Best App camino frances

[Doingit]

In a week I will start my camino and am almost ready. What app in your experience is the best for following the route on the Camino Frances from SJPP , list of albergues etc... I saw that ninja highly rated is no longer available

 

[wisepilgrim]

It depends what you are looking for in an app. One that has a list of albergues? They all have that. Accurate maps? The list shrinks a bit. Content you would find in a guidebook? At least one.

The two that are most often mentioned on the forums are Wise Pilgrim and Buen Camino.

 

[trecile]

@wisepilgrim already posted the link for the Wise Pilgrim apps, so here's the link for Buen Camino:

APP del Camino de Santiago Buen Camino 2014 - 2024

Aplicación del Camino de Santiago profesional, con mapas, perfiles, alojamientos, planificador de etapas, a pie o en bici (Btt), en idiomas y actualizada.

www.editorialbuencamino.com

I personally use both of these apps.

 

[dougfitz]

What are your criteria for 'best'? I doubt they are exactly the same as others. That said, I don't rely on one app, preferring to use a general purpose navigation app, OSMAnd+, and complement that with a couple of specialist apps. This year I used Wise Pilgrim and the Gronze app. I also used the Booking.com app on a couple of nights. And in addition, I carry a guidebook, normally one of John Brierley's, but I have used others as well. Once I am close, I might use Google Maps for voice instructions if the place I am staying is a little off-route.

If pushed to choose only one app, Wise Pilgrim would be my preference. It has good off-line mapping, for the CP it covers most of the variant routes for my walk from Valença this year, and covers most accommodation options as far as I could tell. More, it integrates well with WhatsApp. I only used the WhatsApp helper once, but it was a nicely implemented piece of functionality - a nice touch.

 

[lt56ny]

What are your criteria for 'best'? I doubt they are exactly the same as others. That said, I don't rely on one app, preferring to use a general purpose navigation app, OSMAnd+, and complement that with a couple of specialist apps. This year I used Wise Pilgrim and the Gronze app. I also used the Booking.com app on a couple of nights. And in addition, I carry a guidebook, normally one of John Brierley's, but I have used others as well. Once I am close, I might use Google Maps for voice instructions if the place I am staying is a little off-route.

If pushed to choose only one app, Wise Pilgrim would be my preference. It has good off-line mapping, for the CP it covers most of the variant routes for my walk from Valença this year, and covers most accommodation options as far as I could tell. More, it integrates well with WhatsApp. I only used the WhatsApp helper once, but it was a nicely implemented piece of functionality - a nice touch.

We all have our own preferences. I tried to use a navigation app and I failed miserably. If I need navigation i just use the gps on wise pilgrim or buen camino. One great feature that took me years to discover was on the Gronze.com website. When you open to the albergue you are staying under the map that shows the location of the albergue it has a link that says open map which takes you to google maps and guides the technologically and directionally challenged right to your evening resting place. Really great in bigger towns and cities when where you may be staying is not on the camino.

 

[Margogram]

What are your criteria for 'best'? I doubt they are exactly the same as others. That said, I don't rely on one app, preferring to use a general purpose navigation app, OSMAnd+, and complement that with a couple of specialist apps. This year I used Wise Pilgrim and the Gronze app. I also used the Booking.com app on a couple of nights. And in addition, I carry a guidebook, normally one of John Brierley's, but I have used others as well. Once I am close, I might use Google Maps for voice instructions if the place I am staying is a little off-route.

If pushed to choose only one app, Wise Pilgrim would be my preference. It has good off-line mapping, for the CP it covers most of the variant routes for my walk from Valença this year, and covers most accommodation options as far as I could tell. More, it integrates well with WhatsApp. I only used the WhatsApp helper once, but it was a nicely implemented piece of functionality - a nice touch.

Thanks for your information. I have begun to use the Wise Pilgrim app in Canada before I leave and the link to Booking.com doesn't work. Have you had that experience with the app outside of Spain?

 

[ChadEstes]

I just found a new app yesterday thanks to Nancy Reynolds and her podcast "You on the Camino." Though I haven't tried it on the Frances yet it is designed like Camino Ninja which I used last year on the Portuguese (and is no longer available due to the owner's passing). The new app is called Camino Love and I found it in my app store.

 

[Gerard Griffin]

For albergues, gronze.com. For maps, Outdoor Active, which is free and works offline.

 

[dougfitz]

I just found a new app yesterday thanks to Nancy Reynolds and her podcast "You on the Camino." Though I haven't tried it on the Frances yet it is designed like Camino Ninja which I used last year on the Portuguese (and is no longer available due to the owner's passing). The new app is called Camino Love and I found it in my app store.

I saw this and downloaded it, but I'm not sure it has reached the stage of development where I would use it. It might in time. I have checked the CP central route, the Variante Espirituale and CF. It appears the developers have been quite selective, only showing one route where there are complementary routes. Sometimes this was the 'main' route, at others the complementary route.

I know these things take time, and it will be interesting to see how this app moves forward. It's just not mature enough for my liking just yet.

 

[dougfitz]

One great feature that took me years to discover was on the Gronze.com website. When you open to the albergue you are staying under the map that shows the location of the albergue it has a link that says open map which takes you to google maps and guides the technologically and directionally challenged right to your evening resting place. Really great in bigger towns and cities when where you may be staying is not on the camino.

I agree. This is another nice piece of application integration by the developers. As you say, really quite useful.

 

[YogaAnabel]

A friend recommended an app she found. I haven't used it yet but it looks pretty good. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yellowarrowguides.cf.free

 

[trecile]

I just found a new app yesterday thanks to Nancy Reynolds and her podcast "You on the Camino." Though I haven't tried it on the Frances yet it is designed like Camino Ninja which I used last year on the Portuguese (and is no longer available due to the owner's passing). The new app is called Camino Love and I found it in my app store.

I saw this and downloaded it, but I'm not sure it has reached the stage of development where I would use it. It might in time. I have checked the CP central route, the Variante Espirituale and CF. It appears the developers have been quite selective, only showing one route where there are complementary routes. Sometimes this was the 'main' route, at others the complementary route.

I know these things take time, and it will be interesting to see how this app moves forward. It's just not mature enough for my liking just yet.

I have also downloaded it, and it's not (yet?) like Camino Ninja at all in terms of functionality.

 

[Doingit]

What are your criteria for 'best'? I doubt they are exactly the same as others. That said, I don't rely on one app, preferring to use a general purpose navigation app, OSMAnd+, and complement that with a couple of specialist apps. This year I used Wise Pilgrim and the Gronze app. I also used the Booking.com app on a couple of nights. And in addition, I carry a guidebook, normally one of John Brierley's, but I have used others as well. Once I am close, I might use Google Maps for voice instructions if the place I am staying is a little off-route.

If pushed to choose only one app, Wise Pilgrim would be my preference. It has good off-line mapping, for the CP it covers most of the variant routes for my walk from Valença this year, and covers most accommodation options as far as I could tell. More, it integrates well with WhatsApp. I only used the WhatsApp helper once, but it was a nicely implemented piece of functionality - a nice touch.

Thanks. I have downloaded the apps you mention and bringing the book. I was not sure if one had the best maps, comments and albergues all in one! I have to check OSMAnd , do not know this one. Appreciate you taking the time

 

[wisepilgrim]

One great feature that took me years to discover was on the Gronze.com website. When you open to the albergue you are staying under the map that shows the location of the albergue it has a link that says open map which takes you to google maps and guides the technologically and directionally challenged right to your evening resting place.

The Wise Pilgrim app for android did this, but I just tested it (for the first time in a long time) and realize it is not capturing the location correctly. I will fix it in the next update. Apple was a bit trickier and that will be sorted too, probably with a switch from Apple maps to Google maps.

Thanks for your information. I have begun to use the Wise Pilgrim app in Canada before I leave and the link to Booking.com doesn't work. Have you had that experience with the app outside of Spain?

Booking threw me a curve ball. The links have been fixed in the most recent update... which reminds me to remind you that regardless of which app you use always check for updates before you go. And along the way if you have wifi.

 

[lt56ny]

The Wise Pilgrim app for android did this, but I just tested it (for the first time in a long time) and realize it is not capturing the location correctly. I will fix it in the next update. Apple was a bit trickier and that will be sorted too, probably with a switch from Apple maps to Google maps.


Booking threw me a curve ball. The links have been fixed in the most recent update... which reminds me to remind you that regardless of which app you use always check for updates before you go. And along the way if you have wifi.

Thanks for all you do. I have an IPhone. I start my next camino in October and hopefully you will have the bugs worked out for the IPhone. I think it is a good idea to switch from Apple maps to Google maps. I have always found Google maps to be more user friendly for this pilgrim anyway.

 

[wisepilgrim]

The Wise Pilgrim app for android did this, but I just tested it (for the first time in a long time) and realize it is not capturing the location correctly. I will fix it in the next update. Apple was a bit trickier and that will be sorted too, probably with a switch from Apple maps to Google maps.

Replying to my own comment here to say that I restored the navigation feature in the All Caminos app.

So if you are in a big city and want to get turn by turn directions from google/apple maps, just tap on the address bar (which is below the contact information for all accommodations). It is now available. The route specific apps will get updated after the weekend.

Thanks again to everyone for their support, and for these forums where dialog provokes improvement.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Does the Wise Pilgrim app have a stage planner that you can make your own stages with?

 

[trecile]

Does the Wise Pilgrim app have a stage planner that you can make your own stages with?

Not in the same way that the Buen Camino app does.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

Not in the same way that the Buen Camino app does.

Dunno about Buen Camino, but I can say that Wise Pilgrim allows me to faff around with distances and what I am looking for on arrival with quite extensive information -- at least for the major routes. Starting to look like my next walk will start from Monserrat and I don't think WP has a route for that (yet).
But yes, I planned my stages using WP for the Salvador, the Primitivo, the Frances and the Portugues. I start with my circa 25K preferred distance per day and then I adjust according to services along the way as shown in the App.
And then... I always keep in mind that I might do a longer day or a shorter day because I feel great or lousy... and I can adjust my intentions accordingly.
Maybe some day I will try the BC app... but I am so comfortable with WP now, and it has never failed to give me a bit more than I was hoping for...