Finances on Camino frances

[tomishy]

My 15yo daughter and myself have 46 days to complete our first Camino Frances. We will have approximately €4000 - do you think we will have enough to cover our time there? We will be staying in albergues and preparing our own meals or having a pilgrim meal most of the time. Maybe splurge on a private room occasionally? Thankyou for any reassurances you can give!

 

[Bradypus]

I make that about $87 per day for two of you. If you are planning to stay in albergues and eat simply that should be enough. Most albergues charge anything around 10 euro or less per person - though there are more expensive ones too. Likewise a menu peregrino or menu del dia can usually be found for about 10 euro. So on most days you can expect to pay about $45 for accommodation and a main meal for the two of you. That gives you around $42 per day to spend on drinks, snacks, breakfast and other incidentals. I would think that should be plenty if you are aiming to live modestly and buy most of your food and drink from supermarkets rather than bars.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I get by on 35E per day without skimping, so 60-70E should cover your expenses, less if you self-cater a lot. There has been some price creep over the years, so 10-12E per night for an albergue, and 9-10E for a pilgrim menu. You don't save much with two of you, but it makes the 25-30E private room only a bit more than two beds in an albergue. Buen camino!

 

[tomishy]

I make that about $87 per day for two of you. If you are planning to stay in albergues and eat simply that should be enough. Most albergues charge anything around 10 euro or less per person - though there are more expensive ones too. Likewise a menu peregrino or menu del dia can usually be found for about 10 euro. So on most days you can expect to pay about $45 for accommodation and a main meal for the two of you. That gives you around $42 per day to spend on drinks, snacks, breakfast and other incidentals. I would think that should be plenty if you are aiming to live modestly and buy most of your food and drink from supermarkets rather than bars.

Thank you very much Bradypus for taking time to answer. Helps put my worry at bay!

 

[tomishy]

I get by on 35E per day without skimping, so 60-70E should cover your expenses, less if you self-cater a lot. There has been some price creep over the years, so 10-12E per night for an albergue, and 9-10E for a pilgrim menu. You don't save much with two of you, but it makes the 25-30E private room only a bit more than two beds in an albergue. Buen camino!

thank you falcon269 for your input. much appreciated.

 

[oursonpolaire]

As a minor quibble, could posters use euro when writing of Camino costs. It's not always clear to me if the $ described are US, Canadian, or Oz-- I'm guessing that they're not Argentine pesos!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

My 15yo daughter and myself have 46 days to complete our first Camino St Frances. We will have approximately €4000 - do you think we will have enough to cover our time there?

In 2015 Peg and I averaged about 75 euros per day over 58 days not being quite as frugal as you plan. For you that would come to about 3,200 euros. Well worth the experience if you ask me.

 

[David Tallan]

My 15yo daughter and myself have 46 days to complete our first Camino Frances. We will have approximately €4000 - do you think we will have enough to cover our time there? We will be staying in albergues and preparing our own meals or having a pilgrim meal most of the time. Maybe splurge on a private room occasionally? Thankyou for any reassurances you can give!

I think you have more than enough.

I walked with my 15 year old son (16 after Carrion de los Condes) in 2016. We took 41 days to walk from Roncesvalles to Finisterre. We spent less than that not preparing our own meals, splurging on a few private rooms and even on the Parador in Santiago de Compostela, and using the laundry machines in albergues every few days.

 

[alhartman]

In 2016 walking Leon to Santiago with my adult daughter was a grand total of 1930E for 19 nights. That includes a few hotels and some local taxi and a few souvenirs but no real splurges. No real budgeting or skimping either. So 50eu per person per day is a generous budget.

 

[Bobcat77]

Mention of daily cost raises the question of CASH or CARD? Do albergues and bars along the Way take cards or do we need cash all the time? I don't fancy carrying a ball of money into 40 different albergues. Also on the general question of security, is there evidence of petty stealing of personal 'stuff' on Camino?

 

[Tincatinker]

Mention of daily cost raises the question of CASH or CARD? Do albergues and bars along the Way take cards or do we need cash all the time? I don't fancy carrying a ball of money into 40 different albergues. Also on the general question of security, is there evidence of petty stealing of personal 'stuff' on Camino?

There are ATM's at regular(ish) intervals along the Camino Frances so topping up with cash doesn't require a lot of planning. Most of the guides and Gronze highlight where.

Until a few years ago the Camino was a cash economy. Now many of the private Albergues will charge your credit card when you book (helps discourage no-shows presumably). Bars and restaurants in the Cities and larger towns are well used to the plastic world. Little "mon & pop" operations in the back-end of nowhere probably can't afford the internet connection or the fees. You will encounter tiendas where they'll only turn the lights on if there is a customer.

Keep your cash on you at all times, even in the toilets and showers. Keep it on your person at night. Carry a spare card in a separate stash.

Enjoy.

 

[David Tallan]

Mention of daily cost raises the question of CASH or CARD? Do albergues and bars along the Way take cards or do we need cash all the time? I don't fancy carrying a ball of money into 40 different albergues. Also on the general question of security, is there evidence of petty stealing of personal 'stuff' on Camino?

In the small villages, it is generally a cash economy. In the larger towns, plastic is more accepted. Generally, though, you won't be walking more than a day or two without passing through somewhere that has an ATM. Most people generally carry up to a few hundred euros on them so they don't run out between ATMs or get in trouble when they arrive at an ATM and find it out of service. But there is no need to carry a lump sum of cash for your whole camino from the beginning.

In general, on average, your fellow pilgrims will be the nicest group of people you are likely to meet. I've never had anything stolen. But theft does occur on the Camino and in albergues. I don't get paranoid about it. But I'm not the type to leave my passport, cash and cards lying around. They are generally on my person wherever I go.

 

[Bobcat77]

Thank you both for that reassurance. Must get/adapt/invent suitable waterproof 'poke' of some sort. Yeah, spare card sounds like a plan too. Gracias, y buen Camino.

 

[alexwalker]

My 15yo daughter and myself have 46 days to complete our first Camino Frances. We will have approximately €4000 - do you think we will have enough to cover our time there? We will be staying in albergues and preparing our own meals or having a pilgrim meal most of the time. Maybe splurge on a private room occasionally? Thankyou for any reassurances you can give!

You have plenty. Cook in the albergues. Share and split with others,too, and you can get away with dinner incl. wine for 3-4 Euros pp. Fill water from the tap or fountains. Water is generally good in Spain. Buy lunch in the shops and have picnic on the way. It is mostly a cash economy on the Camino.

 

[tomishy]

I think you have more than enough.

I walked with my 15 year old son (16 after Carrion de los Condes) in 2016. We took 41 days to walk from Roncesvalles to Finisterre. We spent less than that not preparing our own meals, splurging on a few private rooms and even on the Parador in Santiago de Compostela, and using the laundry machines in albergues every few days.

oh that is great to hear. thank you

 

[Devereaux]

It's still mostly a cash economy on the Camino Frances. But, there are plenty of ATMs along the way. Also, if you choose private albergues, you can book ahead a day and use your card online. Even some municipal albergues are accepting online reservations now. Regardless, you'll have plenty of money.

 

[Roby]

I spent about 25 Euro a day. You will pass every day by a ATM.

 

[Roland49]

I'll try not to spend more than 20-25€ a day. Less is nice, more is a no-go.
With 4000€ for you and your daughter you have enough money for a very relaxed Camino.
I hope you have fun and get to meet nice people on your walk.

 

[Robo]

Your budget sounds fine.

I put together three 'levels' of budget after my first Camino. You can see them here.
I don't think prices have gone up much since.
http://robscamino.com/2015/27th-of-june-camino-budget/

 

[Caminolou]

I think it was the part before going into burgos where I couldnt find a cash machine for a day or 4? Good to top up when you have the chance.