Best location to rent for a month along Frances

[cassieryle]

My family and I are considering renting for the month of August somewhere along the Frances while we finish our book about the Camino. No walking as husband has a bad injury, but we just want to be around the Camino vibe as we write. We'd like to be somewhere that a car is not necessary, might have reasonable prices for rentals, and that has a Camino vibe. Thanks for any suggestions Non-Frances suggestions welcome as well.

 

[Robo]

So many suggestions. Depends if you want a large town or just a village.

If it was me? Jeez, tough choice. For a month..........
These ones, all for different reasons though.

If you have kids, a larger town maybe.
Looking at great views might not keep them going for a month.

Burgos
Logrono
Pamplona
Castrojeriz
Saint Jean Pied de Port!
Los Arcos
Vianna
Santo Domingo
Astorga
Portomarin
Molinaseca


No. Too tough a choice. Can you provide more idea of what you want in the place you will stay?

 

[Robo]

My family and I are considering renting for the month of August somewhere along the Frances while we finish our book about the Camino. No walking as husband has a bad injury, but we just want to be around the Camino vibe as we write. We'd like to be somewhere that a car is not necessary, might have reasonable prices for rentals, and that has a Camino vibe. Thanks for any suggestions Non-Frances suggestions welcome as well.

What's the book about. The World really needs another Camino Book!

 

[cassieryle]

The book is called 'The Camino Provides: A Curious Guide to the Camino del Norte,' ... in edits now. It's a combo memoir and unconventional guidebook. Can't wait to share it with you all! Next is the Camino Ingles addition (did the walk this past autumn, now need to write it up...

We would love to be in more of a town than a village... big enough that we can eat in different places and have all the amenities, but not a city. DEFINITELY nature... forests and green grass.... We do not want to have to have a car. Thought about St Jean but cannot find anything that is reasonable in price....

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Astorga is ideal. I will send you a contact there, an American expat couple who know details on local rentals. Not much forest right in town, but it's just a walk away.

 

[Shades of Narnia]

So many suggestions. Depends if you want a large town or just a village.

If it was me? Jeez, tough choice. For a month..........
These ones, all for different reasons though.

If you have kids, a larger town maybe.
Looking at great views might not keep them going for a month.

Burgos
Logrono
Pamplona
Castrojeriz
Saint Jean Pied de Port!
Los Arcos
Vianna
Santo Domingo
Astorga
Portomarin
Molinaseca


No. Too tough a choice. Can you provide more idea of what you want in the place you will stay?

All good locations to request for hospitaleros positions too, I note

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

Based on what you describe, I think Rabanal del Camino would be perfect. Small town, easy to get around on foot. A few (at least three) grocery stores, nice restaurants and bars, great place to mingle with pilgrims before they climb the mountain to Cruz de Ferro. Some very nice albergues, including Gualcelmo with the evening vespers. Good luck with your book ! Bob

 

[lt56ny]

I would suggest getting as far west as possible as especially into Galicia where it won’t be as hot. It is August. Why not stick to staying on the Norte on the coast. You know it, obviously. Beautiful towns, scenery, cooler, and in my opinion better food. Just a thought.

 

[Shades of Narnia]

I am partial to Viana, having lived there for 2 weeks as hospitalera.

 

[amancio]

August can be HOT, as in HOT! If you want camino atmosphere, August will be full of people doing the last 100km, so a place near the mountains might be ideal, like Burguete, just 3 miles off Roncesvalles, or if you want to go further west, Cacabelos would be handy because they have a river beach too, it is small enough to move without a car, the Camino atmosphere is there, you find nice bars...

The Norte would be more complicated because it is high season and every place will be busy and expensive.

As Rebekah says above, Astorga could be an interesting place too.

 

[SYates]

Have you thought about Najera?
BC SY

 

[Kiwi-family]

If you’re looking for green grass in August, that is going to limit your options!
If you can forgo the green grass, here’s a different option: when I walked the VdlP with my four youngest we were joined for a couple of weeks by Daddy, Grandpa and an uncle. They were all leaving from Salamanca so we had a few days there in a very inexpensive apartment. We were just one km from the very sizeable centre of town. There was a playground downstairs where everyone gathered each evening until late. Lots of supermarkets and restaurants. We saw pilgrims every day, but of course there is also the student vibe with it being a significant university town.

 

[David Tallan]

Astorga is an excellent choice and with a contact who knows the rental market it is hard to beat. If that somehow doesn't work out, a couple of options that haven't been mentioned to possibly consider are Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo. You mention a family and if kids are involved a castle might be of interest.

 

[lthrnck55]

Astorga is an excellent choice and with a contact who knows the rental market it is hard to beat. If that somehow doesn't work out, a couple of options that haven't been mentioned to possibly consider are Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo. You mention a family and if kids are involved a castle might be of interest.

My wife and I have been considering an extended stay, possibly up to a year, in Spain. Your suggestion of Villafranca del Bierzo caught my eye. Very nice town. Picturesque. Lots of pilgrim activity and history. I had not thought of it until you posted. Thanks.

 

[john newman]

If I went to stay any town on the Camino del Norte it would be Castro Urdiales.

 

[Luka]

There are more towns on the Norte that I would recommend, but certainly not in August...

 

[trecile]

I can imagine living in Samos.

 

[nycwalking]

How about areas just outside of Santiago?

 

[Kanga]

August can be hot, hot, hot. With children I'd consider Finisterre. A sea breeze and beach but still very much a pilgrim place.

 

[Eacinibulk]

I would stay in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It’s not on the Camino Francis, but close. It’s the capital of the Basques. What I loved about this location is that it’s located on a converted rail line (fabulous bike trail) which goes to Estella! It’s a smaller city, but a lot of personality!

 

[Peligro]

Might be too big for what you want but Lugo struck me as both remote and connected at the same time. The Roman walls can't be beat. I think Astorga and Ponferrada are also good ideas.