In the last week of October 2019, on a 12 day itinerary, would you start from Tui or Valenca enroute Santiago?

[daniel wee]

Hi, I'm new and am researching for my party of five, averaging 60 years.

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Wait for 9 or 10 months. Valence in portugal and cross bidge into spain at Tui 1 km apart so your choice

 

[Former member 49149]

Average age doesn't tell me enough. I was about 65 I guess when I walked from Oporto to Santiago in 12 days. More important is physical and mental preparation. You have lots of time to check out the demands of some continuous days walking your planned daily average. Enjoy the anticipation!

 

[robproct]

Well I’m 78yo and just completed the Portuguese from Lisbon in 24days and am not very fit. From Tui you hardly get into any rhythm of The Camino. Also the wald fro Porto north is the most scenic part of The Camino. Be sure to do lots of training first and get your shoes well worn in. For the inevitable blisters I found Dr Scholls silicone tubes to be far and away the most effective although I was lucky and only got three toe blisters. Good insurance to carry some but it is in some pharmacy’s along the way. Regarding Valença or Tui; I would say Tui because it’s such a beautiful old city. Bon Camino.

 

[Jim]

Both Tui and Valenca do Minho are beautiful cities. If taking 12 days, you have the choice to stop in each of these cities. Valenca has the fort, with some excellent restaurants (including one that served roast kid). There is an albergues and several hotels in the town. Take the next day to walk over the bridge to Tui. Take the longer path by the river and enjoy the scenery. Tui’s cathedral is a small but stunning one. Check out the smaller churches on your way out of town. The tourist information office at Tui could refer you to some B&Bs north of the town. Between those and O Porrino is a distance of 12 to 14 kilometers. Another 14 or 15 km to Redondela. Another accommodation north of Redondela only a few kilometers is the Hotel Antolin, situated right on the bay. There is a restaurant right at the hotel with picture window view of the bay. From Redondela, there is the city of Arcade, then Pontevedra which offers all services. I walked this route twice, the last time being 2011. The newer guidebooks (I have Brierley’s) are showing some newer accommodations between Pontevedra and Caldas de Reis. Ditto for the next stage taking you to Padron. Both times, I stayed at the Scala Hotel just north of Padron in a section called Iria Flavia. There are several intermediary stops between Padron and Santiago if you feel your group could handle only short distances. You have choices on the whole route. I hope you reach consensus with the others in your group. I tend to be cautious— an example, in 2014, I stopped at both Huntto and Orisson while on the path between St Jean Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles, not trusting that I could take so much of the steep climb the first day. Once on it, it was apparent that I didn’t need an extra night for that stage, but stuck to my schedule. I am a person of my word and I had written both parties requesting lodging. Any regrets? None whatsoever! After all, it was my Camino and an extra day in those beautiful mountains was an appropriate luxury!
Whatever choices you and your group make, Buen Camino!