Albergues open in Winter? 2015

[Laina Rose]

Hello! My mom and I are planning to hiking the El Camino France this winter starting around the middle of January. I have been doing some research on what a winter hike on the Camino looks like and it seems like on of the problems might be that a lot of the Albergues close in the winter. I was wondering if anyone had advice on which ones will be open and how I can know in advance? Also any other winter hiking advice would be great or guide book suggestions.

 

[grayland]

Welcome Alaina..
I just posted a thread with the link to the new list of open albergues this winter.

I plan to arrive in SJPdP on or about 13 January so it is possible we may meet at some point.

Here is the thread:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/winter-albergue-status-posted.36922/

 

[Laina Rose]

Awesome, I'll check it out thanks! Good to hear there will be some other pilgrims out there with us, from what I've been reading winter is not a very popular time to do the walk.

 

[grayland]

I am just taking the opportunity to walk the CF again without the crowds.
I have walked the CF in various months in the past but before the huge crowds that are now there later in the year.
I have walked the other routes in recent years in the warm months.
This will be different
I will not make a lot of preparation other than reserving a first night in St Jean.
The list of open albergues and availability of pensions/ hotels allows one to just take it as it comes.

 

[Laina Rose]

It sounds like you have done quite a bit of hiking on the El Camino! Any tips for someone preparing for their first hike abroad? Another question I had was about cell phones, because we're from the US our phone won't work. It seems like it would be nice to be able to call ahead and check availability in Albergues. Or do you think we'll be fine without phones?

 

[grayland]

This forum is the best place to prepare for the Camino. Take the time to look around the various forums to see the big volume of information available.
Check out the
miscellaneous forum,
equipment forum,
Camino France's forum
Cell phone forum
Many more.

What cell phone are you using? Which provider?
Our U.S. smart phones do work in Europe.....but expense is an issue.
If you have an unlocked phone...buying a local SIM card is the best/easiest way to go..

 

[Laina Rose]

The forums have definitely been a great source of information so far and I'm planning to continue reading through them! I'm using the iPhone 5s but and my provider is Verizon which from the minimal research I did looks like it is not as easy to switch to Europe as some other providers are. Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it!

 

[Bajaracer]

The forums have definitely been a great source of information so far and I'm planning to continue reading through them! I'm using the iPhone 5s but and my provider is Verizon which from the minimal research I did looks like it is not as easy to switch to Europe as some other providers are. Thanks for all the advice I really appreciate it!

Your Verizon iPhone 5S is already unlocked and is easy to swap to a prepaid Spanish SIM card with data.
http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Spain

Here is a previous thread about using a Verizon iPhone in Spain with a prepaid SIM card.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/verizon-in-spain.33400/#post-336959

 

[Laina Rose]

Thanks for the info, very helpful!

 

[SYates]

List of albergues open in winter: http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/
Buen Camino! SY

 

[Acogida Invierno]

Albergues open in winter (November 1st 2015 to February 29th 2016)
If you are walking or cycling the Camino francés this winter, between the dates indicated above, you can find completely up-to-date, accurate details of which albergues are open/closed on what days in the following website: www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno
You are requested, however, NOT TO MAKE PHOTOCOPIES of this information and NOT TO COPY/PASTE IT INTO OTHER EMAILS/ DOCUMENTS, as this information is susceptible to very rapid and very frequent changes. The website is updated on a daily basis, since the availability (or not) of accommodation in a given albergue can vary, even from one day to the next, at this time of year.

 

[VNwalking]

Even we early spring walkers will appreciate this link. Thank you.
But...it will not load, saying, basically, 'not found.'
???

 

[Acogida Invierno]

Even we early spring walkers will appreciate this link. Thank you.
But...it will not load, saying, basically, 'not found.'
???

Try trhough google...

 

[VNwalking]

Got it, thanks!

 

[SYates]

The correct link is http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/ somehow the link Acogida Invierno (welcome to the forum btw!) got messed up a bit and points to some place else on the forum. Perhaps Acogida Invierno or a mod can edit the original post to solve that problem? Buen Camino! SY