Maple Leaf Walker
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
There is no such thing most places. Some albergues allow you to book through booking.com, but the hostales have a set rate for everyone (generally). San Martin Pinario in Santiago will have a pilgrim rate if you call or email, but not on their reservation website.it doesn't seem to quote peregrino rates.
If you want pilgrim rates call directly. Owners are already forking out a commission to Booking; it would be a bit much to expect them to also give the pilgrim rate on top of it.
@Maple Leaf Walker be careful to check the location of the accommodation on a map, if you are using a booking agency. What is "near" or "at" a place by car is very far when walking.
Why not just try not booking a room or a bed for a few days and see how it goes? Most people do that and always seem to find beds. However, if you plan to stay in hotels or casa rurales, booking ahead probably makes more sense, but it's seldom necessary to reserve more than a day in advance or even on the morning of the same day. Others have pointed out that you might get lower rates by reserving directly rather than using online services like booking.com--many options are listed in Camino guidebooks or on sites like gronze.com, usually with a phone number or direct website. Also, you'll see signs posted along the way for many private albergues which accept reservations for beds--again, just calling ahead earlier in the day has always worked for me, even on the last 100km stretch after Sarria. Of course to do that you'll need a phone with a Spanish SIM card, which is a topic that has been well-covered elsewhere on this forum. Just do a search for "SIM cards" or Spanish SIM cards."I start my Camino in a week. Thinking I might try and book accommodations ahead day by day using the Booking.com app. But when I try to, it doesn't seem to quote peregrino rates. Just full rate. Does that get recitified when I show up with my Camino passport?
No such thing.... well, sometimes they are. But not this oneMany thanks, all. I'm new at this so I'm glad I've been able to ask my dumb questions here before I leave! ツ
There is no such thing most places. Some albergues allow you to book through booking.com, but the hostales have a set rate for everyone (generally). San Martin Pinario in Santiago will have a pilgrim rate if you call, but no online.
Hospies are very used to English on the other end of the phone and know the request is always the same: a bed.For those of you who phone ahead for a room,
do you usually get someone who speaks English?
My limited Spanish will get me by in a bar/restaurant but no way on a phone.
Maple Leaf, you are correct. No need for a Spanish SIM card at all."Of course to do that you'll need a phone with a Spanish SIM car"
I'm Canadian and am bringing my phone with its existing SIM with me. My carrier includes roam like home which essentially lets me use my 7gb data and long distance plan while in Spain for a fee that is capped at $100/month.
I have an extra iphone that I'm going to put a Spanish SIM card in."Of course to do that you'll need a phone with a Spanish SIM car"
Not quite sure what you mean. I'm Canadian and am bringing my phone with its existing SIM with me. My carrier includes roam like home which essentially lets me use my 7gb data and long distance plan while in Spain for a fee that is capped at $100/month. I understand that I could swap my SIM for less but the difference of $60 isn't worth the hassle for me vs being able to receive calls at my current number.
Lol! Wait till you find out booking in advance doesn't equal a good nights sleep. Also, it didn't happen to me but a woman I met had her reservation given away. Make sure if you have a reservation that you let the place know what time you will be arriving or at least that you will be arriving that day if you don't know.To question: "why not just try to not book and see how it goes..." ideally I would do just that. But I leave in a week and figure that I'll be hitting it at peak season. As it is, I arrive in Pamplona during San Fermin, so I booked my first night in advance assuming I'll benefit from a good night's sleep before I get on my way.
This is my first Camino. So I'm trying to not overplan, but also want to make sure I don't find myself stuck without a place when I'm dog tired.
That will probably work. However, FWIW when we walked the Francés in 2013, my wife used Verizon's roaming plan and didn't have very good coverage outside the larger towns and cities. I had a Spanish SIM card (Orange Mundo) and it worked everywhere along the Camino except for one very remote section. You might check some of your Canadian friends or with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims Facebook group and see what their experiences have been like if they used their home carrier's roaming plan."Of course to do that you'll need a phone with a Spanish SIM car"
Not quite sure what you mean. I'm Canadian and am bringing my phone with its existing SIM with me. My carrier includes roam like home which essentially lets me use my 7gb data and long distance plan while in Spain for a fee that is capped at $100/month. I understand that I could swap my SIM for less but the difference of $60 isn't worth the hassle for me vs being able to receive calls at my current number.
I have an extra iphone that I'm going to put a Spanish SIM card in.
I have friends in country but they will mostly be at work. If they are in a meeting or such it can be an hour or two before they can make the call for me. I'm trying to avoid that
Re SIM card options: Good to know! I'll have a look when I arrive in Spain. I have a four hour stopover at Barcelona, and I figure there's no shortage of Vodaphone kiosks in the building.
Roaming fees are a fraction of what they used to be so it's a trade off: convenience of not having to hassle with this or saving about 60 bucks.
I have an extra iphone that I'm going to put a Spanish SIM card in.
I have friends in country but they will mostly be at work. If they are in a meeting or such it can be an hour or two before they can make the call for me. I'm trying to avoid that
Noted. I fly in to Pamplona later that day arriving around 4, so that leaves me a few hours to look around town for one if needed.
That will probably work. However, FWIW when we walked the Francés in 2013, my wife used Verizon's roaming plan and didn't have very good coverage outside the larger towns and cities. I had a Spanish SIM card (Orange Mundo) and it worked everywhere along the Camino except for one very remote section. You might check some of your Canadian friends or with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims Facebook group and see what their experiences have been like if they used their home carrier's roaming plan.
Buen Camino!
Concierge service for the price of a glass of vino or a beer?Don't worry, there always will be on the Frances anyway, someone who speaks Spanish and who can help.
I do this regularly for fellow pilgrims. Anything for a free vino/ beer...just kidding
@Maple Leaf Walker really good that you booked that night in Pamplona during San Fermin; usually there is nothing available for miles around and pilgrims have great trouble. But don't count on getting much sleep!
I'm starting in Leon July 23 ( have to be in Madrid August 13 to get the wife at the airport ) booked my first night for Leon and also the second night in Villar De Mazarife. After that I'm going to take it day by day.To the question: "why not just try to not book and see how it goes..." ideally I would do just that. But I leave in a week and figure that I'll be hitting it at peak season. As it is, I arrive in Pamplona during San Fermin, so I booked my first night in advance assuming I'll benefit from a good night's sleep before I get on my way.
This is my first Camino. So I'm trying to not overplan, but also want to make sure I don't find myself stuck without a place when I'm dog tired.
Walked the Portuguese Central with Telus and did just fine. Orange failed me on the Primitivo on top of the Hospitales roite but was ok everywhere else.You might check some of your Canadian friends or with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims Facebook group and see what their experiences have been like if they used their home carrier's roaming plan.
Buen Camino!
I used Verizon's international roaming plan last year. $10 bucks a day.That will probably work. However, FWIW when we walked the Francés in 2013, my wife used Verizon's roaming plan and didn't have very good coverage outside the larger towns and cities. I had a Spanish SIM card (Orange Mundo) and it worked everywhere along the Camino except for one very remote section. You might check some of your Canadian friends or with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims Facebook group and see what their experiences have been like if they used their home carrier's roaming plan.
Buen Camino!
Wow! And is canadians complain. I paid 75$C or so for the 3 weeks.I used Verizon's international roaming plan last year. $10 bucks a day.
It wasn't the end of the world. Guess I used it about 15 days over a months time. Never had a problem with coverage but now I have an extra phone which I'll put a Spanish SIM card in.
I'll carry two phones but it's the best idea I can come up with
I remember my first cell phone. It was the size of a brick & almost as heavy. $1 a minute to talk. No text. No Apps, no camera, no nothing.Wow! And is canadians complain. I paid 75$C or so for the 3 weeks.
I used Verizon's international roaming plan last year. $10 bucks a day.
It wasn't the end of the world. Guess I used it about 15 days over a months time. Never had a problem with coverage but now I have an extra phone which I'll put a Spanish SIM card in.
I'll carry two phones but it's the best idea I can come up with
Yes, very often used by expats. But pricy.I just heard from a pilgrim here in Muxia that he has a phone that can hold two SIM cards. Does anyone know how that would work? Does the user have to select one or is there some sort of auto-select like with wifi?
Lol! Wait till you find out booking in advance doesn't equal a good nights sleep. Also, it didn't happen to me but a woman I met had her reservation given away. Make sure if you have a reservation that you let the place know what time you will be arriving or at least that you will be arriving that day if you don't know.
I speak Spanish but that is great advice to anyone using booking. I always set up my arrival through the booking app. No problem.Use Google or Microsoft Translator on your smart phone to send an e-mail ahead to update your planned arrival time and to let them know that YOU WILL BE THERE. This has worked flawlessly for me, for the past five years.
Who is your Canadian phone provider? I have been debating getting my phone unlocked and a Spanish sim card."Of course to do that you'll need a phone with a Spanish SIM car"
Not quite sure what you mean. I'm Canadian and am bringing my phone with its existing SIM with me. My carrier includes roam like home which essentially lets me use my 7gb data and long distance plan while in Spain for a fee that is capped at $100/month. I understand that I could swap my SIM for less but the difference of $60 isn't worth the hassle for me vs being able to receive calls at my current number.
I have done this with Telus and now Koodo.Who is your Canadian phone provider? I have been debating getting my phone unlocked and a Spanish sim card.
Thanks I will check this out as they are my provider. By the time you pay to have your phone unlocked, get a Spanish sim card and a trip to the store it might end up being pretty close.I have done this with Telus and now Koodo.
There are also resources on this site, as well at the Pilgrim office in StJPdP, which is where I picked mine up, knowing it would be current.I'm using three sources for picking alburgues: the Wise Pilgrim app, TrailSmart app and Leslie Gilmour's guide on the kindle app all on my phone. And based on the excellent, kind advice from everyone in this thread, I'll stick with calling the albergues directly to book.
I swear it's a generational thing: looking at the telephone part of a phone as nearly an afterthought.
And that is why I purchased Google's Nexus phone; it may be different now but at the time, it was the only phone you could purchase unlocked. Also very happy with its camera, even though I carry my own. An unlocked phone is helpful when you're travelling to different countries. I too am a Koodo customer, however I just prepay my bill for the time I'm away and use a sim card for whatever country I'm in. Still works out better financially for me.Thanks I will check this out as they are my provider. By the time you pay to have your phone unlocked, get a Spanish sim card and a trip to the store it might end up being pretty close.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?