karen stowell
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- walked first three days of santiago. hope to finish next year. but wanting to walk and ride.
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) |
---|
Thank you so much for all of this info. It has given me a lot to think about.To send luggage ahead to Santiago, your best option may be Casa Ivar:
Early April will coincide with Holy Week (5/Apr - 12/Apr 2020). That may put pressure on accommodations in places since there may be a surge in pilgrim numbers. There will also be more tourists in major cities for the Holy Week celebrations.
Are you starting in Seville? You might need to book accommodation well in advance for Seville or Caceres during Holy Week, because there are no dedicated pilgrim hostels and there will be a flood of tourists for Holy Week. (The hostels in Seville and Caceres are backpacker / youth hostels). In Merida and Zamora there are albergues exclusively for pilgrims.
On public holidays like Good Friday and regional / local fiestas, you may also find that the stores are closed. If in doubt, ask locals what to expect.
Climate-wise, I think it's one of the best times to walk - the landscapes are green and you won't face the searing heat of the summer. But of course, the weather is unpredictable. In 2019 there was a week of heavy rain in the south of Spain - an exceptional weather event. Even if you don't expect that, you should be prepared.
Depending upon your need to access your luggage during your camino. You could use the Correos service to forward and store luggage at a convenient post office along the route. Once you have accessed your luggage you can send it on to the next location. Alternatively using the same service you could send your luggage direct to SdC to the post office round the corner from the Cathedral. I used this system on the Camino Portuguese.flying from australia next april to do the vdlp. What is the best way to send my bigger bag to santiago as i will be continuing travelling. Also is there anything i should be aware of starting in early April.
thanks. we will be sending it straight to santiagoDepending upon your need to access your luggage during your camino. You could use the Correos service to forward and store luggage at a convenient post office along the route. Once you have accessed your luggage you can send it on to the next location. Alternatively using the same service you could send your luggage direct to SdC to the post office round the corner from the Cathedral. I used this system on the Camino Portuguese.
Look at what they have got to offer:
Correos services for the Camino de Santiago
Correos helps you on the Camino de Santiago with its services. Backpack transportation, sending bikes and luggage, luggage storage in Santiago...www.elcaminoconcorreos.com
I have used a bounce box several times on the Camino Francés. I put the items I would want to resupply with in a box, and send it down the Camino to a town where I might take a zero or nero day. When I get to my destination, I bring anything I want to bounce forward to the Correos. I retrieve my box, make my deposits and withdrawals, and then bounce it to the next location. It was about 25€ to bounce and store (Burgos, León, SdC).You could use the Correos service to forward and store luggage at a convenient post office along the route. Once you have accessed your luggage you can send it on to the next location.
Correos services for the Camino de Santiago
Correos helps you on the Camino de Santiago with its services. Backpack transportation, sending bikes and luggage, luggage storage in Santiago...www.elcaminoconcorreos.com
Hi Karen, I walked the VdlP this year starting from Seville on the 11th April. To add to previous advice, check where you will be during Holy Week and especially from Good Friday to the Monday. The only issue I found was on Good Friday and arriving in Merida. There is only one municipal albergue with 16 or 18 beds. I arrived there at 10am, having left Torremejia about 6am and bagged the 5th bed. Most were gone by 11am. Later arrivals walked on to the next village because there was very little or no private beds to be found at affordable prices. They had been booked up in advance. On a brighter note, it was the only example of a bed rush I came across and one could say it was down to unusual circumstances.flying from australia next april to do the vdlp. What is the best way to send my bigger bag to santiago as i will be continuing travelling. Also is there anything i should be aware of starting in early April.
Hey Chris, what resource did you use for albergues for this year?Hi Karen, I walked the VdlP this year starting from Seville on the 11th April. To add to previous advice, check where you will be during Holy Week and especially from Good Friday to the Monday. The only issue I found was on Good Friday and arriving in Merida. There is only one municipal albergue with 16 or 18 beds. I arrived there at 10am, having left Torremejia about 6am and bagged the 5th bed. Most were gone by 11am. Later arrivals walked on to the next village because there was very little or no private beds to be found at affordable prices. They had been booked up in advance. On a brighter note, it was the only example of a bed rush I came across and one could say it was down to unusual circumstances.
On a personal note I would say that a stop in Merida is a must. I'm a Roman ruins junky and this place is on steroids. Unfortunately the evening processions were cancelled due to thunder and lightening. The local police deemed it to dangerous. A shame but such is life.
It is a fantastic walk. Enjoy.
Hi Karen, I primarily used the Gerald Kelly 2018 edition which I found more than adequate. I would also visit a site Godelsalco.com which I found useful for planning and has a comprehensive list of accommodation ie albergues, hostels, hotels etc. I printed a list off as insurance but hardly ever needed to use it so cannot confirm the veracity of it. I usually set off on a camino with a plan and after 3 days find myself going with the flow depending on how I feel, who I meet etc. I'm not much into IT on my walks, however others are and one can glean interesting info from other walkers re future accommodation.Hey Chris, what resource did you use for albergues for this year?
Hi Karen, I primarily used the Gerald Kelly 2018 edition which I found more than adequate. I would also visit a site Godelsalco.com which I found useful for planning and has a comprehensive list of accommodation ie albergues, hostels, hotels etc. I printed a list off as insurance but hardly ever needed to use it so cannot confirm the veracity of it. I usually set off on a camino with a plan and after 3 days find myself going with the flow depending on how I feel, who I meet etc. I'm not much into IT on my walks, however others are and one can glean interesting info from other walkers re future accommodation.
A couple of tips for what its worth. I would book the albergue at Embalse de Alcantara if walking from Caceres ie 34km as the next stop Canaveral is a further 11km, a long walk if the weather is inclement.
The municipal alberque at Fuente de Cantos is / was closed and by the time I arrived all the private accommodation had been booked, much of it pre booked!! However the Hostal los Rodriguez at Calzadilla de los Baros is only 6km further on and is cheap and cheerful.
Finally, if your penultimate night prior to Santiago is Punta Ullo, I would recommend the Hostel Rios just over the bridge on the right as you walk into the village. Good value, private rooms and the lady who runs it is a real sweetie and very helpful.
Hope this helps and you enjoy your Camino. I'm envious already.
Chris
Hi Karen,Thanks Chris. We're taking the route to Astorga b/c we need to be in Segovia by the 11th and it's pretty easy to get there from Astorga.
How long in advance do you suggest we book the Embalse?
What did you do about the Caparra day?
Hi Karen,
I booked Embalse a couple of days before I started from Seville via Whattsapp. Now I would contact them 2 or 3 days before arriving at Embalse. A belt and braces job.
Re Capara, I set off from Carcaboso and walked directly to Caparra via Vente Quemada, then spent an hour or so at Caparra exploring. There are toilets and vending machines selling cold drinks if you turn right at the gate. From there I walked on to Hostal Aturias. Its about 28km, possibly 30km if you lose the path near Asturias. It was one of my favourite days walking. The walk itself is flattish, scenic and variable and Carparra Gates were a must see for me.
I hope this helps,
Chris
Hi Annie,30k total?
I’m Annie, by the way.
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?