Getting stamps and mobile signal

[Former member 81810]

Just booked to do Sarria to Santiago in September. What is mobile signal like along that route (so I can speak to my wife in England) and what sort of places can give you a stamp for your passport and do you have to pay.
Many thanks.
Peter

 

[domigee]

Just booked to do Sarria to Santiago in September. What is mobile signal like along that route (so I can speak to my wife in England) and what sort of places can give you a stamp for your passport and do you have to pay.
Many thanks.
Peter

Hi! No, you don’t have to pay for a ‘sello’, you get them from albergues, churches, bars, sometimes the police!
There is wifi almost everywhere too. If you can’t speak, (I am not sure what the mobile signal is like, probably very good), at least you can send messages

 

[Bradypus]

Mobile coverage is pretty good on that section - it is not a remote area or particularly difficult terrain and there are many villages and towns. Finding two sellos per day will not be a problem and you should not have to pay for one. Your albergue or hotel will almost certainly stamp your credencial and many churches, bars and cafes will be happy to do so too. If you want to receive a Compostela then you will only need to show at least two stamps per day for that final 100km section. You can of course collect more if you wish.

 

[t2andreo]

Coming from the US (FL) I am always surprised by the high quality of my cellular signal across Spain. It is somewhat embarrassing that my signal strength in Spain, and in most other countries, is a lot stronger and more consistent that it is at home.

There is an economic and political reason for this. I understand all about the governmental and corporate decision to use wireless towers, as opposed to burying or stringing copper wire. But, still and all, I do so appreciate a strong and reliable f lull around signal.

 

[scruffy1]

Call me an old fert but in my opinion the mobile phone has destroyed much of the beauty of walking the Camino. People are wired into music often concentrating more on a playlist they've already heard 30 times than on the scenery, once as you entered a cafe/bar greetings sprang from every table now all you hear are thumbs thumping on the keys and the sight of glowing lights, the ubiquitous overpowering and oppressive tweets from Twitter at every turn-the thunk of something arriving on Facebook, an arriving Instagram from cousin Wilbur all take precedence over real communication true camaraderie solidarity and human interaction. A sign of the times for sure shoving aside hours previously spent in introspection and reflection. A sign of the times for sure but one which I have great difficulties confronting.

 

[t2andreo]

I agree with Scruffy, but maintain that the smartphone is like a Swiss Army knife, or a versatile multi-tool. it remains in pocket or pouch until needed, When deployed, it can do wondrous deeds. As in the case of said knife, one does not carry it in plain view at all times. It is only brought out when needed for some function.

So, too, with a smartphone. These clever devices can do many remarkable things. Being in my mid-60s, I am aged enough to remember and have used manual typewriters, carbon paper, vinyl records, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, rotary dial telephones, and even pay phones.

Back in the day, research was done in the library, maps were all on paper, directions were determined and checked using a compass and map, music was appreciated in a room on a record player, and photographs were made using film. There are many other things that the smartphone has superseded, but to go on is to further date myself...

My point is that the smartphone, properly used to support a Camino, is a tool, nothing more. Granted, it is a superbly clever tool that can bring the entire world to your fingertips. But the decision as regards when and where to use it is an entirely personal one, sort of in the vein of everyone doing their own Camino.

I will continue to carry one. On six Caminos, having the ability to locate a service or shop I needed to support my Camino outweighed any philosophical angst I might have had about carrying the smartphone. Being able to find a proper specialist doctor on the fly, locate a pharmacy, or specialty shop, etc. is beyond value when needed. The ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere at any time is similarly priceless.

Hope this helps.

 

[MicheleK]

Nearing 70, this Canadian grandma will be walking her first Camino Francés in September starting from SJPP. Will also bring my mobile as a "tool". More so that, a couple of times a week, I can let my family know that I am doing well as I know they will have concerns. What I wonder is if it is worth getting a local Sim card to send texts or can I just rely on wifi ? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Bala]

@MicheleK, I did not have a local SIM card and most of the time that was no problem at all. If you're relying on WiFi, though, be sure to have your phone on airplane mode or turn off mobile, so you don't end up with international roaming charges.

In some places the wifi signal was weak and in others there was no WiFi, which was just fine with me. I used What's App to connect with my husband (almost daily), which doesn't need WiFi for text.

A few times I wished I had a SIM, though, as there were a couple times when I needed to make calls. And when my sisters both texted me on my mobile number, worried about a minor medical issue I'd mentioned on Facebook. I'd told them to message me via Facebook before I left, but do sisters listen? Ha! Cost me a bit of money to answer. I guess I should be glad for their concern. But really, LOL!

If I were to do it again, I would get a SIM. Low cost and no worries about exorbitant roaming charges or my US carrier's ridiculously high international plan.

 

[Viva Terlingua]

Nearing 70, this Canadian grandma will be walking her first Camino Francés in September starting from SJPP. Will also bring my mobile as a "tool". More so that, a couple of times a week, I can let my family know that I am doing well as I know they will have concerns. What I wonder is if it is worth getting a local Sim card to send texts or can I just rely on wifi ? Any advice would be appreciated.

If you're only going to send texts a few times a day, wifi should be available often enough. Also, before you leave home, you can always sign up with your local phone provider for some minutes to use in Spain. While this is more expensive than using a Spanish SIM card, it is easier than messing with the SIM card and is fine for occasional use.

 

[Former member 81810]

Thank you to everyone who has replied, appreciated. For me the mobile allows me to go. My wife is not a walker and I am doing the Camino by myself. I have assured my wife that from what I have read there will be plenty of people along the Way. It is though a condition of my going that I do text her with updates and so we can still speak. My church in England is called St James and for some years I have felt called to do this pilgrimage. In many ways September cannot come quick enough now! Whilst reaching Santiago itself is, of course, important, I am especially looking forward to arriving at what I believe is called Monumento ao Peregrino, to experience that scene from the film The Way when they meet those statutes and then look over at Santiago.

 

[JamesGeier]

Regarding the stamps, "sello" in Spanish, I love the stamps, and they are easy to get ("puedo tener un sello, por favor") and especially plentiful between Sarria and Santiago de Compostela. I think I averaged 8 per day after Sarria, while only about 4 per day between SJPdP and Sarria, filling three credentials. I like all of them, but especially those from the churches.

Buen Camino!
--jim--

 

[MicheleK]

@MicheleK, I did not have a local SIM card and most of the time that was no problem at all. If you're relying on WiFi, though, be sure to have your phone on airplane mode or turn off mobile, so you don't end up with international roaming charges.

In some places the wifi signal was weak and in others there was no WiFi, which was just fine with me. I used What's App to connect with my husband (almost daily), which doesn't need WiFi for text.

A few times I wished I had a SIM, though, as there were a couple times when I needed to make calls. And when my sisters both texted me on my mobile number, worried about a minor medical issue I'd mentioned on Facebook. I'd told them to message me via Facebook before I left, but do sisters listen? Ha! Cost me a bit of money to answer. I guess I should be glad for their concern. But really, LOL!

If I were to do it again, I would get a SIM. Low cost and no worries about exorbitant roaming charges or my US carrier's ridiculously high international plan.

Thank you @Bala for your advice. One question .. if the phone is on airplane mode (so no cellular reception) and there is no wifi .. what system is the "What's App" application sending texts on?? or do you have to take your phone off airplane mode? and if that is the case then do you not incur roaming costs?

 

[MicheleK]

If you're only going to send texts a few times a day, wifi should be available often enough. Also, before you leave home, you can always sign up with your local phone provider for some minutes to use in Spain. While this is more expensive than using a Spanish SIM card, it is easier than messing with the SIM card and is fine for occasional use.

Thank you @Viva Terlingua . My provider here in BC, Canada will charge me CAD$10 per day for all and any use of my cell phone. So if it is on airplane mode no problem. But the second I use it for a call or cell text then I am charged CAD$10 for that day ... no matter how often I use it that day. It could get expensive! So I think I will explore sim cards ... BUT that may end up costing as much as just using my cellular service if there are emergencies. Not sure yet what to do!

 

[Bala]

Thank you @Bala for your advice. One question .. if the phone is on airplane mode (so no cellular reception) and there is no wifi .. what system is the "What's App" application sending texts on?? or do you have to take your phone off airplane mode? and if that is the case then do you not incur roaming costs?

To be quite honest, I have no idea! I just know it worked. Maybe because we are on the same mobile plan at home? To send pictures I had to have Wi-Fi.

I was also on a service called Viber, and connected with some friends on that with no WiFi, as long as they were on Viber, too. But no extra charges in either case.

Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge will explain it to both of us!

 

[jdpiguet]

Hi Michele,
WhatsApp is sending data over internet, so you need either a WiFi connection or a mobile provider which allows data transmission (or, to be complete, a Bluetooth connection to another smart phone...).
I think all provider are now offering data as a basic service, even with limitations, on speed and/or amount).
If you want to avoid the costs of the provider, switch the airplane mode on, and after, activate the wifi.
Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

 

[t2andreo]

On my iPhone I learned that, if I put my phone in Airplane Mode and then turn only Wi-Fi on, I can make audio calls over Wi-Fi. This uses my data, instead of the cellular telephone circuitry, so no charges for phone calls.

Also, I use t-Mobile as my service provider in the US. They allow me to use all my data package for FREE, with no extra charges and no roaming fees either, in 140 countries, outside the US. Yes, this includes all of Western Europe, including France, Portugal and Spain. Just as an aside, it also works in Thailand and Malaysia.

So, having t-Mobile and with the adjustments to Settings I mentioned, I can place all voice calls or Face Time (Skype type calls) from anywhere I have a data signal. This is FREE. FREE is good.

Hope this helps.

 

[tomnorth]

Cell signal is fine on that stretch. You can get selos at albergues, bars, churches, etc. I usually got mine at the albergues I stayed at and the bars I stopped at for a cafe con leche and patatas tortilla. I never had to pay for a selo, although I did usually buy something at the places I received one from.