Post-Camino Vacation Advice Sought

[Richard Ray]

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]

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]

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.

Thanks Kanga. Castro-Urdiales looks very enticing!

 

[natefaith]

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]

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.

 

[Syncro]

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]

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.

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]

How about visiting Madrid with its museums.

Or Barcelona.

Enjoy your 40TH.

Buen camino to you both.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

How about visiting Madrid with its museums.

Or Barcelona.

Enjoy your 40TH.

Buen camino to you both.

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

 

[Shalaw]

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]

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

Oh my!

 

[GailGwyn]

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?

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]

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?

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]

Thanks Carol!

 

[Sheffield James]

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]

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

 

[OzAnnie]

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

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]

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?

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]

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]

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

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