that we will stay in. Also to make a note that we cannot book these ahead and that most are donation only.
Something from http://www.godesalco.com/plan will do for you. eg: 11 days from Leon to Santiago

FROM LEóN TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA THROUGH THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
Table generated by Godesalco.com on 29 November 2007.

SUMMARY
Longest stage: Melide - Rúa: 32.1 km.
Shortest stage: Rúa - Santiago de Compostela: 20.7 km.
Total distance: 312.3 km. Stages: 11. Average: 28.4 km each walking day.

STAGES
1) León - Hospital de Órbigo 32 km 32 km 2R, P, C, H
2) Hospital de Órbigo - Santa Catalina de Somoza 25.6 km 57.6 km R, P
3) Santa Catalina de Somoza - El Acebo 27.6 km 85.2 km R, 2P
4) El Acebo - Cacabelos 31.2 km 116.4 km R, H
5) Cacabelos - La Faba 31 km 147.4 km R
6) La Faba - Triacastela 25.6 km 173 km R, 3P, H
7) Triacastela - Barbadelo 28.9 km 201.9 km R, H
8) Barbadelo - Gonzar 26.3 km 228.2 km R
9) Gonzar - Melide 31.3 km 259.5 km R, H
10) Melide - Rúa 32.1 km 291.6 km H
11) Rúa - Santiago de Compostela 20.7 km 312.3 km R, P, C, H


ABBREVIATIONS
R: pilgrims public hostel.
P: pilgrims private hostel.
A: youth hostel.
C: campsite.
H: hotel, inn, lodging house...
FR: outside the pathway.

Hope this helps,

 

[maxfff]

Thanx a lot! Good news!

 

[Peter Robins]

I would agree with Sil: either the Spanish embassy in Kiev or yours in Madrid should be able to advise you. You should be able to get an answer from them via email
http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Informa ... anguage=en

 

[marktqm]

In late April 2006 I started on the camino. As early as December 2005 I have already submitted an application for a Schengen Visa (yes, US and EU people are lucky -- they can just leave for the camino on a whim). It is an unusual sort of 'vacation' where there are no confirmed reservations with a travel company or a hotel. I just showed the consul how I had organized my days of walking (day-to-day itinerary, which was never followed), and that only my first night in Spain will have a confirmed hotel reservation (substantiated by an email from the hotel). They asked who was the travel agent that helped me organize this and I replied I did it all via Internet. This is uncommon for Filipinos traveling to Europe on a holiday.

I think the bottom line is you have to show the interviewer that you know what you are doing, and that you have the resources to do it. A credit card bill showing good standing or bank statement with an impressive(?) balance across several months should suffice.

Good luck.