Any Recommendations for Guide Companies?

[djmartineau]

Hola. I would like to walk the entire Camino Frances next spring, but am getting older (and lazier?) and (i) do not want to carry my own bags, and (ii) want to stay at more comfortable lodgings. I am willing to pay to have someone more knowledgable plan the route and make reservations for us. In a quick google search, there seem to be many tour companies, and they seem to all offer the same services. I would appreciate any recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.
Gracias, Dan

 

[Mike Trebert]

I used Macs Adventure of Glasgow for my full Camino Frances. They organised all accommodation and baggage transfers. They farmed the whole package out (I found out later) to a Spanish company called Tee Travel. Service was flawless. Customer support was first rate. You could contact Tee Travel direct and maybe save a few bucks. The only drawback to booking all accom. in advance is you are locked into all dates regardless of weather or soreness/injury/tiredness. I suggest that you include a day off for every 7 walking days.

Buen Camino, - Mike

 

[giorgio]

The amount of information available about accomodations along the Camino , in my opinion , doesn't require a rigid and fix prebooking of all the itinerary ,have a look here
http://www.gronze.com/camino-frances
it's in spanish but as you will see it's pretty much straight forward.
You can book a couple of places for your first stages at the beginning, then continue booking two/three days in advance .
most of the places can speak englis or you can ask somebody to call on your behalf.
Bag transport can be arranged either for the whole trip or on daily basis ( slightly more expensive ) with any of the companies operating along the camino. I used the Spanish Mail service
http://www.correos.es/ss/Satellite/..._paqueteria/detalle_de_producto-sidioma=en_GB
Anything else you need just write
Giorgio

 

[DanielH]

Hola. I would like to walk the entire Camino Frances next spring, but am getting older (and lazier?) and (i) do not want to carry my own bags, and (ii) want to stay at more comfortable lodgings. I am willing to pay to have someone more knowledgable plan the route and make reservations for us. In a quick google search, there seem to be many tour companies, and they seem to all offer the same services. I would appreciate any recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.
Gracias, Dan

Unsure of what to expect, I used Camino Ways the first year from St. Jean to Burgos. They planned stops along the Camino (with my input) and additional rest days. They also made arrangements at more comfortable lodgings/hotels and arranged for my luggage transport. Camino Ways offer Camino Frances tours by stages or the entire Camino. Their website is quite informative and has great descriptions of each stage, mileage and costs. It is more expensive but definitely hassle free and would highly recommend them if that's the experience you are looking for. Keep in mind, that pre-booking means you have a set schedule and destination to get to everyday so you lose some flexibility. This past October, I decided that I wanted to wing it so I didn't use Camino Ways. It worked out just as well and I never pre-booked ahead of time. The experience was different and less private, but still enjoyable.

 

[Botaivica]

Hola. I would like to walk the entire Camino Frances next spring, but am getting older (and lazier?) and (i) do not want to carry my own bags, and (ii) want to stay at more comfortable lodgings. I am willing to pay to have someone more knowledgable plan the route and make reservations for us. In a quick google search, there seem to be many tour companies, and they seem to all offer the same services. I would appreciate any recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.
Gracias, Dan

Hi djmartineau

I must say I do not understand people who used the agency for pilgrimage.

Several reasons, you have to walk how agency says, take a day off where agency says, sleep where agency says and all of that pay a minimum of 25% more than you do yourself. Many pilgrims could not walk day length that are planned in the agency so they took a taxi.

Check agency Macs Adventure of Glasgow, @Mike writes about her, and see how long their CF Way. They put a smaller length, because they do not count lenght in towns and villages.

I'm pilgrimage this year, I had the time (some like you) and I planned my route alone. Use of the Internet and you will get information that you need. Here is my plan of CF Way:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...e-plan-for-my-first-camino.39193/#post-394584

If you need any information, for planning you Way, just ask

Bota

 

[FLEUR]

We didn't use a tour company but we did meet a leader and her group from Camino ways last September, walking from Sarria to Santiago. Everything appeared to be well organised.We met the leader one day waiting for a slower walker, the rest of the group walked ahead.

Many if us don't need this facility but for anyone not confident enough to go it alone, then why not.

 

[movinmaggie]

The tour companies must love this forum......

 

[C clearly]

The tour companies must love this forum......

I wouldn't think so. Here on the forum, more people advocate independent walking than going with an agency.

We trade information on many products and services - from socks to sunscreen to tour companies! If the companies are reading the forum, they can learn how to improve their services, which is a good thing. If they or their customers start making unreasonable claims or posting advertising, I am sure we will quickly put them in their places!

 

[Tincatinker]

The tour companies must love this forum......

I too doubt that Maggie. Members seem to put a lot of effort in to explaining why anyone who wants to walk the most popular, easiest and most 'supported' long-distance hike on the entire planet doesn't need to bung a few extra hundred €'s to someone with a mobile phone and a little local knowledge. It isn't like hiring a boat-man and boy for the Orinoco or a Royal Guide, Mule wrangler; Cook and boy from Imlil to do the high Atlas. It's definitely not Everest for those with too much wealth and not enough sense. It isn't East Berlin with extras like you could buy a few years ago. The Camino Frances is just an easy stroll through populated country with the odd muddy bit to make the boots looked lived in.

I can understand why someone old and lazy (to paraphrase the OP) might want to buy an instant Camino but the reason that all the guides appear to offer the same thing for the same price is that the camino is just the camino and the price is the price.

I'm sure that if @djmartineau spends a little time doing some research on this forum they will come to understand that the camino is easily followed by any pilgrim. That your choice of accommodation is readily available and that transport for your pack is also readily available if you require it. The best guide to the camino is your own heart.

 

[movinmaggie]

I have a deep appreciation for the lengths forum members go to, to assist new pilgrims in deciding on a tour-planned Camino....or not and I have been one of them. There's no judgement here at all. I can also appreciate that some folks will opt for assistance and rightfully so; it's their need and their choice. It was meant as a 'tongue in cheek' comment, having been in advertising & marketing communications for years - perhaps too long

 

[C clearly]

It was meant as a 'tongue in cheek' comment

I wasn't 100% sure (that's where winks are handy! ) partly because I know your feelings on commercial messages on the forum!

 

[Rod Murray]

Hola. I would like to walk the entire Camino Frances next spring, but am getting older (and lazier?) and (i) do not want to carry my own bags, and (ii) want to stay at more comfortable lodgings. I am willing to pay to have someone more knowledgable plan the route and make reservations for us. In a quick google search, there seem to be many tour companies, and they seem to all offer the same services. I would appreciate any recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.
Gracias, Dan

We walked from Ponferrada to Santiago (210km) on a self guided walk booked through CaminoWays last June 2016. The accommodation booked for us was always good, based on availability, of course, from what we would consider 2 star up to 4 star. It was our first Camino and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, if I were to go back I may want to be more independent, to have a deeper "pilgrim experience." Walking 15-25 km per day worked just fine for us (we are 60ish) and we added a rest day in the middle. In the first week we booked the Standard level of hotels and they were great, most in towns and villages, located right on the Camino. We met up with friends half way, in Sarria, and as a group of 8, we upgraded to CaminoWays "Country Cottages" which allowed all of us to stay together. Some of these were outside of town, some in, and some of these seemed like 5 star country retreats! Meals were always excellent. Being outside of the towns had its advantages and disadvantages. As I said, we were all together but often missed the "vibe" of the towns when we stopped overnight. We upgraded to the Parador in Santiago for our last night (not my choice), which was a unique experience! Nice way to end. Caminoways was an excellent outfit with great communication and support. Our bags were delivered to our next place without any issues. I highly recommend them for the type of Camino that you are seeking. See my official review at: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUser..._Compostela_Province_of_A_Coruna_Galicia.html

 

[natefaith]

Welcome to the Forum @djmartineau! We've heard good things about Marly Camino: http://marlycamino.com/. If you scroll down you'll see that they have a self-guided itinerary from Roncesvalles, but they have luggage transfer each day and they'll book your accommodations for you: http://marlycamino.com/camino/epic-adventure-2/.

 

[Bernice M]

'recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.'

I'm 62 and walked Frances last year, joining at Puenta La Reina from the Aragones. You really don't need a tour company. You can always find more upmarket accommodation, and places will phone forward for you. I stayed in hotels about once a week. I used a baggage transport company for the last 400km, after falling in the shower and hurting my back. I recommend Correos (post office), which had an easy to use online service. Just login by 9pm the night before the pickup. They're also the cheapest, ~6 euros. The route is exceptionally well waymarked. If you want a guide, I'd use Miam Miam Dodo. It's in French, but it's mostly symbols, so understandable to all.

 

[VNwalking]

I'm with everyone who says to consider doing your own arrangements. It's not that hard.

That said...My first camino was with a friend who had booked with Rayo Travel in Canada, because we were scared and really didn't know better. Highly recommended--they were fantastic and arranged everything: CRs, bag transfer train tickets. The works. And it was 'self-guided': we walked when we wanted, by ourselves, rather than with a group of people in a tour. Basically what Rayo did was all the bookings--and we got a custom-made guide on a memory stick.
But (of course) it was much more expensive than if you do it yourself.
Since then I've let go of the training wheels and done my own logistics, seeing for myself how easy it is.
(Edit: Besides, the openings to freedom of heart, spontaneity, and simplicity that come from carrying what little you need on your back and allowing the way to reveal itself under your feet can never be experienced with a pre-booked bag-transfer walk...which is no small consideration for many.)

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Djmatineau, with such an atavar you must live in the Belle Province. There is a shop in Verdun that specialises in the Camino: supplies as well as seminar of all sorts, from how to pack to yoga for the Camino. It organises group tours, which is different from having a walk organised.

In my opinion planning one's Camino is half of the fun, and none of the pain, so I tend to look at the premium charged by organisers as a double con: out of your € and of your planning fun. Plus walking with spontaneity.

But if you feel that is the only way you can do this, then look into Centre La Tienda.

My advice: buy a couple of guide books, access the Eroski/Camino site as well as the Gronze site, pull out Excel and plan your own way. So much fun or cold, rainy, humid and dark days as we are now getting.

And when in doubt, come back here for more info!

 

[Trude]

Hola. I would like to walk the entire Camino Frances next spring, but am getting older (and lazier?) and (i) do not want to carry my own bags, and (ii) want to stay at more comfortable lodgings. I am willing to pay to have someone more knowledgable plan the route and make reservations for us. In a quick google search, there seem to be many tour companies, and they seem to all offer the same services. I would appreciate any recommendations - both for or against - tour companies that provide these services.
Gracias, Dan

I met a couple of people who had used Gary Budin from Spanish Adventures and they were very happy with his package. He is an Australian living in Santiago De Compestella.

 

[CaptNoglos]

I too doubt that Maggie. Members seem to put a lot of effort in to explaining why anyone who wants to walk the most popular, easiest and most 'supported' long-distance hike on the entire planet doesn't need to bung a few extra hundred €'s to someone with a mobile phone and a little local knowledge. It isn't like hiring a boat-man and boy for the Orinoco or a Royal Guide, Mule wrangler; Cook and boy from Imlil to do the high Atlas. It's definitely not Everest for those with too much wealth and not enough sense. It isn't East Berlin with extras like you could buy a few years ago. The Camino Frances is just an easy stroll through populated country with the odd muddy bit to make the boots looked lived in.

I can understand why someone old and lazy (to paraphrase the OP) might want to buy an instant Camino but the reason that all the guides appear to offer the same thing for the same price is that the camino is just the camino and the price is the price.

I'm sure that if @djmartineau spends a little time doing some research on this forum they will come to understand that the camino is easily followed by any pilgrim. That your choice of accommodation is readily available and that transport for your pack is also readily available if you require it. The best guide to the camino is your own heart.

I believe it comes down to choices and timing. Some don't have the time to plan it, even if they only want to book a few stops along the way, so for a company to sort out accommodation etc could be quite useful and encourage more to do the walk. Others are seriously restricted on the time they can actually take to do it. Not sure I would support a view that it is only the old and lazy who might want to be an instant Camino. You are as old as you feel, and as lazy as you feel. I would not think anyone doing the Camino is lazy, it's quite a challenge in it's own right (to walk day after day, after day etc etc), no matter how long you take. If you have arranged pre-booked accommodation, then it is probably a lot more challenging, simply because you have previously arranged a timetable. All should be encouraged to use whatever method they feel most comfortable with. Have I taken the bait here? Responding to a challenging post!!