Cheapest way to walk the last stage

[Zachary O'Neill]

Right so my dad is set on walking the Camino, and I suggested the best thing to do was walk the last stage of the Camino Frances. I have found even this to be rather expensive as I'm not too sure on booking independently from the tour operators. I would book independently but I don't know how to book hostels along the way or guarantee a room for the night.

Any help would be appreciated on the booking process thanks , Zachary

 

[SabsP]

Right so my dad is set on walking the Camino, and I suggested the best thing to do was walk the last stage of the Camino Frances. I have found even this to be rather expensive as I'm not too sure on booking independently from the tour operators. I would book independently but I don't know how to book hostels along the way or guarantee a room for the night.

Any help would be appreciated on the booking process thanks , Zachary

Hi and welcome,

By " last stage " : Do you mean from Sarria on? If so , very doable to arrange your public trasport from any major Spanish airport.
If you give us an idea about your maximum daily possible kilometres then we could give your some more detailed information.
Of course planning your daily stages beforehand means you have to stick to that daily itinary. But on the other hand if it gives you comfort then by all means book. Booking.com and mailing the pensiones and hotels are possibilities.

Happy prepping.

 

[HeidiL]

He's thinking about walking from Sarria? Using a tour operator is not at all necessary.

There are plenty of cheap places to stay, even if you want to pre-book beds - here's a place for €8 per night in Sarriajust search for "albergue" and the name of the place: http://www.alberguesdelcamino.com/en/sarria/albergue-monasterio-de-la-magdalena.

Use http://www.godesalco.com/plan/frances to plan daily distances.

 

[mspath]

This on line guide in Spanish by Gronze. com lists the majority of accommodation by location west from Sarria.
http://www.gronze.com/etapa/sarria/portomarin

Pilgrim albergues are cited in brown ink and regular tourist places in black. Links to Booking.com are also provided.

Happy planning, Happy New Year and Buen camino!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Yes, please define last stage as for most people last stage means 1 day of walking into Santiago. Also, on which route? Frances, Ingles, Ourense?

There is no need to give any money to tour operators. Buy a guide book like Brierley's, and call the albergues the afternoon before to get a bed for the next day. Other than the municipal/Xunta, and paroquial albergues most allow you to book ahead. This being said, they like you to arrive by 4 pm or they will give your bed away. If you think you will arrive after 4 pm, give them a call with an ETA.

 

[Felipe]

You don't mention when you intend to walk. Besides the "high season" (roughly, May-August) you can reserve the same day, by phone.
There is a good albergue guide in this same forum; go to main page and look at "resources".
You don't really need tour operators; they are awfully expensive. You can choose public albergues (very unexpensive), private ones (10-12 euros) or, if you like, hostals.
Some albergues offer private rooms, too.
Buen camino!

 

[C clearly]

Right so my dad is set on walking the Camino, and I suggested the best thing to do was walk the last stage of the Camino Frances. I have found even this to be rather expensive as I'm not too sure on booking independently from the tour operators. I would book independently but I don't know how to book hostels along the way or guarantee a room for the night.

Any help would be appreciated on the booking process thanks , Zachary

As others have said, the word "stage" more typically means a 1-day distance, which is why people are asking if you really mean the section from Sarria to Santiago (more like 5 or 6 days or stages). That is a very common choice because it is the minimum distance to qualify for a compostela from the cathedral in Santiago.

The title of your thread asked for the cheapest way. That would be to stay in the Xunta albergues (run by the government of Galicia), which cost only about 6 Euros per night, but they cannot be reserved in advance. There are many albergues for 10-12 Euros, some of which can be reserved. Many of them can be found on hotel booking websites such as booking.com or hotels.com.

Does you father really want everything booked in advance? Most people walk with no reservations. There is no need to book well in advance unless (maybe) he is walking in May-October AND really wants the security of knowing he has a reservation. If he has a smart phone, it is very easy to make a decision and a booking a day in advance. Certainly a tour operator is not needed.

 

[Mark Lee]

I'm assuming you mean Sarria to Santiago when you refer to the last stage.
No...no...no, to tour operators. No way, no how would you need one.
If concerned about places to stay, just plan the route to the day, and pre-book at private albergues. Even a private albergue is way cheaper than a hotel or pensiones, and not that much more expensive than a municipal albergue.

 

[HedaP]

Good on you Zachary for finding this website and for helping your Dad. You've done the right thing because there are many very knowledgable members able to point you in the right direction. I'd like to wish your Dad a buen camino and you too if you are walking with him.