Walking Guides and Accommodations - First Timer

[GuyA]

Hi,

I am planning on walking from Le-Puy-en-Velay to Finisterre and would appreciate assistance in a few areas based on your experiences.

Walking Guides

I have seen names like Alison Raju, Ben Cole / Beth Davies, John Brierley associated with walking guides. Do you favour one particular guide and if so why? Is a walking guide even necessary or does one simply "follow the arrows"?

Accommodations

I am looking to stay in Bed & Breakfast, small hotels etc. and would like to hear from your as particular web sites that would be helpful or even better obtain actual accommodation recommendations based on your Camino experience.

Thanks for taking the time to read my basic questions and also thanks for sharing your personal thougths to help me out.

GuyA

p.s. I also posted this on the The LePuy Route and Camino Frances boards. If this was improper sorry in advance.

 

[sillydoll]

On this route you can download a guide from the CSJ website that includes accommodation options.

http://www.csj.org.uk/guides-online.htm

 

[Maya2]

Susan Alcorn and her husband stayed mostly in hotels and hostels during their Camino Francis. She wrote a book: "Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago." You might pick up some tips there, and it's one of the better Camino books because she added area histories along the way. She has a Web site at http://backpack45.com .

 

[happyhiker]

Just returned from Santiago-Finisterre-Muxia and had to stay in b&b (not municipal albergue) as I was using a bag service.
In Negreira - Albergue Logroso was lovely, you turn off before the town, its a country house run well by brothers with lovely garden and good evening meal. 15 euros - breakfast included but basic.
In Olvieroa - As Pias (which is a nice restaurant) had basic rooms in nearby house, not great value 20 euros each in 2 bed room. you could pay more to stay at the restaurant itself. there was another option there also (sorry don't know the name) other than the albergue.
In Cee, stayed at Das Estrellas, 10 euros. good showers but room is strange shape open plan, bunks, smelled damp, noisy. There is a hotel next door though which is same business. I would try and find something in Corbubion the neighbouring town, which is really pretty. Both these towns are coastal.
In Finesterre, stayed at Do Sol, 12.5 euros in 2 bed room. in a house, basic, bit of a rush on the bathrooms. chilled/hippy, did offer healthy dinner and breakfast.
In Muxia, stayed at waterfront Hotel La Cruz, 25 each in 2 bed room, but nice.
In Santiago, Hotel Gastronomica (35 each 2/bed room) was good, and Hotel Real (40 euros single) also altho bit noisy.
Buen camino!