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Hello! I've never done anything even remotely like this before and I'm excited/anxious. I have transport from Biarritz to St. Jean, via Express Bourricot, and accommodation for my first night. So that's sorted, which helps! But I'm worried about my lack of Spanish and a million other things.
I'm planning a slow, go-with-the-flow Camino, but I still want to be as ready as possible, lol.
I'm bringing a sleep sack and down blanket to keep my options open, but I suspect I might prefer private rooms some or all of the time, vs. only staying in albergues. I've seen many mentions of calling ahead to book accommodations, but my cellphone won't work in Spain except with wifi, and I don't really speak Spanish, anyway.
Will I have much luck booking private albergues, hostels, B&Bs or budget hotels online once I'm in Spain?
Anybody had luck using wifi-only phones on the Camino to call and/or book online?
Or do I need a burner phone to call ahead, presuming I can even do that with (very) limited Spanish?
Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance you can give me
OH my goodness I love your questions MrsBath. I will start my first Camino in 16 Days! I know the feeling...waking up in the middle of the night thinking what the heck am I doing...but it calms my heart to hear the encouraging words of those that have gone before us! Buen Camino!
My experience has been that albergue owners are very happy to phone ahead and make a booking for you.
Last year I had made my own bookings months earlier and a few owners had requested that I phoned and confirmed the day before, but I forgot which ones. Therefore i had to do it every day, I used to ask the owner where I was staying and they were so very happy to do it and chatted away with their neighbour 20 klm further west. The result was that I always got a great welcome.
I found booking .com much more reliable & helpful in Spain than I found in the US. So I am curious if you are referring to that happening in Spain?I planned to get a SIM but by the time I got to Pamplona, I was doing so well without it that I never looked back. I figured that if an emergency arose I would just pay the higher costs for a call- fortunately no emergencies.
I used Duolingo before I left and found free on line travel audio/ visual teaching sites to bone up on basic Pelegrina Spanish ( my plan to start 1 year early and become more conversant got eaten up by life and procrastination )
For various reasons including wanting a lower bunk after a back injury to walking longer days and not wanting to rush, I booked beds ahead of time. Each albergue was more than happy to call ahead for me to get that reservation (obviously I used a guide that listed which albergues took them ) some lists even which have private rooms
( I am gun shy of Booking.com after eating costs for cancelled reservations, I was not smart enough to check ahead to see which could be cancelled)
This is wonderful to hear. I don't feel sure about making my nightly reservations now - who knows how fast I will walk, or when I will need to rest? I will have to rely on the kindness of strangers - but it sounds like I will find many kind strangers, if this forum is any example
Hi there,Hello! I've never done anything even remotely like this before and I'm excited/anxious. I have transport from Biarritz to St. Jean, via Express Bourricot, and accommodation for my first night. So that's sorted, which helps! But I'm worried about my lack of Spanish and a million other things.
I'm planning a slow, go-with-the-flow Camino, but I still want to be as ready as possible, lol.
I'm bringing a sleep sack and down blanket to keep my options open, but I suspect I might prefer private rooms some or all of the time, vs. only staying in albergues. I've seen many mentions of calling ahead to book accommodations, but my cellphone won't work in Spain except with wifi, and I don't really speak Spanish, anyway.
Will I have much luck booking private albergues, hostels, B&Bs or budget hotels online once I'm in Spain?
Anybody had luck using wifi-only phones on the Camino to call and/or book online?
Or do I need a burner phone to call ahead, presuming I can even do that with (very) limited Spanish?
Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance you can give me
I used a Spanish Translator on my smart phone and it worked well - I could ask questions and get them to type a reply and we could understand each otherWe are leaving to Porto next Sunday. In six more days I'll find out more or less everything what you all talking about. First time on Pilgrim road. I hope for...something important in my life.
Would like to know if anyone had used smartphone translator apps during the trip? It mus be lighter then to have a conversation book, Thank you.
my experience was booked from US for hotels and B&B and I had missed the line that indicated these could not be not be cancelled. Someone on the forum reminded me of that clauseI found booking .com much more reliable & helpful in Spain than I found in the US. So I am curious if you are referring to that happening in Spain?
Yes thank you for the clarification I no longer use them in the US.my experience was booked from US for hotels and B&B and I had missed the line that indicated these could not be not be cancelled. Someone on the forum reminded me of that clause
I gave 2 weeks notice when my flight got changed. When a refund was denied, I was told to contact the hotels directly. The B&B did credit me back, they had to contact booking and authorize it
the others would not
I'm arriving in Porto on May 22nd to walk the Senda de litoral and am experiencing a roller coaster of emotions; mainly excitement but the odd sense of what the heck am I doing.We are leaving to Porto next Sunday. In six more days I'll find out more or less everything what you all talking about. First time on Pilgrim road. I hope for...something important in my life.
Would like to know if anyone had used smartphone translator apps during the trip? It mus be lighter then to have a conversation book, Thank you.
Hello! I've never done anything even remotely like this before and I'm excited/anxious. I have transport from Biarritz to St. Jean, via Express Bourricot, and accommodation for my first night. So that's sorted, which helps! But I'm worried about my lack of Spanish and a million other things.
I'm planning a slow, go-with-the-flow Camino, but I still want to be as ready as possible, lol.
I'm bringing a sleep sack and down blanket to keep my options open, but I suspect I might prefer private rooms some or all of the time, vs. only staying in albergues. I've seen many mentions of calling ahead to book accommodations, but my cellphone won't work in Spain except with wifi, and I don't really speak Spanish, anyway.
Will I have much luck booking private albergues, hostels, B&Bs or budget hotels online once I'm in Spain?
Anybody had luck using wifi-only phones on the Camino to call and/or book online?
Or do I need a burner phone to call ahead, presuming I can even do that with (very) limited Spanish?
Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance you can give me
We are leaving to Porto next Sunday. In six more days I'll find out more or less everything what you all talking about. First time on Pilgrim road. I hope for...something important in my life.
Would like to know if anyone had used smartphone translator apps during the trip? It mus be lighter then to have a conversation book, Thank you.
We are leaving to Porto next Sunday. In six more days I'll find out more or less everything what you all talking about. First time on Pilgrim road. I hope for...something important in my life.
Would like to know if anyone had used smartphone translator apps during the trip? It mus be lighter then to have a conversation book, Thank you.
Hello! I've never done anything even remotely like this before and I'm excited/anxious. I have transport from Biarritz to St. Jean, via Express Bourricot, and accommodation for my first night. So that's sorted, which helps! But I'm worried about my lack of Spanish and a million other things.
I'm planning a slow, go-with-the-flow Camino, but I still want to be as ready as possible, lol.
I'm bringing a sleep sack and down blanket to keep my options open, but I suspect I might prefer private rooms some or all of the time, vs. only staying in albergues. I've seen many mentions of calling ahead to book accommodations, but my cellphone won't work in Spain except with wifi, and I don't really speak Spanish, anyway.
Will I have much luck booking private albergues, hostels, B&Bs or budget hotels online once I'm in Spain?
Anybody had luck using wifi-only phones on the Camino to call and/or book online?
Or do I need a burner phone to call ahead, presuming I can even do that with (very) limited Spanish?
Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance you can give me
I used my iPod Touch to book ahead w/Booking.com and was very easy to book ahead if need be. The hostel you stay at will help or even make the call to book your next night. When not in hostels, we stayed in places that cost about 20E for a private room + 10E for the pilgrim meal. I always found wifi at our hostel or a cafe each day and could also recharge my battery there. I downloaded a language translator that didn't need the use of wifi on my iPod. I also downloaded Skype and Viber for free calling, texting, photos videos, and face to face w/my family. Learn the basic spanish: bathroom, please, & thank you. Most menu's will be the same, so take a picture of the menu, then translate it back in your room, so when you order a salad you'll know if octopus is in it, among other things! They usually have photos of the plates of food, so you can just point. For anxiety: You have a calling to walk the Camino. Put your full trust in this calling! The Camino really does provide. There are angels on the Camino looking out for you! When you least expect it, someone is there to help you in your need. So, no worries. Embrace it! Relax and enjoy each day & each moment of your own personal pilgrimage. Before you know it, you'll be home again, dreaming of returning and doing it all over again. It's been 2 years since I went and now it almost feels like it was just a dream. And I'm still dreaming of my return. Buen Camino!!!
HiHello! I've never done anything even remotely like this before and I'm excited/anxious. I have transport from Biarritz to St. Jean, via Express Bourricot, and accommodation for my first night. So that's sorted, which helps! But I'm worried about my lack of Spanish and a million other things.
I'm planning a slow, go-with-the-flow Camino, but I still want to be as ready as possible, lol.
I'm bringing a sleep sack and down blanket to keep my options open, but I suspect I might prefer private rooms some or all of the time, vs. only staying in albergues. I've seen many mentions of calling ahead to book accommodations, but my cellphone won't work in Spain except with wifi, and I don't really speak Spanish, anyway.
Will I have much luck booking private albergues, hostels, B&Bs or budget hotels online once I'm in Spain?
Anybody had luck using wifi-only phones on the Camino to call and/or book online?
Or do I need a burner phone to call ahead, presuming I can even do that with (very) limited Spanish?
Thanks in advance for any advice or reassurance you can give me
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