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On my CF in 2019 most of the businesses were cash-bound, so I took 200€ from start, drawing 100€ in Leon and 100€ in Sarria. Brought almost 100€ back.What have you found on your pilgrimages? What would be a good cash sum to take for fourteen days and nights from Leon to Santiago for purchases that cannot be made digitally?
We appreciate you,
Cheers and warmly
I see you are from the UK so you may wish to check what the fees are for cards you hold for the respective banks you have accounts with. I only use debit cards (not credit) but some / many UK banks charge 2.99% per transaction and some charge nothing. Either way the savings won’t be that great but you may wish to check it out!Hello Fellow Pilgrims,
We are walking for the first time in two weeks and getting all our logistic ducks in a row (all that we can think of, anyway) - we’ve done a little research and asked around on bed availability for albergues and received some useful reassurances on that front.
Our current plan is to bring a sleeping bag liner and a compressable blanket which - combined with our thermal nightwear - we hope will do the job. We also gather that there will be shops and restaurants on the route to stock up on provisions, or the option of communal meals in some albergues - which sounds like a wholesome and fun communal experience.
One consideration we have had is payment methods for the albergues, however - in today’s day and age we use phones and cards to pay for - more or less - everything, but we can’t help wondering whether cash would be needed for one or more albergue, if they shouldn’t be ‘linked in’ to the technological systems.
What have you found on your pilgrimages? What would be a good cash sum to take for fourteen days and nights from Leon to Santiago for purchases that cannot be made digitally?
We appreciate you,
Cheers and war
We took 200€ cash or so as many places did not take cc. We cashed up several times along the trail at the Santander bank ATM’s and never had a problem.Hello Fellow Pilgrims,
We are walking for the first time in two weeks and getting all our logistic ducks in a row (all that we can think of, anyway) - we’ve done a little research and asked around on bed availability for albergues and received some useful reassurances on that front.
Our current plan is to bring a sleeping bag liner and a compressable blanket which - combined with our thermal nightwear - we hope will do the job. We also gather that there will be shops and restaurants on the route to stock up on provisions, or the option of communal meals in some albergues - which sounds like a wholesome and fun communal experience.
One consideration we have had is payment methods for the albergues, however - in today’s day and age we use phones and cards to pay for - more or less - everything, but we can’t help wondering whether cash would be needed for one or more albergue, if they shouldn’t be ‘linked in’ to the technological systems.
What have you found on your pilgrimages? What would be a good cash sum to take for fourteen days and nights from Leon to Santiago for purchases that cannot be made digitally?
We appreciate you,
Cheers and warmly
Yeah.... eating meals with bunch of people that I sometimes do not know too well on many various occasions taught me long time ago to politely ask for "separate checks" if I am not in the company of relatives and\or friends. Then there is no 'reluctancy'.@Diarmad, I spent well under €200 in two weeks, including giving others my share of a meal a couple of times ( because the waiter was reluctant to split the bill).
Yes, they are there... All the Xunta albergues last year did go up from 8 to 10 euros though. Cash only. Najera- 6 euros cash only. All the other donativos...cash only. You do pay for the convenience of the use of your cards. For me, much easier to keep track of what I am spending (or not spending) with coins and bills.I'd be very happy to find an albergue which would charge under €10 for a bunk (To be fair I did not stay in any of donativos and I do understand that they operate on Cash Only)
Yes, but after the fact, you have already spent the money. How do you keep yourself on the budget while traveling or is that not a concern?Ah... totally opposite for me. I come home, download the statement into my financial software and can have a full report on what was spent how. Camino would fall under "Vacation" category within which I have Travel, Food, Lodging and Miscellaneous sub categories)
But to everyone their own.
That said - perhaps I will give a try to some Xunta albergue next twirl around!
That's easy, just keep a rough mental tally. I've done that ever since I got my first credit card when I joined the bank at 20 years old. It's just a different form of mental discipline, really not hard to do. And because I round everything up I always come in under budget. Let's face it, we only buy things four or five things a day on Camino.Yes, but after the fact, you have already spent the money. How do you keep yourself on the budget while traveling or is that not a concern?
You do pay for the convenience of the use of your cards.
Yes, but after the fact, you have already spent the money. How do you keep yourself on the budget while traveling or is that not a concern?
edit: ok, I still shop with coupons, too, so I am pretty thrifty...
Following other responses - 1. Halifax Clarity has a good app which shows pending and older transactions which means you can track your expenditure. 2. Avoid Santander ATMs - charge 5 euros to use their machines. Abanca are the best!I used cash + cc. If you have time a Halifax Clarity card is worth getting as there are no additional transaction or atm fees to pay. Last year many places such as restaurants, etc accepted Cc + i used it to pay for albergues via Booking. A good bank to use is Abanca which has branches in large towns and cities - their ATMs also do not have transaction fees.
I can't remember which bank it was, but a couple of ATMs I used last year charged a €7 fee. Fortunately, I have a Schwab account (US bank) that refunds all my ATM fees.Avoid Santander ATMs - charge 5 euros to use their machines. Abanca are the best
Most of them are at €7 now. Pretty sure Santander are, BBVA, Caixa. Spain defo is the king of the bank charges! Took money out in France last night and Germany today… no charges!I can't remember which bank it was, but a couple of ATMs I used last year charged a €7 fee. Fortunately, I have a Schwab account (US bank) that refunds all my ATM fees.
Not sure what your banking apps offer but I can allocate my spend to a category (either pre defined or you can edit). I am doing it this month properly to see what the results are!I keep track of each cost either in a notebook and/ or my phone as I go. If I am tapping away with my card, I am more likely to forget so I always take the receipt (even at home).
Yes, I do use my card at home and for plane tickets and I get points which I use to pay for hotels in Spain. What I meant is that you will pay more for a private albergue than using cash for one that does not take a card.
I know I won't convert many of you, but I am very thrifty and that allows me to make longer trips having experiences instead of using services. I use my Tarjeda Dorada for train trips, I pay for flights and hotels with points and at home we get half off our campsites with our Sr Parks Pass.
I cook at home and I like to on the Camino, too. I don't want to pay extra to ship my bag. I don't want to pay extra for private albergues. I shop with coupons and even get the grocery ads when I am in Spain so I know what are the best deals. I am cheap.
It does make me a good hospitalera though and I can make a great communal meal for very little money! Anyway if anyone wants money savings tips on their Camino, please reach out!
You certainly don't sit still, do you!!Took money out in France last night and Germany today… no charges!
Mom and I used 600 euros all together during our 38 days on the Camino Frances. We finished 2 1/2 weeks ago.Hello Fellow Pilgrims,
We are walking for the first time in two weeks and getting all our logistic ducks in a row (all that we can think of, anyway) - we’ve done a little research and asked around on bed availability for albergues and received some useful reassurances on that front.
Our current plan is to bring a sleeping bag liner and a compressable blanket which - combined with our thermal nightwear - we hope will do the job. We also gather that there will be shops and restaurants on the route to stock up on provisions, or the option of communal meals in some albergues - which sounds like a wholesome and fun communal experience.
One consideration we have had is payment methods for the albergues, however - in today’s day and age we use phones and cards to pay for - more or less - everything, but we can’t help wondering whether cash would be needed for one or more albergue, if they shouldn’t be ‘linked in’ to the technological systems.
What have you found on your pilgrimages? What would be a good cash sum to take for fourteen days and nights from Leon to Santiago for purchases that cannot be made digitally?
We appreciate you,
Cheers and warmly
Funny enough I was in your city yesterday and was going to message you (get well soon btw)) but only for 24 hrs and had some commitments! Remember you telling me the town you live in and came through there about 0045 this morning on a train. It was very busy!!!You certainly don't sit still, do you!!
Believe me, I know. Noisy until after 1.30, when, fortunately, heavy rain started! It dampened thing's down quite quickly - in both senses!It was very busy!!!
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