Communication

[Joei]

How good is cell phone reception on the camino frances? If not fluent in spanish how difficult to make hostel reservations while on the camino?

 

[Davey Boyd]

Welcome to the forum Joey!

Cellphone reception on the Camino Frances is excellent with free wifi in most albergues and most cafes on route. As for reservations the hospitalero's in the albergues you stay in are often happy to help you book the next night for you.

Buen Camino
Davey

 

[dougfitz]

Reception is better near major roads and towns, but don't expect any one carrier to have universally good reception along the whole of the CF. Equally, don't expect to find hostel staff fluent in English everywhere. Some have good English, many have some English but don't be surprised if you find someone who doesn't feel comfortable speaking English.

 

[lbpierce]

I have found Movistar to have excellent reception on the Camino Frances. I don't know about the other providers.

 

[peregrina2000]

I've always used movistar, except for this year when I went to vodaphone. Movistar has much better coverage, I not infrequently found I had no service on Vodaphone while my movistar friends did. Not a huge problem, but it was a minor inconvenience. There were two reasons why I switched -- one was that my pal Annie had already bought the vodaphone sim card and if we both had vodaphone we could call each other for free, and the other was that I have generally found that movistar employees are unhelpful and cranky. When I went to buy my vodaphone card in Sant Carles de la Rápita, I was stunned at how friendly she was. And again, at the vodaphone in León when I needed some help, the staff was extremely friendly. That has not been my experience over the years with Movistar, so I guess you have to choose between good coverage and good service.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Vodafone has excellent service, but it does not reciprocate with Vodafone in other European countries (except Portugal, I think). Movistar operates only in Spain and Latin American countries where it has acquired BellSouth. I have found English spoken in virtually all Vodafone stores. They also have counters in the El Corte Ingles stores. I have always had a signal except in the most remote terrain.

 

[Felipe]

If you are starting in Le Puy, or somewhere in France...
I bought a card with SFR company; it was good for reservations and also to have some peace of mind, because I walked a rather lonely Chemin.
It also worked well in Spain. I suppose it was more expensive than a local card, but as I used it only sporadically to reserve albergues, it was good and practical. I arrived at Compostela with a recharge that I have made in a "tabac" shop in Saint Jean.

 

[mcopeland]

I arrived at Compostela with a recharge that I have made in a "tabac" shop in Saint Jean.

Yes. You will find tabac stores for recharging most any plan in most cities (but not villages). You will find Vodaphone stores only in the very large cities. Vodaphone mostly served us well for reserving. I learned a few phrases in Spanish which got me a reservation.

 

[Felipe]

Yes. You will find tabac stores for recharging most any plan in most cities (but not villages).

Yep. But the procedure is somewhat complicated. The lady in the "tabac" store (I was in SJPP) kindly helped me, and she spent almost three minutes struggling with the system. I can't imagine how could I have done it, especially when I receive instructions in a language that I only half understand. Better to ask for help where you buy your recharging, if possible.

 

[mcopeland]

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear. It wasn't complicated at all nor was it self-serve at the tabac. Even though you can re-charge on the phone or online my Spanish is not good enough for that. We re-charged at several different tabac stores - they take all the different systems. It was very fast, and even when she didn't understand English we were able to communicate in my poor Spanish or just holding out the phone and saying, "Vodaphone." Most people can get away with just 10 Euros to start when you buy the sim, but we wound up making more calls than we anticipated due to injuries and booking ahead and daily calls to Correos.