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I am thinking by 'travel company' you mean have a travel agent set up places for you to stay each night. Is that correct?In 2015 my husband and I completed the Camino Frances. It was an amazing life changing experience and we would like to walk it again next May. When we did the Camino we did not book accommodation ahead of us but simply enjoyed the freedom and allowed the Camino to provide. I have read that many people book ahead now and am unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for your advice. I will certainly check out Gronze.com.Rather than paying a company to book accommodation for you and lock you into their schedule, I suggest that you book a day or two ahead as you go. That way you keep flexibility for unexpected illness, injury, weather conditions, or just the desire to take a rest day.
For the Camino Francés I think that it's a good idea to book your accommodation up through Pamplona. After that the pilgrim traffic tends to spread out as there are more "off stage" towns to stop at.
A good resource for albergues, hotels, pensions, etc on the Camino is Gronze.com. They list phone numbers, email addresses, and websites of the properties, and also a link to booking.com for those places that use that platform.
Gronze is in Spanish, but if you use the chrome browser it will translate to English.
El Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com
Bienvenido a Gronze, tu Guía del Camino de Santiago: Información práctica, actualizada y participativa de los principales Caminos de Santiago.www.gronze.com
I have had occasional luck with hotels.comThank you for your advice. We like to book at SJDP and also Orrison. Is there an app you might know of other than booking.com that lists accommodation as we would prefer our own room.
No we haven’t had problems as never booked ahead before.I have had occasional luck with hotels.com
Have you had problems with booking.com?
Thank you for your suggestion. I will also keep in mind.Gronze uses links to Booking.com but has a wider range of options than Booking.com.
If you have enough Spanish, you can book direct and save some cash as Booking.com charge the hotels a hefty fee.
The other suggestion is to have WhatsApp on your phone as many small hotels and AirBnB (within Europe at least) have a WhatsApp number which is useful to contact the hotel.
You haven't said what date you plan to walk.unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
This was my very first thought also. If you start in October or later or the beginning of April or earlier you should have little to no problem with reservations. I assume you want to walk the Camino Frances again. I understand why but there are many other wonderful caminos to walk.You haven't said what date you plan to walk.
Exactly and it removes any and all spontiaty out of your camino. The itinerary dictates when you will rest and how far you will walk. Personally I think the only thing that should dictate when you walk and rest is your body telling you to. The only entity that should tell you where to take extra time to stay somewhere because that place is pulling you or an injury or your body is telling you to stop is your heart, body and spirit.Many people, often first timers, choose a travel company because of a fear of the unknown, a perfectly rational reason.
But if you have already walked the whole of the Camino Frances, you have the run of it now and know what to expect.. though you will find it busier and more expensive of course
Find your own middle way. The advice above is good, but I’d clarify my understanding of one point - it’s unusual to get a better rate direct for the same room as offered on booking.com. Part of their contract with the accommodation providers is that they’re not undercut - that’s one of the reasons why (usually) the providers only list a proportion of their capacity there.In 2015 my husband and I completed the Camino Frances. It was an amazing life changing experience and we would like to walk it again next May. When we did the Camino we did not book accommodation ahead of us but simply enjoyed the freedom and allowed the Camino to provide. I have read that many people book ahead now and am unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
My understanding is that they are still busing people around most of Navarra straight to Logrono and then you can start walk from thereOff topic, but have the wild fires dimmed in the area past Pamplona? Are pilgrims able to walk again? Moderators, feel free to place this in a more appropriate thread.
The Wise Pilgrim app was great for us in finding accommodation, especially small ones not on booking.com. All types of accommodation were listed, from albergues to fancy hotels. Often, there were email addresses or phone #s to call for reservations, so you could bypass booking.com and put that 15% in the albergue's pockets.Thank you for your advice. We like to book at SJDP and also Orrison. Is there an app you might know of other than booking.com that lists accommodation as we would prefer our own room.
I am an outlier i guess. I loved using a travel company and i have gone solo, I used bookings.com so i have compared. For basically $100 /day i received baggage transport, my own room, my own bathroom. On my latest walk 3 couples I met got Covid - they thought from the crowded Gites..., many had trouble getting accomodation as the route was very popular...so this time I opted for the company Yes there are flexibility issues but you have to give up something to get something, and there is a money consideration. For me ( a senior) it was perfect...like the Camino to each their ownIn 2015 my husband and I completed the Camino Frances. It was an amazing life changing experience and we would like to walk it again next May. When we did the Camino we did not book accommodation ahead of us but simply enjoyed the freedom and allowed the Camino to provide. I have read that many people book ahead now and am unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
the worst possible nightmare [for me] : getting covid on the WayI am an outlier i guess. I loved using a travel company and i have gone solo, I used bookings.com so i have compared. For basically $100 /day i received baggage transport, my own room, my own bathroom. On my latest walk 3 couples I met got Covid - they thought from the crowded Gites..., many had trouble getting accomodation as the route was very popular...so this time I opted for the company Yes there are flexibility issues but you have to give up something to get something, and there is a money consideration. For me ( a senior) it was perfect...like the Camino to each their own
Thank you for your advice. We like to book at SJDP and also Orrison. Is there an app you might know of other than booking.com that lists accommodation as we would prefer our own room.
Hi Marylou, it sounds like you have had a very successful Camino without incident or injury; I'm very happy for you!So this time, it worked out well for me. I had no physical issues that required rest, and had already adjusted walking distances (not over 25 km).
As a first timer going to the Frances 6/2023 alone and not a youngster,I looked at both options.For me I feel more comfortable with this approach since they know the lay of land and I do not.The Camino is still up to me with no assistance except lodging and bag transfer.I was able to do an itinerary that I wantedIn 2015 my husband and I completed the Camino Frances. It was an amazing life changing experience and we would like to walk it again next May. When we did the Camino we did not book accommodation ahead of us but simply enjoyed the freedom and allowed the Camino to provide. I have read that many people book ahead now and am unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
I looked at many approaches.The travel companies with a set itinerary did not work for me.I have chosen to go with a company,only setting up lodging,and bag transfer.The Camino is still mine to do.As a first timer,alone and not a youngster,I will be doing it 6/2023.It gives me a sense of security.So as each of us has our own approach this I feel is best for me.I was able to set up my own itinerary,rest days,miles etc.Good luck with your trip!In 2015 my husband and I completed the Camino Frances. It was an amazing life changing experience and we would like to walk it again next May. When we did the Camino we did not book accommodation ahead of us but simply enjoyed the freedom and allowed the Camino to provide. I have read that many people book ahead now and am unsure whether or not to go with a Travel Company. My fear is that the freedom and flexibility will be gone. I would dearly love to hear your thoughts.
Pilgrims were already posting comments on 24/6 that the Camino had re-opened from Pamplona.My understanding is that they are still busing people around most of Navarra straight to Logrono and then you can start walk from there
Agree!I am an outlier i guess. I loved using a travel company and i have gone solo, I used bookings.com so i have compared. For basically $100 /day i received baggage transport, my own room, my own bathroom. On my latest walk 3 couples I met got Covid - they thought from the crowded Gites..., many had trouble getting accomodation as the route was very popular...so this time I opted for the company Yes there are flexibility issues but you have to give up something to get something, and there is a money consideration. For me ( a senior) it was perfect...like the Camino to each their own
It was a great way for me to go. Good luck, and enjoy every minute.As a first timer going to the Frances 6/2023 alone and not a youngster,I looked at both options.For me I feel more comfortable with this approach since they know the lay of land and I do not.The Camino is still up to me with no assistance except lodging and bag transfer.I was able to do an itinerary that I wanted
I looked at many approaches.The travel companies with a set itinerary did not work for me.I have chosen to go with a company,only setting up lodging,and bag transfer.The Camino is still mine to do.As a first timer,alone and not a youngster,I will be doing it 6/2023.It gives me a sense of security.So as each of us has our own approach this I feel is best for me.I was able to set up my own itinerary,rest days,miles etc.Good luck with your trip!
I don't mind them having lunch as long as they invite meCorreos provide multi-lingual customer service and have thousands of employees. Your baggage company might just be out-to-lunch
Nah, only joking...
Actually it's gonna be my first Camino. I'm just participating in this post. My Camino will be the Camino del Norte. Only from San Sebastian to Bilbao in late October.If you have done a caminio before my suggestion is to book you own trip. When you are going, the season, can be problematic. Private accommodations, in Sept. and early Oct. 22 are really pretty booked up on the CF from SJPdP to Pamplona and then Sarria to SdC. You willl also find difficult to find a room during the WineFestival in Sept. in Logrono and Hispanic day in many places.
Correos.com ( paq mochilla) is my first choice for sending a bag ahead.
I've never used a company to arrange my Camino, but it's my guess that they contract with one of the existing baggage forwarding services.So it's quite important that we're assured that our luggage will be at the next stop when we get there. I've already asked some who have used Correos and they all say that they are very reliable. The only worry is that if a problem arises I don't think there's someone I can call at Correos compared to when something does go wrong with the travel company I can reach them right away
As a retired travel agent this was my thought as well. You might want to ask your agent who is providing their ground services. Even if they have a good number of clients walking at the same time, it would be prohibitively expensive to provide dedicated bag transfer service across several hundred Camino miles. And rather pointless since a variety of companies are already doing just that...... it's my guess that they contract with one of the existing baggage forwarding services.
Actually, if you can email, Correos, the company is great about retrieving bags, if you order online. I only had a bag delayed once, over several Caminos….and it was my error, not Correos’. There was a new albergue with a very similar name to one which I always use but I checked the new, wrong destination, on the computer. When the bag did not show up on time, I immediately contacted Correos by email in English and the bag was retrieved and driven to my location within an hour! They are efficient! No chargeThe advantage of booking with a company, of course, is if you bags don't show up -- a very outside chance -- they're the ones who have to straighten it out, not you. But you'll still be without your bags in the meantime. Still, that may be peace of mind worth paying for.
Yep that's the peace of mind that my wife wantsAs a retired travel agent this was my thought as well. You might want to ask your agent who is providing their ground services. Even if they have a good number of clients walking at the same time, it would be prohibitively expensive to provide dedicated bag transfer service across several hundred Camino miles. And rather pointless since a variety of companies are already doing just that.
The advantage of booking with a company, of course, is if you bags don't show up -- a very outside chance -- they're the ones who have to straighten it out, not you. But you'll still be without your bags in the meantime. Still, that may be peace of mind worth paying for.
Thanks...that sounds very reassuring. Will tell my wife about it and hopefully she'll reconsider.Actually, if you can email, Correos, the company is great about retrieving bags, if you order online. I only had a bag delayed once, over several Caminos….and it was my error, not Correos’. There was a new albergue with a very similar name to one which I always use but I checked the new, wrong destination, on the computer. When the bag did not show up on time, I immediately contacted Correos by email in English and the bag was retrieved and driven to my location within an hour! They are efficient! No charge
You would be paying significantly for that reassurance. The transport companies do an excellent job, the only issues I have heard of is when you book at an Airbnb or apartment and there is no one to receive your luggag. Keep that in mind for your bookings and you will be fine.Yep that's the peace of mind that my wife wantsBut from what I've read so far Correos does seem to be reliable. Plus definitely it'll be much cheaper if I book the hotels and luggage transfers myself rather than using a booking company.
Thanks for the concern. Yes I've been told to make sure to get accommodations with a 24 front desk. I'm gonna be booking hotels nor airbnb so this won't be a problem. Plus I've check the Correos website and they do list down all the hotels that they serve in each city.Two concerns from my POV:
!.) As Auburnfive states there is never anyone "waiting" to greet you at an AirbnB normally so your bags may end up sitting in the rain in full public view,
2.) I have read numerous comments where pilgrims who used booking service found out later that their accommodations were well of the Camino trail, requiring taxi service to and from the route. I guess my only warning would be to specify that you want convenient, close-by locations and then check the map to see if that is what you were offered.
Thanks for the concern. Yes I've been told to make sure to get accommodations with a 24 front desk. I'm gonna be booking hotels nor airbnb so this won't be a problem. Plus I've check the Correos website and they do list down all the hotels that they serve in each city.
The booking services did state in their website that when the accommodation is out of the way that they would provide a car service. But again I've decided not to avail of their services anymore since the wife has agreed that we do it on our own. I just have to make sure that the hotels are easy to access.
Thanks!!!As someone who loves planning, I do enjoy looking up places and booking my own accommodation! To me it feels like I’m doing the trip/Camino twice, first time when I do all my research, and second time when I actually go do it!
Good luck and buen camino @ciotime!
Will do thanks!!!Use Gronze to check that your chosen accommodation is on or very close to the Camino. It also has a map of each town's accommodations that they list.
And you can type "Camino" into the search bar of the reviews section to more easily find those comments.One more suggestion….if you use booking.com make sure to look at the comments section. Often previously walkers will say things like “ very friendly to pilgrims” or “ right on the Camino trail” which can be very helpful
Thanks...we've decided to no longer use the booking service but instead book the hotels on our own and use Correos.I vaguely remember that Caminoways used one of the popular luggage services ( tho not Correos) for our transfer. Ask your company who they're using...they'll tell you if they're reputable
Hi Mary Lou, do you mind sharing who you used in Santiago to assist you? Thanks!For my first Camino Frances this year (late April till just now, including resting in Finisterre and Muxia), I used a company in Santiago to make my reservations. I was unsure enough of my Spanish language ability, of how many people would be coming post-Covid and of how much the Holy Year would affect numbers, that it was reassuring to know I had reservations. I also wanted individual rooms because of Covid.
The person in Santiago who owns the company WhatsApp-ed me every day to be check in, be sure I was okay, etc. He was available 24-hours a day if I needed help. This was also reassuring, as an older woman walking alone. He met me at the train station in Santiago to say goodbye. He walks the Camino himself, and takes tours as well, so he knows the accommodations.
So this time, it worked out well for me. I had no physical issues that required rest, and had already adjusted walking distances (not over 25 km).
But you do miss the spontaneity of being able to adjust your schedule--to walk a longer distance when you want to keep up with friends, to walk shorter when it's hot, etc. (I must say, though, that even though I lost some of my Camino family along the way due to schedules, I also had the opportunity to make more than one Camino family, and am grateful for all of the relationships!)
For a first time, I was glad I did it the way I did. But if I'm lucky enough to do it again, I will make reservations myself only couple days in advance.
Yup, good point, just happened to me. Private accommodation, can't get collect tomorrow.You would be paying significantly for that reassurance. The transport companies do an excellent job, the only issues I have heard of is when you book at an Airbnb or apartment and there is no one to receive your luggag. Keep that in mind for your bookings and you will be fine.
Hi, which company did you useAs a first timer going to the Frances 6/2023 alone and not a youngster,I looked at both options.For me I feel more comfortable with this approach since they know the lay of land and I do not.The Camino is still up to me with no assistance except lodging and bag transfer.I was able to do an itinerary that I wanted
I looked at many approaches.The travel companies with a set itinerary did not work for me.I have chosen to go with a company,only setting up lodging,and bag transfer.The Camino is still mine to do.As a first timer,alone and not a youngster,I will be doing it 6/2023.It gives me a sense of security.So as each of us has our own approach this I feel is best for me.I was able to set up my own itinerary,rest days,miles etc.Good luck with your trip!
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