Help!

Travel insurance? If you live in Europe you just might want to consider whether you want luggage cover for your rucksack and repatriation of remains cover. Otherwise probably not. You wouldn't be able to make a successful curtailment claim even if you have to abandon your trip.

Albergues. Most private Albergues take advance bookings. Municipal and parochial Albergues do not. Some people suggest booking a day or two in advance once you have a clear idea of where you might walk to on any given day and if you are experiencing difficulty finding a bed. Unlikely starting from that small town in France on a Wednesday as the majority seem to start at the week-end. If you find yourself in a 'wave' slow down or speed up.

Sleeping bags on bunks. Strongly recommended. You definitely want to separate yourself from that mattress that has had 365 different occupiers in the last twelve months.

Advice for the first few days. Go slowly! Santiago may seem a long way away but he isn't going anywhere. He will be waiting for you.

Other advices. The Menu del Dia is usually far superior to the Menu Peregrino. Earplugs are essentials. Orujo is the only known cure for Pilgrim flu. Give thanks at least once.

The only thing I can add is, carry the lightest sleeping bag you can find and afford. There are a lot of abandoned too heavy sleeping bags in albergues along the Frances.
cheers

If the cause for your anxiety is not having a place to sleep at night, then relax; besides albergues, there are hostals, casa rurals, hotels, apartments, etc. Booking.com can be very useful for finding or reserving a place for the night. You will likely find a bed available at an alburgue, though.

Any other advice ... breathe, in through the mouth, out through the nose. I bet you have some excitement masquerading as anxiety. You have every reason to be excited ... you are going to have a great time. Just try to relax, the boys have already given you some good advice.

I used the Wise Pilgrim app, and A Selection of Favorite Albergues from this site.

¡Buena Suerte Peregrina!

FoxgloveFairy said:

Hiya everyone!!
Extremely excited for my camino which starts on wednesday!!!
I have a few questions and concerns that have been giving me a little bit (unhealthy amount) of anxiety!
Any help would be the most appriciated!!
Any recommendations for travel insurance?(i hace an ehic card)
Do i have to book albergues in advance?(if so any apps or specific website recommendations?)
Can i sleep with a sleeping bag on the beds?
Any advice at all yoy can give me for the first few days after st jean?
Thank you all so much in advance!

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Travel Insurance: DAN Travel Insurance. DAN is a membership organization that allows anyone to buy travel insurance. Great benefits at very competitive prices. Buen Camino.

Best cure for your anxiety: start walking your Camino! Slowly, deliberately, with open eyes, heart and mind. Breathe, right foot, left foot; repeat. Identify any expectations, and set them aside. The Camino provides. It really does. And yes to the lightweight sleeping bag. Or, just a silk or cotton bag liner if you don’t need much insulation. Buen Camino!!!

Thats why I referenced repatriation of remains cover! Though I'll concede its not the soundest bit of advice I've ever given.

And yes there is a cornucopia of cover available. Most of which, if you read the fine print, won't cover you on Camino unless you have pre-booked your accommodation, preferably via a travel agent and paid for it up front. Its easier to get a broken down car repatriated than a broken down human being. There are specialist insurers who will provide 'expedition' cover. There are insurers who provide 'back-packing' cover (below 3000m) but they still expect you to have 'booked' with someone they can apportion liability to.

Insurance, good idea. Bad Tinker!