How to Plan?

[erikakiana]

I've lived in Spain for four of the past five years, and I know this is my final year here. To top it off, I'd love to do the Camino Francés. I'm just worried ... how much do I actually need to go about planning it? I know I need to get gear (although I'll probably just walk in my running shoes) and I've been told to save up at least €1,000, but what more would I need to plan out? I'm also a serious overpacker. I want to do it in July and I'm trying to work out the logistics since I'm going to be in France already.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[tomnorth]

If you’re an overpacker your biggest planning challenge will be to decide what not to bring. Bring too much and you will sabotage yourself. Other than that, the only other thing I’d plan is how you’re going to get to SJPDP and where you’re going to stay the first couple nights. For sure you’ll want a reservation in SJPDP and Roncesvalles at that time of year.

 

[David Tallan]

If you've lived in Spain for 5 years, hopefully you have decent Spanish, which puts you way ahead of most peregrinos.

I like to research and plan a lot but I am not committed to my plans at all. They just help inform the decision making which is done in the moment. People have done very successful caminos with minimal or no planning.

I would suggest a few things if you like to prepare:
- look up Camino de Santiago on YouTube. You will find plenty of videos to help you manage your over packing tendencies. You will also find people's blogs of their caminos. This thread will also recommend some good vlogs: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-vlogs-to-watch.57402/
- Buy or borrow from the library a Camino guidebook. The one by Brierley is a popular English language guidebook. I also liked the Village to Village guide
- There are some nice e-books to help you prepare, like Camino de Santiago: Pilgrim Tips and Packing List by this forum's own S. Yates. They are pretty inexpensive.

And, of course, you can ask questions here, but I would recommend using the search function first, since there are already a lot of answers here, too.

 

[Iriebabel]

I would add that nice app that wise pilgrim and ivar just gave us to that list
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-camino-app-wisely-camino-forum-places.59532/

 

[fransw]

If you understand also French I would prefer the latest Miam-Miam-Dodo( Camino Frances). Of course the Brierley-guide also. Buen Camino