May or June - pros and cons of either month?

[november_moon]

My husband and I are planning to walk the Camino Frances in 2014 - planning ahead, but I know it will be here before we know it. Due to schedule constraints, we will probably walk the portion from Leon to Santiago de Compostela (approx 300 km). We can go in May or June and are trying to decide which would be a better time to go. It seems that May would be good since there probably wouldn't be as many people, but on the otherhand, it seems like June weather would be nicer - warm, but not really hot, less rain (mud).

What do you all think? Any advice for which month would be better? Would May have better wildflowers and greener fields?

 

[Tia Valeria]

We have walked in May and late May just into June. Apart from the weather and the numbers of people another consideration might be that, in general, the costs can rise in June as it is becoming 'high season'. Most places are 'low season' until the end of May. This particularly affects anyone planning to use hostales/hotels and trying to budget. Albergues are, I think, the same rate all year.
Buen Camino

 

[Anniesantiago]

Given the choice, I'd begin in early/mid-May.
The weather will be lovely, the wildflowers will be blooming, and there will be fewer people on the road. There will be some rain, but also sunshine, and it won't be too cold. June, for me, is a whole different experience... a bit like being caught in a herd of lemmings?

 

[november_moon]

From both of the responses so far, it seems like May is better than June. The low season consideration and avoiding being caught in the herd of lemmings are important
We will probably stay in a mix of albergues and hostals/hotels, so cost of lodging is a consideration. Airline ticket cost too.

I don't mind some rain, esspecially if it means nice flowers and fewer people.

 

[supersullivan]

In a position similar to november-moon, have managed to get 4 weeks away from work with a time window allowing me to start on any date from 1st to 31st May and am intending to cover the full stretch from SJPP, covered the Sarria to Santiago part of Camino this year so my main query is concerning the Spanish school year, I'd like to try to start and finish before the Spanish schools break for summer holidays - can anyone shed light on when this might be?

Slainte

Seamus

 

[Pathfinder89]

In a position similar to november-moon, have managed to get 4 weeks away from work with a time window allowing me to start on any date from 1st to 31st May and am intending to cover the full stretch from SJPP, covered the Sarria to Santiago part of Camino this year so my main query is concerning the Spanish school year, I'd like to try to start and finish before the Spanish schools break for summer holidays - can anyone shed light on when this might be?

My daughter teaches English in a small university near Valencia and the school calendar she sent me says that university classes and exams will be done on June 7 and secondary school on June 21. I don't know if this calendar applies to all school districts in Spain but it gives me an idea. I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances in May and finish in early June and then go see my daughter when she is done teaching.

 

[supersullivan]

My daughter teaches English in a small university near Valencia and the school calendar she sent me says that university classes and exams will be done on June 7 and secondary school on June 21. I don't know if this calendar applies to all school districts in Spain but it gives me an idea. I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances in May and finish in early June and then go see my daughter when she is done teaching.[/quote]

pathfinder, that information is a great help, tyvm, looks like I shall be arranging for a start around 21st/22nd May and aim for about 19th June to arrive in Santiago.