Starting in Sarria October 25th. I am from Miami Beach...

[Shaman]

and this is my first Camino and I'll be walking solo. I'm planning to take it really easy. I have several questions:
How long does it take and where do I go to get to get an SIM cell phone card for Spain in Sarria?
When you change dollars into Euros, is the exchange rate the same everywhere or are there some better deals in certain banks or airports? I am planning to exchange my money at the Barajas airport in Madrid. Is that OK?
Is it better to take a bus or a train to go from Santiago, where I arrive, to Sarria: how much and how often do they run?
Some people say that it's better to book private accomodations ahead of time. Since I am walking the last week in October and the first week in November, would I still need to do that? I've already booked the Sarria accomodation.
I want to take it easy and walk about 4 hours maximum per day. Could someone recommend a certain itinerary of where to stay, Sarria-Santiago in 13 days?
Any advise you give me would be appreciated.
I speak Spanish fluently. I hope I can be of some service to the pilgrims walking with me.
I'm very much into Yoga and meditation. Let me know if you share similar interests. Maybe we can do yoga and/or meditate together.
OM SHANTI,
Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Vodafone in Sarria for a SIM chip:

CL CALVO SOTELO 95, SARRIA, LUGO

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You can take the bus from the airport to Lugo, then connect to Sarria.
Autobuses disponibles:
Jueves, 25 de Octubre de 2012.
Salida Llegada Días servicio
7:10 9:00 LMMJVSD
9:25 11:25 LMMJV
11:10 13:00 LMMJVSD
12:55 14:35 LMMJVS
16:10 18:05 LMMJVSD
18:40 20:30 LMMJVSD
20:10 21:55 LMMJVD

http://sarria.es/pdf/enlace_lugo.pdf

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The train from Santiago to Sarria:

http://sarria.es/pdf/horarios-trenes.pdf

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi,

13 days from Sarria means that you will an average of less than 10 kms a day. I'm in the process of helping some friends plan a camino from Sarria, and they too are walking slower than average but a little faster than you plan. We're using the mundicamino.com website for lists of accommodation. There are lots of listings and it's a good place for you to start. You can see the distances, elevation gains, towns in between, lists of albergues and pensions, etc.

The first day from Sarria, I can tell you, you have two nice private options. In Barbadelo, about 5 kms from Sarria (so much less than 3-4 hours) there is the Casa Barbadelo http://www.barbadelo.com/ About 12 kms from Sarria, you will find this lovely place http://www.casamorgade.com/ I'd suggest you take a look at the mundicamino maps and listings, because with distances as short as you would like you may need to find some creative alternatives.

Are you planning to stay in albergues as well as in private pensions, hotels, etc? If so, that opens up more options for you. For instance, between Portomarin and Palas there are several towns with no hotels/pensions but several albergues.

About cell phones -- I think the consensus is that movistar has better coverage than vodaphone. Wherever there's a vodaphone store, there's a movistar store within spitting distance. Either one is fine, though.

Money -- I can just tell you what everyone I know does. ATMs for cash withdrawals. They are everywhere and it's easy. Just be sure to have some extra cash stowed away for emergencies because you may hit a small town with no ATM or one broken ATM, etc. I know some people who only use ATMs when the facility they are connected to is open just in case the machine eats the card. I've never had a problem, though. Paying with credit card is apparently the best option for exchange rate, especially if you get a no-fee card like Cap One or Charles Schwab (at least that's what I've been told). I have been surprised at how many small grocery stores, etc, accept credit cards and I always go for that option. I would never exchange money at one of those exchange booths at the airport -- bad rates, high fees, and then you're stuck with huge amounts of cash. I tend to take out 200 euros and then replenish when I get down to 30-50, but many people do it differently.

I don't think you need to worry about making reservations at that time of year, unless there will be a problem with places closing for the season. I've never walked that late in the year, so I'll leave that call to others.

Buen camino! Laurie