Need to bring a guidebook ?

Skaisthelimit

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Invierno, Francis, or Portuguese 2015

• Aug 10, 2015

• #1

What is essential for taking in terms of guides from Astorga to Santiago or is a Camino App suffice? I know the route is well marked ,but in terms of knowing distances and "what's next", as well as options of where to stay in each town, I must have something! Not keen on carrying any extra weight,but also want to have some sort of guideline to help "guide" my way

Best app suggestions???

Thanks!

 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

• Aug 10, 2015

• #2

urcamino.com

 

grayland

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Yes

• Aug 10, 2015

• #3

A guide book is not essential for finding the way or finding a place to sleep....but many of us like to know something of the area we are walking through. A guide will give you an idea of the distances and let you plan things to fit your requirements rather than following others in their plans.
A guide should also give you some choices in where to sleep and, usually, an idea of the cost.

John Brierley has a guide that is widely used on the Camino Frances...but there is now an excellent German guide that has just been translated into English. There are a couple of threads about the German guide active right now.
Here is a thread discussing the guides:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...and-yellow-german-guide-now-in-english.35636/

People have many opinions on carrying a guide..so just do what is comfortable for you.

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Aug 10, 2015

• #4

I love Brierley.
I also love the Eroski website, though it is in Spanish:
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/

 

Bajaracer

Camino Frances 2013 Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2013) Jun-Jul SJPDP to Finisterre

• Aug 10, 2015

• #5

caminoguide.net has a nice PDF guide that you can store on your device.

 

MaryLynn

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2011-2019 every year

• Aug 10, 2015

• #6

I like caminoguide.net. The basic guide with directions and accommodations is free (donation suggested), but for a small amount you can get the 'full' guide that includes some historical information. That is what I have taken with me the last few years. I keep the day's page at hand and carry the upcoming pages in my pack. You can also throw away each page after it is used and reprint it again after you get home for reference.

 

Kitsambler

Jakobsweg Junkie

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP 2023

• Aug 10, 2015

• #7

The new English translation of the German guide series is available on Kindle. And they did the translation project partially at my request. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010Q1ME6U/?tag=casaivar-21

 

Skaisthelimit

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Invierno, Francis, or Portuguese 2015

• Aug 19, 2015

• #8

Thanks all!

 

K

knietz

New Member

• Aug 25, 2015

• #9

MichaelSG said:

When we walked from SJPdP in 2012, we only the list of some albergues from the Pilgrim's Office, as well as the list they gave us that showed altitudes and distances between towns. That was all that was needed but a guide would certainly help if you want more information. Almost everyone had one that they might just share with you.

Click to expand...

I also walked in 2012, from Ponferrada to SDC without a guide of any kind, except a stylised linear map showing distances between towns, which I picked-up in the first albergue. I knew to walk west, and what the next town was, but that was all. I know now that I missed a lot of interesting things. Subsequently I have used Brierley's book, to great satisfaction, but you could use any resource. I definitely recommend using some kind of guide.