Post-Camino Vacation Advice Sought

Richard Ray

Not What He Once Was

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Sep 2, 2018

• #1

Hoping to walk my second camino in May 2019. Hoping to have my wife meet me in SdC. It will be our 40th wedding anniversary. Looking to treat ourselves to a week's vacation at some seaside village in Spain or Portugal. Any locations/hotels anyone can recommend?

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Sep 2, 2018

• #2

I absolutely loved Castro-Urdiales, on the Camino del Norte. Not too big, but big enough to have plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops for browsing. Beautiful countryside around, close to the Picos and plenty of sightseeing possibilities.

 

Richard Ray

Not What He Once Was

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Sep 2, 2018

• #3

Kanga said:

I absolutely loved Castro-Urdiales, on the Camino del Norte. Not too big, but big enough to have plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops for browsing. Beautiful countryside around, close to the Picos and plenty of sightseeing possibilities.

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Thanks Kanga. Castro-Urdiales looks very enticing!

 

natefaith

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2009, 2014, 2017

• Sep 2, 2018

• #4

Congratulations!! I wanted to recommend a bunch of places in Galicia, but then remembered that in May it is usually still cool and can be quite rainy in northern Spain. If you're looking for a warm vacation you might want to try Cadiz or Malaga, or something else in southern Spain or on the Mediterranean. Lisbon is also beautiful! And I've heard a lot about the Azores, Faro, and the Canary Islands. Hope you find a wonderful place to celebrate!

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Sep 2, 2018

• #5

Yes, @natefaith is right, I love the north which is lush, green, and full of flowers in spring, but it could also b rainy and cold.

 

S

Syncro

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francais

• Sep 2, 2018

• #6

Hi Richard,

Congratulations! What a wonderful time to celebrate!

I based myself in Lisbon for a few days post my treks and took some easy day trips from there. First, I went to a gorgeous seaside town just about 30-40 min away by train called Cascais. It has a swanky feel to it and is filled with wonderful boutique shops, restaurants, historic sites and some gorgeous hidden beaches and coves. I would go again for sure. I also spent a night in Sintra which is another short distance by train from Cascais -- it's in the mountains and looks rather magical with picturesque castles but areas can get a bit touristy; still, I'm glad I went.

Enjoy!!

 

valevenga

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

I am currently walking the Camino del Norte summer 2018

• Sep 2, 2018

• #7

Kanga said:

I absolutely loved Castro-Urdiales, on the Camino del Norte. Not too big, but big enough to have plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops for browsing. Beautiful countryside around, close to the Picos and plenty of sightseeing possibilities.

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Castro Urdiales was one of my favorites too....along with Deba, Comillas, and Zarautz....more populated areas San Sabastian, Porto (river cruise up the Douro), and Lisbon ....loved them all!!! Happy Anniversary!!!

 

nycwalking

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF: 2001, 02, 04, 14. Ourense to Santiago 2019.

• Sep 2, 2018

• #8

How about visiting Madrid with its museums.

Or Barcelona.

Enjoy your 40TH.

Buen camino to you both.

 

Jeff Crawley

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

A "Tourigrino" trip once Covid has passed, so 2023

• Sep 2, 2018

• #9

nycwalking said:

How about visiting Madrid with its museums.

Or Barcelona.

Enjoy your 40TH.

Buen camino to you both.

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Probably not Barcelona - saturated with tourists that generate income but at a high price to the locals who are becoming resentful see this.

 

Shalaw

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances Sept/Oct 2015
Portuguese is next!

• Sep 2, 2018

• #10

If you’re willing to go south, Malaga is fabulous. You can rent a car and go to Ronda - check the pics out online , it’s just stunning - and you can also drive to Tarifa and take a 35 minute boat ride to Morroco. Or, you could also do what we did, post-Camino, which was fly from Caruna (sp) to Paris, rented a car and visited all the D-Day beaches in Normandy and Ypres and chilled out in Etretat (check out pics of Etretat - also stunning!) and Brugge. Was a fantastic way to reintegrate back into society. Lol

 

nycwalking

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF: 2001, 02, 04, 14. Ourense to Santiago 2019.

• Sep 2, 2018

• #11

Jeff Crawley said:

Probably not Barcelona - saturated with tourists that generate income but at a high price to the locals who are becoming resentful see this.

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Oh my!

 

GailGwyn

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

part Camino Frances (2013), Part Camino Norte (2014)Camino Frances (2019)Camino Portuguese (2020)

• Sep 2, 2018

• #12

Richard Ray said:

Hoping to walk my second camino in May 2019. Hoping to have my wife meet me in SdC. It will be our 40th wedding anniversary. Looking to treat ourselves to a week's vacation at some seaside village in Spain or Portugal. Any locations/hotels anyone can recommend?

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Porto is a beautiful city and very walkable. If you're a Harry Potter fan? the book shop where J K Rowling spent a lot of her time whilst researching/writing is in the middle of the city.

 

Carol06

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (May 2012)
Frances (May 2015) all going well and with my husband this time.

• Sep 2, 2018

• #13

Richard Ray said:

Hoping to walk my second camino in May 2019. Hoping to have my wife meet me in SdC. It will be our 40th wedding anniversary. Looking to treat ourselves to a week's vacation at some seaside village in Spain or Portugal. Any locations/hotels anyone can recommend?

Click to expand...

I was flying home to New Zealand from Barcelona and spent a few days there. Barcelona was too big and busy but a one hour bus ride away is Tossa del Mar. It is a delightful seaside town that is just the right size to mellow out from the Camino. There is a large castle and it's old town on the cliff top that we explored every day and some lovely little restaurants up there. And the highlight is the Cap d'Or family run hotel that nestles hard up against the castle walls. It is right on the beach and cannot be faulted. My husband joined me on my second Camino and we stayed at Tossa together and in the same hotel. He wanted to sell our home in NZ and return there permanently. It is magical.

 

Richard Ray

Not What He Once Was

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Sep 8, 2018

• #14

Thanks Carol!

 

Sheffield James

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2018, (2019)

• Sep 8, 2018

• #15

Lots of great suggestions above. A Coruña is lovely for 2-3 days and is relatively close to Santiago. San Sebastián is further away, but is probably the jewel of the northern Spanish coastline. Porto is well-worth a visit, too.

 

Richard Ray

Not What He Once Was

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Sep 9, 2018

• #16

Many thanks to all who have offered such terrific suggestions. Now I guess it's just a matter of choosing.....

 

OzAnnie

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Oct/Nov 2022_Mozarabe from Almeria

• Dec 30, 2019

• #17

Richard Ray said:

Many thanks to all who have offered such terrific suggestions. Now I guess it's just a matter of choosing.....

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I’ve just found this thread again - more than a year later .. wondering whether the meet up happened and where you chose for your getaway ?
I guess I’m a romantic or just nosey ..

Annie

 

Lee Jackson

Remotelee

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances Apr-may 2017 Portugues (2018) Norte (2018) Le Puy (2019) Celtic (2019) Frances (2019)

• Dec 30, 2019

• #18

Richard Ray said:

Hoping to walk my second camino in May 2019. Hoping to have my wife meet me in SdC. It will be our 40th wedding anniversary. Looking to treat ourselves to a week's vacation at some seaside village in Spain or Portugal. Any locations/hotels anyone can recommend?

Click to expand...

Hi I went to Malaga after I finished. It was a short flight from Santiago and only about $70 E one way. Beautiful city and not expensive

 

Saint Mike II

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

cycled from Pamplona Sep 2015;Frances, walked from St Jean May/June 2017. Plans to walk Porto 2020

• Dec 30, 2019

• #19

I am hoping to be accepted as a Pilgrim House volunteer after I finish the Porto. From there its a family history pilgrimage to Ireland and Somerset County in western England.

 

Richard Ray

Not What He Once Was

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Dec 30, 2019

• #20

OzAnnie said:

I’ve just found this thread again - more than a year later .. wondering whether the meet up happened and where you chose for your getaway ?
I guess I’m a romantic or just nosey ..

Annie

Click to expand...

Thanks for your note Annie. We had a lovely 10 days split between Santiago de Compostela, San Sebastian, and Barcelona. A bit rainy, but lovely anyway. Thanks.
Rich