Telephone communication & Albuergue Reservations

[Humbertico]

I have been reading about the benefits of switching to t-mobile from other carriers. My question is how difficult is it to communicate remotely in calling ahead to reserve for a place to stay and how early in each stage should you be doing this instead of just showing up by 2 pm when most open? Will these be land line calls which could be costly 30 plus stages. I have an Apple iPhone and currently have Verizon as my carrier. Gracias Perrigrinos. Humbertico

 

[Robert Long]

Two years ago I used my I Phone and Verizon. I purchased the $40 plan which gave me 100 minutes of international calling. We either booked on line or phoned ahead, sometimes two nights ahead every day. As we were slow walkers, it paid off; as often the Albergues were full. Our main difficulty was language. But with the help of our google translator and patience, we were able to make reservations with never a problem.

This year we are walking the Camino from Porto to Santiage. I plan to do the same thing. I do however, book the first few nights in advance of the trip so I know where I am staying.

Buen Camino
Bob

 

[Humbertico]

I have been reading about the benefits of switching to t-mobile from other carriers. My question is how difficult is it to communicate remotely in calling ahead to reserve for a place to stay and how early in each stage should you be doing this instead of just showing up by 2 pm when most open? Will these be land line calls which could be costly 30 plus stages. I have an Apple iPhone and currently have Verizon as my carrier. Gracias Perrigrinos. Humbertico

Gracias! A read on one of the blogs that sometimes in the Albuegue you are staying they can call ahead for you. Buen Camino

 

[Humbertico]

Humbertico[/QUOTE]
Gracias! I read on one of the blogs that sometimes in the Albuegue you are staying they can call ahead for you. Buen Camino

 

[trecile]

Use an app like Viber or Skype to make calls to landlines while you are on wifi. I haven't used Skype, but I know that you can buy credit with them to call any phone. With Viber if you buy $5 worth of credit it should last you the entire Camino. That said, it's usually not necessary to reserve in advance, so you wouldn't need to do it every day, though it can be more convenient. sometimes.

 

[Humbertico]

Use an app like Viber or Skype to make calls to landlines while you are on wifi. I haven't used Skype, but I know that you can buy credit with them to call any phone. With Viber if you buy $5 worth of credit it should last you the entire Camino. That said, it's usually not necessary to reserve in advance, so you wouldn't need to do it every day, though it can be more convenient. sometimes.

 

[Humbertico]

Thanks Peregrino!

 

[Anamiri]

My Spanish is basic, so it was a 50/50 chance for me as to whether I could actually make a booking, once the phone was answered. Sometimes I could ask at the albergue for them to call ahead, sometimes that conversation wasn't possible either. Too little English/too little Spanish combination. If the phone call wasn't a possibility I used Booking.com. At least that way I had a more accurate idea of what I was getting. The other way (phone) was a bit exciting, I never knew exactly what I was getting.
I made bookings a day ahead mostly.
Although in busy months we were advised to book from OCebreiro onward.

 

[MikeyC]

You can reserve at private albergues but not at the municipal or public ones which work on a first come first served basis. We have booked private albergues but if you book more than a few days ahead you will be asked to reconfirm the day before or on the day. This is to reduce the number of no shows whose ambition proved greater than the reality in terms of distance covered. However, if you do run out of steam catch a taxi forward and return next day to your stopping point rather than lose a reservation.

 

[Nate Bissonette]

MikeyC - I plan to walk a Short Stage Camino in May, using the plan Mark McCarthy posted in Resources. Success depends on being able to telephone for taxis. How much Spanish do I need? How much does a taxi cost per km?

 

[Tincatinker]

Local drivers along the Camino are well used to Pilgrims but where you are and where you want to go will be useful. The general rule for some years has been €1 / Km.

This number may come in handy

 

[MikeyC]

MikeyC - I plan to walk a Short Stage Camino in May, using the plan Mark McCarthy posted in Resources. Success depends on being able to telephone for taxis. How much Spanish do I need? How much does a taxi cost per km?

Hi Nate
I think Tinca's post pretty much covers it. Google translate or similar if you feel up to trying Spanish. Asking a fellow pilgrim for help is fine as well.
As per above picture local taxi firms advertise along the Camino so take pictures as you go.

 

[Nate Bissonette]

Tinca and Mikey - Thank you, that makes me feel much more confident.