Most expensive tour yet?

[peregrina2000]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

 

[Klogwog]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

There is always someone wanting to make a quick Euro , (or in your case a quick buck ) you have to look around and find whats best suited for yourselves

 

[Latecomer]

..... but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

Add about $1300 for single supplement, if travelling alone, airfare, and insurance, and you could easily get the cost above $800 a day..

 

[nycwalking]

$6,995 um. Let me see: Via de la Plata, CF, and CP for that kinda money.
Too each their own.

 

[kdespot]

¡Caca santa!

 

[yaying]

oh my...not reasoning why i still cant pursue camino... as a bread winner... really sometimes holds me thinking sending kids for school or have my luxury dream as some called saunter camino! with that amount it will covers for my nieces & nephews aid them until college.

 

[Kanga]

Does that include air fares to and from Spain?

 

[VNwalking]

Jaw-dropping. That costs more than many people in the world make in an entire year.
No airfares are included, but paradors or 4-star hotels every night are.
(They're missing all the joys of albergues - to say nothing of a fat wad of cash after that little jaunt. At least the advertisement made no pretense of calling it a pilgrimage.)

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Makes me feel better about what I pay 'splurging' on a single room in a cheap pension!

 

[Paladina]

And then there's the delightfully inappropriate inclusion of Thoreau's 'Walking' on the recommended reading list 'to enrich your travels'!

 

[williamlittig]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

Thank you, thank you I might have missed the opportunity to tour so many places I walked through. I am concerned about the 2000 ft assent to OCebriero there was no mention of horses, another experience I missed. I was also hoping to see all the places that "The Way" was filmed. I'm going to save my money for the "Deluxe Journey"

 

[J F Gregory]

After airfare our Camino cost $2300.00 for 2 of us for 38 days, that included 2 days in Madrid. We travel from the US at least annually and have always traveled independently for the last 30 years. I am not putting down people that need that kind of service it everyone's personal preference.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

$6,995 and there is no guarantee of seeing the botafumeiro swinging.

 

[Stivandrer]

My joys of the Albergues is to have sound bites with me home, to certify to my wife that real Roncadores actually snore far worse than myself :
" you should have heard the other guy - listen to this !?"

 

[Saint Mike II]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

Hola Laurie - WOW - for that money one could fly business class from NY to Madrid, stay in a private room every night and still have money left over. Given its only 11 days they must be cherry picking some of the better bits. Cheers

 

[domigee]

Love this thread, thank you @peregrina2000
And to think I feel guilty when I book a cheap (and usually shared!) hotel room

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

A bit ridiculous!

 

[Purple Backpack]

Judge not, people. I wouldn't do it either but if someone else wants to spend their money this way, it's none of my business and Buen Camino to them! At least they are going on a trip instead of sitting at home.

I went on a trip (wasn't a pilgrimage at all) with a paid group from this forum last year for safety concerns and it was a huge mistake. I absolutely loved the walk and the route but the trip was ruined because of interpersonal and cultural issues (nope, no reason to go into that here). I'll never do a paid Camino again.

That said, if I ever have the opportunity to visit archeological or religious/historical sites, I would love to go with specialists like Smithsonian or National Geographic. It's a dream trip to go to Egypt or the Holy Land with those who can educate me on a level I can't experience on my own. If I get to do an Everest base trek, rock climbing in Patagonia or wander around Antartica with penguins, I'd want to be with an organized group led by professional guides. But an expensive tour on the Frances? Not for most of us who read and contribute to this forum.

But... if I ever win the lottery, a good chunk of money would go to exotic travel with National Geographic! Heck, I'd even offer to take some forum members! If they'd go...

 

[Turga]

Judge not, people. I wouldn't do it either but if someone else wants to spend their money this way, it's none of my business and Buen Camino to them! At least they are going on a trip instead of sitting at home.

Good point - agree!

 

[tomnorth]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

Yikes! That’s worth about three or four Caminos.

 

[trecile]

Yikes! That’s worth about three or four Caminos.

And not just 11 days!

 

[yaying]

But... if I ever win the lottery, a good chunk of money would go to exotic travel with National Geographic! Heck, I'd even offer to take some forum members! If they'd go...

hahaha i been praying to win also & now i include you too in my prayers to win and remember me to take me...

 

[Turga]

hahaha i been praying to win also & now i include you too in my prayers to win and remember me to take me...

I hope you will have your chance to go soon... One way or the other.

 

[Stivandrer]

The sad thing is that you are removing yourself from the finer points of the route.
If your stays are in "luxurious accomodations" as the article says, your impressions might falls short when you see the dust of the road, the dilapidated buildings and bridges. I think you will miss out on the experience altogether, when skipping through the landscape in selected bites; but, as some say, each to his or her own !
I have even heard some (American) travelers wondering how albergues can stay so cheap !? How a good buck can earned by sprucing up the tired old buildings and... (suggestions, suggestions..)
I don´t get it..and it honestly makes me sad.
I feel genuine gratitude when I see any building waiting to accomodate me and my weary frame ...
Some of us are not made out of gold and myself being three years away from retirement, am trying to scale down my own expectations by traveling cheap, to buy old models in gear and household appliances...

 

[yaying]

@stgcph thanks!
momentarily feel happy stalking around here in the forum and happily liking those who shared their photos & words until my own feet touch down, my own skin feel the breeze & my own eyes capture it..until then... so many wants to go, but few can afford to go but hopeful i belong to one of the few hehehe

 

[Purple Backpack]

I had to cancel this year's planned trip on the Le Puy route due to unforeseen financial priorities (a new sewer instead of a Camino? Yuck.) so I completely understand the financial end of this.

My point was just not to judge other pilgrims' Camino journeys. What if an elderly person lost a spouse, received some life insurance money and chose to spend it on an extravagant trip? Would you not say hello, give them a Compeed, pick up a round of beers or wish them a Buen Camino, simply because they chose to do their trip in a different way? Perhaps, they too, would have a life changing experience, even though they slept in Paradors instead of a huge bunk room. It's their pilgrimage, not mine.

Likewise, a Mendicant may not have the perfect pilgrimage, just because they took a vow of poverty. They may or may not find peace, happiness, love or a higher spirituality simply because they chose to forego material possessions. Perhaps money, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with the pilgrimage experience at all.

Most of us fall somewhere between these two extremes so I guess this heads back to the proverbial argument of what makes a "True Pilgrim". Sigh.

And Yaying and stgcph, you've got the first two spots on the We Won the Lottery Trip! Guess I better start buying tickets.

 

[yaying]

We Won the Lottery Trip! Guess I better start buying tickets.

Purple
Yahoooo! please, please advise 60days ahead of departure of the ticket so i can arrange my leave on this once in a lifetime bullet...
'A mansion doesn't guarantee to be a home'

 

[Turga]

Most of us fall somewhere between these two extremes so I guess this heads back to the proverbial argument of what makes a "True Pilgrim". Sigh.

Let's not go down that road again!

And Yaying and stgcph, you've got the first two spots on the We Won the Lottery Trip! Guess I better start buying tickets.

Backpack is ready....

 

[Richard A Stead]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

To me this is a total illustration of what has gone wrong with the Camino. A luxury holiday with a bit of walking. Just book a flight and start walking. Everything is marked,you cannot get lost,there is loads of accommodation and even if you are slightly out of your comfort zone you will meet lots of great people and have an adventure. A third of the price and ten times the fun.

 

[Ribeirasacra]

And after spending your children's inheritance one can, as said at the bottom of the article, spend a bit more in unrelated locations.

Extend your tour by adding on a 36 Hours+ trip. Choose from 11 destinations including Mexico City, Reykjavik, Casablanca and Delhi.

 

[Henry Appelt]

I quite like the idea of a team following me around with my own portable toilet. For that money, that is the least I'd expect. Oh, and rose petals sprinkled in front of me as I walk, to protect my delicate nose from malodorous fellow walkers.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Wow. I have been in the wrong business all this time.

 

[John Lloyd]

I quite like the idea of a team following me around with my own portable toilet. For that money, that is the least I'd expect. Oh, and rose petals sprinkled in front of me as I walk, to protect my delicate nose from malodorous fellow walkers.

Don't forget the assistant tour guides walking behind the Upper West Side Peregrinos whispering in ancient Roman fashion, "Momento mori" ("Remember, you must die!").

 

[redgoonerinoz]

Try Raw travel in Melbourne Australia. We did 42 days full Camino st jean to Santiago. Accommodation, luggage transport and 4 paradors. Aprox $5000. Excellent company.

 

[Trude]

Today's New York Times had a few pages at the end of the travel section advertising their "journeys." I guess that's tonier than "tours."

Camino de Santiago made the list -- 11 days, most meals included, several hours walking a day, some paradors, but still -- $6,995 seems outrageous.

https://www.nytimes.com/times-journeys/travel/hiking-pilgrims-footsteps-el-camino-de-santiago/

About $5,500 more than I spend......

 

[Purple Backpack]

And after spending your children's inheritance one can, as said at the bottom of the article, spend a bit more in unrelated locations.

Oooooooooooo. Is there a Camino to Casablanca?

 

[Ribeirasacra]

Oooooooooooo. Is there a Camino to Casablanca?

Yes just straight all the way down Spain to the port, ferry across the water and you are in the country.