Hi - Planning Sarria to Santiago in October

[kaney55]

Good day to you all. New member here and I am planning to walk sarria to santiago in Oct apart from the obvious good equipment shoes rucksack etc is there any advice for a newbie like me. I am 68 fairly fit with a brand newly fitted knee last October. I do want some comfort of a decent bed bedding pillow etc so I'm assuming the basic alberques are not for me. Do I take enough cash with me for the 10 days or will a card alone do me? Obviously I have a ton more questions but start with the tough ones. Thanks in advance for any help at all. Dave Kane

 

[wisepilgrim]

There are cash machines every day of that walk, so cash for 2 days is probably enough if you are worried about carrying more.

 

[henrythedog]

Good day to you all. New member here and I am planning to walk sarria to santiago in Oct apart from the obvious good equipment shoes rucksack etc is there any advice for a newbie like me. I am 68 fairly fit with a brand newly fitted knee last October. I do want some comfort of a decent bed bedding pillow etc so I'm assuming the basic alberques are not for me. Do I take enough cash with me for the 10 days or will a card alone do me? Obviously I have a ton more questions but start with the tough ones. Thanks in advance for any help at all. Dave Kane

Well, at least you’ve got one knee that comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee.

Cash is no longer king on the Camino - but I’ve rarely met anyone who will refuse it. I see you’re in Spain, so you’ll be no stranger to physical euros. Take some.

Not all albergues are created equal. Some are verging on luxurious; and a good number have private rooms comparable with an acceptable hotel; complete with bedding and towels. You can get the albergue atmosphere without the ‘why are you making noise at three in the morning!’ experience.

October is an excellent time to walk. Cooler, probably a little damp, but the majority of facilities will still be open - certainly more than enough.

Most early-stage questions have been asked on here at some time. Play around with the search function and the ‘tags’ which are often added to the opening post of a thread.

 

[kaney55]

T

Well, at least you’ve got one knee that comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee.

Cash is no longer king on the Camino - but I’ve rarely met anyone who will refuse it. I see you’re in Spain, so you’ll be no stranger to physical euros. Take some.

Not all albergues are created equal. Some are verging on luxurious; and a good number have private rooms comparable with an acceptable hotel; complete with bedding and towels. You can get the albergue atmosphere without the ‘why are you making noise at three in the morning!’ experience.

October is an excellent time to walk. Cooler, probably a little damp, but the majority of facilities will still be open - certainly more than enough.

Most early-stage questions have been asked on here at some time. Play around with the search function and the ‘tags’ which are often added to the opening post of a thread.

Thanks for your prompt reply. Yes I am in the south of Spain but seems just as complicated to get to a starting point but hey isn't that the start of the adventure. Thanks for the tips the money thing I was thinking along your lines that carry some and dip into the atms along the way. I'm pleased that some alberques are hotel standard just not sure I'm fit enough to blow my own pillow up every night lol. Take care and thankyou!

 

[J Willhaus]

There is a direct train (I think once daily) from Madrid to Sarria so if you can get to Madrid, you can look into that route.

 

[trecile]

. I'm pleased that some alberques are hotel standard just not sure I'm fit enough to blow my own pillow up every night lol.

Every albergue I've stayed in over the last 7 years has provided pillows except the one in Alpriate Portugal last year, and that was because of Covid.

 

[J Willhaus]

We did not provide or receive pillows at the albergues where you sleep on mats on the floor, but I always bring a small inflatable pillow with me for my knees or in those cases for my head.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Every albergue I've stayed in over the last 7 years has provided pillows except the one in Alpriate Portugal last year, and that was because of Covid.

Even on my first three caminos when I stayed exclusively in pilgrim albergues which included both munis and private, I was actually surprised that all had pillows, and nearly all the matresses were good and did not hinder my sleep...not too hard, not too soft, not too lumpy.

 

[woody66]

ven on my first three caminos when I stayed exclusively in pilgrim albergues which included both munis and private, I was actually surprised that all had pillows, and nearly all the matresses were good and did not hinder my sleep...not too hard, not too soft, not too lumpy

I've always wondered what happened to Goldielocks
Woody

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I've always wondered what happened to Goldielocks
Woody

The beds were..."just right".

 

[Nitaintorre]

Hi there I’m new to all of this as well. Hope we can give each other encouragement and tips

 

[kaney55]

I hope so

 

[trecile]

Hi there I’m new to all of this as well. Hope we can give each other encouragement and tips

The forum motto is "where past pilgrims share, and future pilgrims learn."
Just spend some time reading the forum, and you will find buckets of encouragement and tips!
Buen Camino!

 

[thejoker]

Hello Kaney. I'm totally with you in terms of pleasant accommodation with comfortable beds. I can't stand albergues either.
There are some very nice places along this stretch and I'd recommend the following which I've stayed at myself:
Sarria - Travesia Rooms. Very central and spotlessly clean. Surprisingly quiet given the location too.
Morgade: Half way between the guidebook stages is this lovely place - Casa Morgade. They do a great evening meal for pilgrims and staying here means you can get a comfortable room with your own bathroom while also mingling with other pilgrims staying in the dorm section.
In Portomarin there is the Casa San Nicolas. Central and very cosy and peaceful.
Just outside Palas is Pazo de Laia. They will come and collect you from Palas. A really beautiful building with room furnishings that are not ubiquitous but totally let you be immersed into Spanish culture and history. One of my favourite places along the entire Camino.
Pazo do Sedar. Slightly off route, but again, they'll come and collect you. A really beautiful place with a big garden and perfect for relaxation.
Albergue Turistico Salceda. about 1km off route. Very nice small private rooms with aircon. Lovely stone walls in the private rooms. Excellent restaurant and a swimming pool too. You will also be sharing with other pilgrims here as there is a dorm on the far side of the complex.
Just before Pedrouzo is O Acivro in A Rua. Very pilgrim oriented and with good private rooms, a very nice restaurant, garden area and pool. On the downside, this place gets a lot of the tour bus type pilgrims too.
In SdC, there's only one place if you haven't stayed there yet: The Parador. Go half-board - you won't regret it. I usually stay there for a full week upon completion of Caminos.

Buen Camino!

 

[Quahaug]

Good day to you all. New member here and I am planning to walk sarria to santiago in Oct apart from the obvious good equipment shoes rucksack etc is there any advice for a newbie like me. I am 68 fairly fit with a brand newly fitted knee last October. I do want some comfort of a decent bed bedding pillow etc so I'm assuming the basic alberques are not for me. Do I take enough cash with me for the 10 days or will a card alone do me? Obviously I have a ton more questions but start with the tough ones. Thanks in advance for any help at all. Dave Kane

Well, I’m a newbie too so I don’t know if my advice has merit but I’m booking all my accommodations up front and paying with a card so I don’t need to worry about that. Taking a minimum of cash as I think I can use bank atms for cash in the larger towns If I need to. I’m walking shorter stages, 8 to 12kms a day so that I can see what I can see off trail and on trail without jeopardizing my daily destination. I also arranged for my bag to be transported so that I only need to carry a day pack. Hope that helps.

 

[Quahaug]

There is a direct train (I think once daily) from Madrid to Sarria so if you can get to Madrid, you can look into that route.

I think it’s direct but not nonstop.