Luggage Transport on Camino: Can All Albergues Accommodate?

[Antonius Vaessen]

Due to kneeproblems I am considering to make use of luggage transport on my next Camino :The central route from Porto. There are a few companies that offer this service. At the moment I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer
- Most companies ask to make a planning of your stages beforehand. How easy is it to make changes in your planning ( eventually on short notice)
- Do all albergues accept luggage transport? (And/ or people who make use of luggage transport) In another thread I read that some companies only deliver at bars. Is this the case?
- Did you use luggage transport specifically on the central route, if so what are your experiences?
I have looked at a few websites of companies, I did not find clear answers to my questions, I send some emails,but did not get an answer yet.

 

[JabbaPapa]

No. Most of the private ones do, the Xunta places in Galicia don't, and some of the Parish/Donativo/Municipal places don't - - although often in such situations a nearby bar will be a sending and delivery point.

 

[Grousedoctor]

Due to kneeproblems I am considering to make use of luggage transport on my next Camino :The central route from Porto. There are a few companies that offer this service. At the moment I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer
- Most companies ask to make a planning of your stages beforehand. How easy is it to make changes in your planning ( eventually on short notice)
- Do all albergues accept luggage transport? (And/ or people who make use of luggage transport) In another thread I read that some companies only deliver at bars. Is this the case?
- Did you use luggage transport specifically on the central route, if so what are your experiences?
I have looked at a few websites of companies, I did not find clear answers to my questions, I send some emails,but did not get an answer yet.

We have very successfully used luggage transport on both the Central and Coastal routes in Portugal. To answer your first question, I need to know what you mean by “on short notice.” Without exception, we have contacted our carrier the night before pick-up at our albergue, hostal, or appartment. It was as simple as using Whats App or a simple text to make arrangements for the next morning. No arrangements were made more than one day in advance. The carrier confirmed our pick-up and drop off information and we left our packs with money where instructed (i.e., the room, the lobby, etc.). Even when staying in an apartment, the carriers seem to know where “special” pick ups and drop off need to be made. Most of the time our packs were nicely secured before we arrived. We never experienced any problems. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the Portuguese company we used last spring. On a previous trip, we were very pleased with TuiTrans.

 

[Marbe2]

This is unusual - I remember a strange private albergue owner in Logrono who did not accept delivery….not sure why? We had to walk a block to pick up our bag up at a bar, which we didn’t know we would need to do. The next morning we had to wait for the company to come pick it up. The owner said he had a “friend” who would deliver it, and that he didn’t want the company to come there. However, he was such a strange character, and I sensed something was “off”, so we waited outside for the company truck and got a late start that morning. Based on the driver’s comments that morning, we made the right decision. Since I have used this company repeatedly, my decision was the right one.

Normally, if you can’t find a listing of the accommodation, email the transport company and they will reply and indicate where you can pick up the luggage/bag.

 

[pepi]

1. You can use Jacotrans and other courier services without any planning on a daily base from one stage to another. My advice is to call them up every time before 8 am and give them name, a pick-up and delivery place, in addition to filling in and attaching the small envelope to your pack. Just call and say "Hola, estoy [name] en el Albergue [name and place] y tengo una mochila para entregar en el Albergue [name and place]" (Every Albergue provides envelopes, often they have a selection of different ones from a variety of providers and the cost for the service is either printed on or can be asked).

2. A few Albergues refuse to accept receipt of transported backpacks categorically. Mostly, however, (the private ones anyway-) will condone acceptance, when you stay the night with them.
Beware of sending your pack just for your pick-up with the intention of staying somewhere else, though, as, understandably, nobody likes that.

When in doubt or in lacking a delivery address, consult with the courier service, but this will necessitate fair Spanish knowledge, as most courier station managers speak little else. Asking for assistance from the hospitalero may also help.
If you stay in pensions, hostals, hotels, etc, you will have no problems at all getting your pack delivered, often enough, it is already waiting for you in your assigned room.

(Note: My personal experience is limited to Jacotrans and some other private providers, not with Correos, the postal service, which is very good, I heard.)

 

[Tom Hagger]

Most of the private ones do, the Xunta places in Galicia don't, and some of the Parish/Donativo/Municipal places don't

I walked for several days with a pilgrim who was experiencing severe should pain. She found that, even in Galicia, some of the Xunta and Parish albergues accepted her pack in the circumstances. It is probably best to be guided by Correos, or whichever company you choose, as they will know which places will accept your pack, and where alternative arrangements may be made if necessary.

 

[J Willhaus]

Some albergues will not accept either luggage transport or pilgrims who "are walking with support" like luggage transport, taxi/bus, and even in some cases bikes. Those same places often don't accept reservations either. I have worked at one or two of these albergues. There are many private facilities that do accept luggage transport, however, it is good to find out in advance so you are not disappointed.

Just a note, having luggage delivered to a location does not mean you have a bed. That is a separate arrangement.

 

[aswansonsr]

Due to kneeproblems I am considering to make use of luggage transport on my next Camino :The central route from Porto. There are a few companies that offer this service. At the moment I have some questions that hopefully someone can answer
- Most companies ask to make a planning of your stages beforehand. How easy is it to make changes in your planning ( eventually on short notice)
- Do all albergues accept luggage transport? (And/ or people who make use of luggage transport) In another thread I read that some companies only deliver at bars. Is this the case?
- Did you use luggage transport specifically on the central route, if so what are your experiences?
I have looked at a few websites of companies, I did not find clear answers to my questions, I send some emails,but did not get an answer yet.

Walking independently on the Camino Frances last September, it was easy to access the transport services from wherever I stayed (albergue or private room). The tags you use to indicate your name, pickup and dropoff locations, and payment, are almost everywhere. Once you use one company and like them, keep a couple extra of their tags.
- Call the dropoff location to confirm they are open and will accept your 'mochilla'. Most municipal albergues will accept packs and are fine with you taking it somewhere else when you get there. This was never an issue for me.
- Call/message the transport company the night before you want to use them, between 7-9 pm. Expect limited English and that they will be busy. They are on Whatsapp as well. Make sure you receive confirmation that they will transport your pack.
- Exact change in the envelope is a great help.

At various times, I did not write down the drop-off location, forgot to put money in the envelope, requested change (modest success), or sent the pack to a closed albergue. In all instances, it worked out without any significant headaches.