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His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
I wouldn't want to pre-book everything, because you won't really know how far you can walk each day until you start.
Where are you planning to start? You wouldn't be able to walk from Irun to Santiago in 3 weeks.
The Wise Pilgrim app for the Norte and Primitivo is great for planning.
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
My first Camino was by invitation of an amazing friend who had pre-planned everything, including luggage transfers and hotels or pensions. I will say it was different; it felt more like a vacation and less like a pilgrimage.But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Hi, LesBrass,
Knowing that you love walking on the coast (at least till that infection took you down), you should take a look at this thread with a lot of coastal alternatives to the pavement on the Norte. There is a lot of the Norte along the national highway and you are frequently less than 2 km from the ocean and some fabulous coastal paths.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/
Some of those alternatives may make the standard "stages" a little long but especially since you are not sticking with albergues there are lots of ways to divide them. I was glad I had a GPS because it is not always obvious where the turnoffs are from the Camino to the coastal path and back again. Once you are on the coast, it's pretty obvious which way to go of course.
Buen camino, Laurie
My first Camino was by invitation of an amazing friend who had pre-planned everything, including luggage transfers and hotels or pensions. I will say it was different; it felt more like a vacation and less like a pilgrimage.
Of course it was much more comfortable. But. As you mention, it lacked the spontaneity that can be so freeing. And because of the luggage transfer, there was no need to shed unnecessary stuff. As far as the social aspect was concerned, unless there were fellow pilgrims who were staying in the same hotel, then the evenings were much more solitary - we were more in our own 'bubble' once we got to where we were going. That part was (for me) also a loss .
The enhanced part? Well...privacy. And sleep. And no plastic bag rustlers at stupid hours of the morning.
That sounds like the perfect compromise. And I wouldn't worry too much about becoming spoiled. You may be different, but the more I stay in albergues, the less inclined I am to stay in hotels, especially posh ones; the luxury feels unnecessary and over the top. From time to time solitude is nice for a change, but I like simple so much better. So once you're on the Primativo, the albergue routine may just feel like slipping on a comfortable old shoe.I do love walking with him and I am looking forward to this camino... it looks so beautiful. And I will be setting off alone after 3 weeks and I guess I can step back into the pilgrim life on the Primitivo? Lets hope those hotels don't spoil me too much...
So once you're on the Primativo, the albergue routine may just feel like slipping on a comfortable old shoe.
Wow, well, I guess that's one way to have a permanent reminder of a coastal walk.Thanks for this Laurie - I've just read you blog too and made lots of notes. Gerry hates walking on tarmac so I think we'll make the most of these alternatives. And I'll try to stay on my feet this time... I have a very nice Rota scar on my knee now as a permanent reminder of that other amazing coastal walk
View attachment 37829
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
We have booked one or two days ahead, carrying a list of accommodation and phone numbers compiled from Gronze and Booking.com. With the latter we looked then for accommodations own websites for their numbers.This is my worry a little too. I love the freedom of just deciding that morning, or later in the day... just deciding where we want to stay... this is how I usually walk but he feels happier knowing that it's all sorted. The few times that he has joined me on camino he does get a little 'itchy' when we haven't got a bed at the first place
We're planning on reaching Llanes/Cuerres... at this point we will either both get the bus back to France or I will continue alone on the Primitivo. We're starting on 23 September and I have until the 31st October but my husband only has three weeks.
We walked the Norte and Primitivo in 2015 and 2016, staying in hotels or similar accommodations when we had the chance. We walk shorter distances, so would stay in an albergue when there was no other option. We did enjoy the chance to meet other pilgrims when we did that, but also enjoyed the private options. The first albergue we stopped at was Pasajes de San Juan, before San Sebastian. Nice hosts, facility and pilgrims, some of whom we saw for weeks later. Güermes albergue, a day before Santander , is unique and you should not miss it.My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
Ah,yes, scars. Got a bunch of them. However, they are much better than tats, as they always have a better story behind them, and that story usually starts out...There I was and....Thanks for this Laurie - I've just read you blog too and made lots of notes. Gerry hates walking on tarmac so I think we'll make the most of these alternatives. And I'll try to stay on my feet this time... I have a very nice Rota scar on my knee now as a permanent reminder of that other amazing coastal walk
View attachment 37829
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
We walked the Portuguese CaminoMy husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
Did you enjoy the Camino from Ribadeo? I got there last. Sept and hope to complete el Camino del Norte in 2018. As I said before its great to have posts about el Norte on this website xxI see you have gotten a lot of replies & advice, so I will add just a little more. I started the Norte from Bilbao the second week of September, 2016, for 5 weeks. I was solo, I try to walk around 20K per day, & I only stay in private rooms. If you get the Buen Camino App you can download the maps & then follow the route without need for cell or data service. The only time I had trouble getting a private room was on a weekend in one of the bigger coastal touristy towns - from then on I booked ahead for the weekend. I did stay at the albergue in Guemes with Father Ernesto but I was able to get a private room that is usually saved for the volunteers but was available that night & I only had to walk across the drive to the bathrooms - it was an amazing place! I found that there were usually at least a couple of other pilgrims staying in the same hotel where I was. Some of the stages did end up being a little longer than the guide had indicated but were doable if you stop & rest. After a couple of weeks of a lot of road walking I decided to change my plan - I skipped around the bigger cities so I could stay mostly on the coast & when I reached Ribadeo and the route turned inland I skipped ahead to Baamonde (still enough distance in to get my compostela) & when I got to Santiago I had enough time to walk on to Finesterre. The Norte is amazing! Buen Camino
I went on the Norte for the coast so when the route turned inland at Ribadeo I bussed from there to Vilalba and walked into Santiago from there. I did enjoy it until Arzua where it became the rowdy crowd of the Frances. If you didn't go to Catedral Beach at low tide while you were in Ribadeo last time, don't miss it when you go back!Did you enjoy the Camino from Ribadeo? I got there last. Sept and hope to complete el Camino del Norte in 2018. As I said before its great to have posts about el Norte on this website xx
I am thinking about the Via de la Plata in April, 2018. I too am older & stay in hotels and walk shorter stages - ~20K. If you walk shorter stages, do you have an idea of an itinerary with shorter stages with hotel accommodations available? Thanks for any info.I did el Camino Frances only staying in the hotels. I did not have the feeling that I missed out anything. I met other pilgrims in the restaurants or bars and mainly during the walk.
I am planing my walk in March la Via de la Plata and I plan to stay only in hotels. I am older and I need a bit of comfort
My husband wants to walk the Camino Norte next year for his special birthdayHe loves the northern coast and he enjoys walking more and more and I love walking with him...so I am very happy with this choice.
His preference is to plan the stages and book hotels... he's not a fan of albergues and he would prefer to walk around 20 - 25km a day. I've been looking at wikilocs gps tracks, making notes from @Magwood's blog and I have I think a reasonable plan for 3 weeks.
But I've never walked a camino and only stayed in hotels... has anyone else? If so, did you ever feel that you missed out? Or did it simply enhance your camino?
Also are there any albergues, convents or monasteries that we should not miss?
many thanks in advance
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