Spiritual Lady
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- I have walked half the French in 2014 and would like to walk the whole this year, 2020.
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Wise words as usual.I think Tincatinker is close but in these post-Covid times I would plan on more if I was going this year. Supply and demand will determine what albergues and restuarants are charging.
Very well spoken.Wise words as usual.
If I may add, I would like to suggest that if we can afford it, regardless of the cost, this time, we provide an extra amount to that asked, in the hope of keeping our Camino providers providing for those that follow us.
While I can understand a desire to self-cater on camino I'm not convinced that it is the budget option. An Albergue bed, a menu del dia, never the menu peregrino, and a glass or two and a tapas in the evening could be achieved on sub €30 a day. My inclinations to more than the occasional drink or up-market dining pushed my budget upwards. The future? Oh if we only knew what the future will bring.
Like the answers before: it depends.How many euros will I need on a daily basis for food and staying in the albergues? I am going self catering.
Only in Spain. In France, it is far more important to consider feeding yourself with market/supermarket provender. (Italy is weird)An Albergue bed, a menu del dia, never the menu peregrino, and a glass or two and a tapas in the evening could be achieved on sub €30 a day.
I am impressed with your budget but as a “budget” pilgrim myself how did you do it? Days that I stayed in donativos with communal dinners I can see it. But I can come in at about 25 with a municipal and shopping at night for dinner and lunch the next day. If there is no breakfast at the albergue a coffee and tortilla in the morning and another coffee or snack during the day gets me to 25 or so. Would love to know the secrets of your budgetary magic! I do eat a lot on Camino ha ha.Like the answers before: it depends.
I did my CF in 2019 for the average of ~22€ per day incl. Albergue, drinks and most of the time the pilgrim's menue. If you will do self catering, you can go with 15€ per day. Did self-catering or cooking in larger pilgrims group three times. Stayed in Donativos 2 times and in municipal Albergues also 2 times.
Personally I think, post-pandemic it will be a little more expensive, maybe 20-22€ per day if you do self-catering. Be aware that not all Albergue will have a kitchen.
My budget for the CP-coastal in fall will be ~30€ per day. I hope that this will be sufficent to walk in that time.
BC
Roland
That's easy: 8-10€ per day for the Albergue, ~8-10€ for the pilgrims menue, 1-3€ for breakfast or some fruits (bananas, apples) from a discounter. My part for the shared meals: 3€ + work (I do cook a lot at home). Some days (3) only breakfast, nothing more. Water for free. I've lost 7kg weight on my CF and it felt very comfortable.I am impressed with your budget but as a “budget” pilgrim myself how did you do it? Days that I stayed in donativos with communal dinners I can see it. But I can come in at about 25 with a municipal and shopping at night for dinner and lunch the next day. If there is no breakfast at the albergue a coffee and tortilla in the morning and another coffee or snack during the day gets me to 25 or so. Would love to know the secrets of your budgetary magic! I do eat a lot on Camino ha ha.
That's easy: 8-10€ per day for the Albergue, ~8-10€ for the pilgrims menue, 1-3€ for breakfast or some fruits (bananas, apples) from a discounter. My part for the shared meals: 3€ + work (I do cook a lot at home). Some days (3) only breakfast, nothing more. Water for free. I've lost 7kg weight on my CF and it felt very comfortable.
In the Donativos / Municipals it was 5€ for the night, they weren't well maintained or very "rural" nor did anyone show up after the check-in. In Grañon I gave 12€.
In total there were a few days with expenses higher than 25€ but most were ~20€.
My goal was not to spend more than 20€ per day, but I missed it.
As far as I'm informed, the Galician Municipals are now 10-12€ per night and most private Albergues are 12-15€. Not a chance for a super-cheapo-CF anymorebut worth every Penny!
BC
Roland
Donativos should not be considered cheaper. If anything, I try to pay a little more to make up for the people who think they are "free".
That is antithetical to the whole idea of them.I think the should say donativo albergue (Minimum 10 €)
When I walk the Norte, and la Plata some of the donativo were asking the minimum 10€ simply to covert there fees.That is antithetical to the whole idea of them.
I do not advise anyone to be penniless on the Camino, but €300/month not including food is not in everyone's means.
Your suggestion would force all of the poorer pilgrims into sleeping outdoors in misery, as you comforted yourself snug on your soft pillow. That is not the Way.
Very sound advice. We can only hope that for those of us who are fully vaccinated, restrictions will be removed. If not, what is the point of vaccination? It is done in order to stop the spread, and it seems to be working nicely. But I, for one, will have extra funds available for the unexpected.I think this year, every pilgrim needs to factor in having a back up fund.
It is quite possible that a 3rd wave (maybe the Indian variant now sweeping across the UK) will happen, and then borders may close again, countries may be put on the red list meaning hotel quarantine at one's own expense on return. And if you test positive at any point before your return flight you'll have to be able to fund yourself in quarantine in Spain or Portugal. And pay for another flight home.
Although we in the UK thought we were now allowed to travel to Spain and France (on the amber list) as long as we were prepared to self isolate for 10 days on return, we are now being told that we should only be travelling to these countries for urgent and essential reasons - not holidays. (Or Caminos.) And that anyone travelling should have a back up fund of at least £3000 to cover us should we have to quarantine at our own expense, pay for additional flights, medical costs, further tests, etc.
Travel insurance is an essential component of any trip, but now is really quite costly if Covid cover is included.
And even if the situation is stable when you fly over and start your Camino - well, things can change very quickly, and in the 4-6 weeks you are on the Camino the world could turn topsy-turvy again.
As an example, last year I flew to Poland with my daughter to discover shortly after we arrived that Poland was likely to go on the banned list within 36 hours. So my daughter flew back home the following morning as she could not take the time off work to self isolate for 14 days. This change in rules didn't really affect me so I stayed there, but I did have to spend 14 days alone when I got home, not even allowed out of my garden gate to walk in the fields and woods near my house.
Frankly, much as we all want to get back to the Camino, I think we still need to have much caution - and some back up money, just in case.
Hmm. Not my experience in 12 years on the Caminos. Bedbugs are transported from one place to another by pilgrims, not hospitaleros. I think they are doing their very best when hit with this unwelcomed visit. One of the best places on the CF is the donativo in the bell tower in Granon. There are many other good donativo places all over the place, so to speak. Never saw a bedbug.Last time i stayed at a donativo the water shut off in the middle of the night (imagine toilets) and we all woke up to a bed bug scare. A sweet young perigrina (who was on a bottom bunk) was crying hysterically.
Now, I will never stay at a donativo again.
Not saying its all of them... but... well... you get what you pay for, mostly, IMO.
Note: The hospitaleros obviously enjoyed their positions of power and were eeking it out until obviously that place needed to be shut down.
Yah, no. They knew they had a problem and they let people in.I think they are doing their very best when hit with this unwelcomed visit.
Unfortunately no one can say yet what future costs will be. There will undoubtedly be extra costs involved for albergues and hostels if they try to improve standards in terms of social distancing and hygiene. Add in the fact that some albergues will not be re-opening after experiencing some large losses. There will be some profiteering due to reduced availability ( albergue owners are human and have been struggling). As for self-catering, many do not/did not. Going forward the difficulties of providing self-catering within the new rules mean many will remove the facilities.How many euros will I need on a daily basis for food and staying in the albergues? I am going self catering.
But I, for one, will have extra funds available for the unexpected.
A friend of mine walked part of El Norte last year, starting on 3rd October 2020 from Villaviciosa near Gijón. He said that almost all albergues he stayed in had the kitchen closed off as part of COVID-19 measures.Tincatcher pointed out cooking facilities. So public albergues don't compete with the few eating establishments, many no longer have pots, pans and plates. Be prepared ! You will need everything to prepare meals and contents and time. I too think 30 Euros is low. Donativos rely on real donation to cover costs, be grateful not cheap, help all pilgrims by showing generosity.
I know the experience you have relayed would sour anyone but that is just one donative. There are wonderfully clean donativos.Last time i stayed at a donativo the water shut off in the middle of the night (imagine toilets) and we all woke up to a bed bug scare. A sweet young perigrina (who was on a bottom bunk) was crying hysterically.
Now, I will never stay at a donativo again.
Not saying its all of them... but... well... you get what you pay for, mostly, IMO.
Note: The hospitaleros obviously enjoyed their positions of power and were eeking it out until obviously that place needed to be shut down.
I thought (from what I've been reading, not from personal experience) that in France most pilgrims stay in gites and most gites are demi pension, providing much of the needed daily food. Not so much a menu del dia or menu peregrino but shared meals in the hostel. Is that not the case?Only in Spain. In France, it is far more important to consider feeding yourself with market/supermarket provender. (Italy is weird)
Totally agree. Ok here is what I was getting at and I know its controversial. All based on personal experience. I believe this discussion is entirely relevant to any budgetary considerations.Bed bugs are a problem everywhere.
As I believe Tinker mentioned there have been many conversations about Donativos and what is the right amount to donate etc. I think your description of private and municipal albergues are generally correct I will say using your words exceptiomsTotally agree. Ok here is what I was getting at and I know its controversial. All based on personal experience. I believe this discussion is entirely relevant to any budgetary considerations.
1) Privados made an investment in their Camino experience, maybe with their livelihoods, often because, I think, the privado people have walked the camino and fell in love with it. And they want to make it their life. They know, being business people, they have to supply a sound user experience to get positive reviews and keep the dream alive. These people want to be here next year. They also regularly offer cool stuff like communal dinners.
2) Municipals - well, these are almost always really clean and I think they offer a great value and a great opportunity for meeting people. They can't get away with lax vermin routines... at least that is my impression.
3) Donativos - these ones know they got you because they aren't charging any money (yeah right). They offer minimal comforts and sometimes a nice meal with the other peregrinos. Very often, however, this meal is accompanied by some kind of "speech" about contributing, and about the "spirit" of the camino, but often this is intermingled with the personal indulgences of the hospitalero.
Always exceptions, no doubt.
Only on the Le Puy route, which I have never walked, is that the norm. But I was speaking of France vs. Spain generally, not the Le Puy compared to the Francès specifically.I thought (from what I've been reading, not from personal experience) that in France most pilgrims stay in gites and most gites are demi pension, providing much of the needed daily food. Not so much a menu del dia or menu peregrino but shared meals in the hostel. Is that not the case?
Good to know. Most of what I have come across has been about the Le Puy route.Only on the Le Puy route, which I have never walked, is that the norm. But I was speaking of France vs. Spain generally, not the Le Puy compared to the Francès specifically.
Of course people can sleep in gîtes throughout France if they can afford to, but the Camino lodging on the other routes is typically quite basic.
Agree with you. I have the similar budget for my CF in 2018.That's easy: 8-10€ per day for the Albergue, ~8-10€ for the pilgrims menue, 1-3€ for breakfast or some fruits (bananas, apples) from a discounter. My part for the shared meals: 3€ + work (I do cook a lot at home). Some days (3) only breakfast, nothing more. Water for free. I've lost 7kg weight on my CF and it felt very comfortable.
In the Donativos / Municipals it was 5€ for the night, they weren't well maintained or very "rural" nor did anyone show up after the check-in. In Grañon I gave 12€.
In total there were a few days with expenses higher than 25€ but most were ~20€.
My goal was not to spend more than 20€ per day, but I missed it.
As far as I'm informed, the Galician Municipals are now 10-12€ per night and most private Albergues are 12-15€. Not a chance for a super-cheapo-CF anymorebut worth every Penny!
BC
Roland
HelloHow many euros will I need on a daily basis for food and staying in the albergues? I am going self catering.
I used to think that way (charge a minimum fee for a donativo) - just so that they could go on.... until I was put right by a wonderful hospitalero in Auch. He just told me off (nicely but firmly) for having such a thought and... it hit home! Not to be forgotten. Mea culpa!If I cannot afford a minimum fee on a particular day & night, I sleep outdoors.
The donativos are a necessary help, and of course when you can give, then you do.
As are BTW those albergues charging €5 not 10.
€10 minimum would just be some more touristification.
I totally agree that donativos do not mean free at all. I have seen people walk past the donation box with hundreds of dollars of brand new clothes and equipment on their backs. I stay in Donativos as much as possible as I do have limited resources. I always pay my fair share. I also have walked with people who are on tighter budgets than I am. I shop every day and make lunch that I eat along the way and almost always eat dinner in an albergue. Donativos don't mean free but for many of us they are a lifesaver and allow us to walk with a whole lot less economic stress. Thank you for paying more for helping those who have alot less. Not just those who haven't yet learned the meaning of camino love and spirit.Donativos should not be considered cheaper. If anything, I try to pay a little more to make up for the people who think they are "free".
I wouldn't consider traveling abroad without insurance!! Covid or no Covid.I would like to suggest that those who are concerned about resurgence of COVID-19 and possible expenses for emergencies might consider buying insurance: travel medical and whatever else you think that you may need.
I tried to keep it under €25 per day. That included lodging, dinner, a mid day snack, beer and wine.How many euros will I need on a daily basis for food and staying in the albergues? I am going self catering.
The costs are very much based on daily needs (food and lodging), so providing an estimate based on kilometers is far less useful or accurate. If someone walks only 15 km/day, their costs will be double the person who walks 30 km/day. Only the wear and tear on their shoes would depend on distance.Lots of figures given above.......
Before I walked the Camino Frances in 2005 I read an an opinion that the cost of walking the Camino was about E1 per km, thus 1600 km (from Le Puy en Velay, France ) would be E1600. This was actually on the Camino, thus excluding getting to / from it.....
....so anybody care to sum up in the same way now?
Pre Covid, if I spent more than €25 per day, I was living large. I tried to keep it closer to €20 per day (and I still lived very good).How many euros will I need on a daily basis for food and staying in the albergues? I am going self catering.
France is probably much more expensive than Spain but within Spain on the Camino Frances in 2019 it was around €2/klm on average, perhaps a little less sometimes when I walked further in a day.Lots of figures given above.......
Before I walked the Camino Frances in 2005 I read an an opinion that the cost of walking the Camino was about E1 per km, thus 1600 km (from Le Puy en Velay, France ) would be E1600. This was actually on the Camino, thus excluding getting to / from it.....
....so anybody care to sum up in the same way now?
gb
That is my experience in gites in France, however there may not be many gites on your chosen route. Many budget hotels also offer demi pension, but are more expensive than gites.I thought (from what I've been reading, not from personal experience) that in France most pilgrims stay in gites and most gites are demi pension, providing much of the needed daily food. Not so much a menu del dia or menu peregrino but shared meals in the hostel. Is that not the case?
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