Search results for query: *

If you start walking at 9 -9.30 am, and stay in pre-booked accommodation in small places just before/after the main towns (much less stressful to book as you'll be arriving later than usual) it's pretty quiet even the last 100km. However, starting at peak times from key towns is both amazing and...

Wont you need to spend a half a day there anyway? I am sure plenty of people get the morning train and then walk the Napoleon route but you'll be starting a good few hours after most (which might suit you if you want it quieter). If you want to get a stamp, visit the Church, have a second...

Just back from doing the Burgos to Leon section. We booked before be left via booking.com and an average of €50 would be about right (cheaper if book direct, etc). Surprised how few people were walking. The majority of people we met were booking private rooms (part of this was the cold/desire...

In Bayonne… I think I would have a relaxing morning and start the day with hot chocolate and toast at Cazenave. Visit the cathedral and the pilgrim desk, then take a stroll around some of the fortifications before visiting Monsieur Txokola for a bar of Mexican style chocolate. Then I would hop...

Was due to walk March 2020 cancelled due to virus, rebooked for September 2020 but cancelled due to virus… For 2021 I’m not as optimistic as many here but I hope they are right! Sadly, I think 2021 might be more about taking opportunities for travel if and when they arise and for me I don’t...

A slightly different perspective… if this is 100% a religious camino then cool, follow the good advice within the forum, travel light, etc. If this is a 33% religious, 33% hiking/adventure, 33% travel/visiting Europe type trip then I would think carefully about hiking for a month in fairly...

Ferry and bicycle might be a way to go (you only have to cycle onto and off the boat). Bicycles are often accepted when foot passengers aren't plus it's quite good fun. Wouldn't be cheap but if you really want to go.... Edit - Flying to Porto looks the easiest option - assume crossing Portugal...

We had intended to be on the CF late Sept (delayed from March) but we decided not to go for a variety of reasons including UK gov travel advice/insurance concerns, us spreading the virus, concerns about outbreaks on the camino, Ivar's comments, etc. Quite envious of the people from the UK...

https://godesalco.com/plan/frances might help with the profiles and is fun to play with

Others have explained the abbreviations - sorry! Walking for 5 days or less really depends on how you feel about the distances to be covered. 100 km is 60 miles give or take. For some forum members 20 mile days are no problem, they naturally walk quickly and will arrive at their destination at...

Fatima, Porto, Santiago, Grenada and Valencia + a five day walk in 2.5 weeks is quite a whirlwind tour, so much fun! I think I would look at the logistics and work out where is easy to travel to, especially if a connection doesn’t work out as planned. Depending on where you fly into one of the...

Interesting question. I'm walking the camino in 7-10 day stages with a friend. We've booked the whole lot ahead. If we were going for longer I think I would still book the whole thing even though that degree of planning is totally out of character for me! We've got a good understanding of how...

Not sure about hostels. Hotels I have stayed at include Cote Basque which is nice, open late and really easy for the railway station (very used to pilgrims). Hotel Le Port Neuf is more in the centre, odd place but clean, wonderful creaky old stairs, Hôtel Le Bayonne is modern but a walk from the...

Doable [assuming you ride on the road if it gets super muddy/snowy], but definitely not my idea of enjoyable! Is there a reason why it has to be the CF in Jan? I reckon we're in for a cold winter this year. I'm with wildrover, I would wimp out and head somewhere warmer!

Loving the discussion. I think a pilgrimage starts when you make up your mind to go. For me, all the planning, gear selection, film watching, training walks, (or perhaps the complete lack of these) are all part of the pilgrimage journey. I think I disagree with the special bit of this, of...

Hello! Re: London to Spain. Bus - you could but very few people do for a reason - it's a 24+ bus trip and you'll mostly see motorway but it is usually the cheapest way to go (although not by very much). Train - if you're travelling in 3/4 weeks you will have missed the cheap tickets. You'll...

I think it's becoming more common, Virgin and United do similar visa checks for flights from UK to US - that's more confusing you *have* to get a sticker before you check your bags and it's easy to walk to past the staff who do the check. (Ryanair put a stamp on your boarding pass not a passport...

My partner has to get a visa check stamp for his US passport before flying from the UK on Ryaniar, you go to the bag check-in area to do it and there's a special note on your boarding pass. If you've got an EU passport I don't think you need to do this (I've never done it).

I wouldn't overthink this, get the Brierley guidebook and walk the first couple of days pretty much as per the book to ease into things especially if jet lagged. On day 1 you have a choice of two routes depending on time of year, it's not going to make a lot of difference which one you take...

Couldn't agree more. Personally I would book somewhere to stay when you arrive to relax into being a new country/adjusting to the new timezone. After that, take it as it comes, booking isn't a sin! It's super hard not to get wrapped up in other people's anxiety about getting a bed even if you're...