Backpack transport

[konnie]

For those who might want to transport a bag, here are the envelopes of two companies. The envelopes can be found at most places to stay along the Camino. Fill out the info and slip the money in. You must notify the company by phone call or WhatsApp. If an albergue doesn’t accept bags they will usually be sent to a nearby location. I used NCS, they speak English and the service was fast and reliable.

 

[EstherSTL]

Hi Konnie, thank you for your info.
I am doing the Portuguese Costal way in late August.
Do you or anybody else know how to manage backpack transfers:
1. which are the most reliable company for the Portugues litoral/costal way?
2. which companies attend the Variante Espiritual? I understand not all transfer companies do this route.
I would appreciate recent experiences with these companies.
Thanks.

 

[trecile]

@Esg - check out this thread
Bag transport companies on the Camino - a list

 

[EstherSTL]

@Esg - check out this thread
Bag transport companies on the Camino - a list

Thankyou Trecile.

 

[donnabrion]

For those who might want to transport a bag, here are the envelopes of two companies. The envelopes can be found at most places to stay along the Camino. Fill out the info and slip the money in. You must notify the company by phone call or WhatsApp. If an albergue doesn’t accept bags they will usually be sent to a nearby location. I used NCS, they speak English and the service was fast and reliable.

JACOTRANS is incredible. They speak English and are very reliable.

 

[KeyserSoza]

Ditto for NCS. Friendly, very dependable and good fun to deal with.

 

[KerryF]

Hi
My sister and have just finished the Portuguese Way - electing Espiritual Variant and we used TopSantiago the whole way.

 

[KerryF]

I should have said I did all the day to day bookings on WhatsApp. Super easy and reliable.

 

[ThompsonRG]

For those who might want to transport a bag, here are the envelopes of two companies. The envelopes can be found at most places to stay along the Camino. Fill out the info and slip the money in. You must notify the company by phone call or WhatsApp. If an albergue doesn’t accept bags they will usually be sent to a nearby location. I used NCS, they speak English and the service was fast and reliable.

One thing to be aware of; these companies are sort of like "franchises" with different local agents covering sections of the route. You will not be dealing with the same people the entire way.

 

[EstherSTL]

I should have said I did all the day to day bookings on WhatsApp. Super easy and reliable.

Hi KerryF, how did you manage payment with Top Santiago? on a daily basis? how much?
thanks.

 

[KerryF]

Hi KerryF, how did you manage payment with Top Santiago? on a daily basis? how much?
thanks.

In Portugal, €8 in envelope. Once I crossed to Spain, paid online by a secure link they would send me. Every day - no problem at all. Once you establish a WhatsApp with them, it was so simple. Each day I would tell them where to pick up and deliver to and they confirmed. For the last 4 days, I had booked with them in advance and paid in advance and they did not miss a beat.

 

[EstherSTL]

In Portugal, €8 in envelope. Once I crossed to Spain, paid online by a secure link they would send me. Every day - no problem at all. Once you establish a WhatsApp with them, it was so simple. Each day I would tell them where to pick up and deliver to and they confirmed. For the last 4 days, I had booked with them in advance and paid in advance and they did not miss a beat.

Thank you for your info. I like the idea of having one company manage my transfers for the whole Camino. It seems that Top Santiago is the one. Thanks again.

 

[CWBuff]

Another nod to NCS. Speak English, very reliable. Took my bags (with couple of small interruptions) pretty much from Roncesvalles to SdC. Not a single issue! I even went as far as put E10 in the envelope and that took care of 2 stages

Do pay attention to the envelopes though - IIRC there are 3 or 4 different carriers as per given area (i.e. say Miguel will be responsible for your transport up to Burgos, then Luis will be from there to Leon and Fernando - from there to Sarria, etc: names and waypoints are made up just for the example)

Reason being is you need to le the person know roughly a day in advance where to pick your bag up and where to take it too.

 

[konnie]

Hi Konnie, thank you for your info.
I am doing the Portuguese Costal way in late August.
Do you or anybody else know how to manage backpack transfers:
1. which are the most reliable company for the Portugues litoral/costal way?
2. which companies attend the Variante Espiritual? I understand not all transfer companies do this route.
I would appreciate recent experiences with these companies.
Thanks.

Hi Esg, I don’t know the answer to transport on the Portuguese, but I someone responded in this thread.
Bien camino!

 

[konnie]

I don’t think NCS is a franchise. It’s just the one number. You deal with the same people all the time, a husband and wife team.

 

[KeyserSoza]

Not quite. With NCS I think i think the “stages” are Roncesvales to Burgos, Burgos to Leon, Leon to Ponferrado and Ponferrado to SDC. It’s the one company but different people look after each stage. As you move between stages you will be smoothly handed over and introduced to the next person. Did full CF last year, and currently 1/3 through IT as I write with NCS and the service is 100%.

 

[WanderLustToo]

Hi Konnie, thank you for your info.
I am doing the Portuguese Costal way in late August.
Do you or anybody else know how to manage backpack transfers:
1. which are the most reliable company for the Portugues litoral/costal way?
2. which companies attend the Variante Espiritual? I understand not all transfer companies do this route.
I would appreciate recent experiences with these companies.
Thanks.

We are walking the Portuguese out of Porto in a few weeks. I booked luggage transfer for seven of us with Pilbeo. They are very organized and very communicative. I have made changes over the last few months and always get a prompt response. Working with the, has been very easy.

 

[annabozeman]

For those of you who did lugagge transfer some days, but not all of them (I'm thinking I may need to sleep a little layor the first few days due to 8 hour time difference), how did you handle having a daypack on the lugagge transport days but not wanting your pack with the extra dayback to be too heavy when you are carrying everything? Does that make sense? Very on the fence about all of this b/c it seems like doing a mix could be difficult from deciding how much weight I can bring. Obviously would need a small daypack for lugagge transfer days. Would love any advice or experiences! Having trouble figuring out how to adjust my packing (regular vs strict about being light) based on all of this.

 

[Tincatinker]

For those of you who did lugagge transfer some days, but not all of them (I'm thinking I may need to sleep a little layor the first few days due to 8 hour time difference), how did you handle having a daypack on the lugagge transport days but not wanting your pack with the extra dayback to be too heavy when you are carrying everything? Does that make sense? Very on the fence about all of this b/c it seems like doing a mix could be difficult from deciding how much weight I can bring. Obviously would need a small daypack for lugagge transfer days. Would love any advice or experiences! Having trouble figuring out how to adjust my packing (regular vs strict about being light) based on all of this.

I really am trying to be helpful but I’m lost in your question. Using luggage transport is not compulsory and is easily avoided by packing lightly. Packing what you need rather than what you can pack. If you’re planning to use transport some days and carry your full kit on others then you need to pack according to the days you plan to carry your full kit not the days when you don’t. I’ll try again with that one. Unless you have particular needs that mean that you need to transport exceptional luggage that you cannot readily carry then there is no need to concern yourself with luggage transport as luggage transport will not be necessary

 

[annabozeman]

I really am trying to be helpful but I’m lost in your question. Using luggage transport is not compulsory and is easily avoided by packing lightly. Packing what you need rather than what you can pack. If you’re planning to use transport some days and carry your full kit on others then you need to pack according to the days you plan to carry your full kit not the days when you don’t. I’ll try again with that one. Unless you have particular needs that mean that you need to transport exceptional luggage that you cannot readily carry then there is no need to concern yourself with luggage transport as luggage transport will not be necessary

Yes, I am a bit confused myself! I am deciding between lugagge transport every day (pros: I could bring a few extra items, cons need to be up early when I am still deep in jetlag the first few days) or just using it some days (pros: still a nice treat, cons: extra weight because I think I would I then need to carry an additional daypack for layers/food/water than doesn't go with the transport) Am I thinking about this correctly? Any experience with this?

 

[trecile]

For those of you who did lugagge transfer some days, but not all of them (I'm thinking I may need to sleep a little layor the first few days due to 8 hour time difference), how did you handle having a daypack on the lugagge transport days but not wanting your pack with the extra dayback to be too heavy when you are carrying everything? Does that make sense? Very on the fence about all of this b/c it seems like doing a mix could be difficult from deciding how much weight I can bring. Obviously would need a small daypack for lugagge transfer days. Would love any advice or experiences! Having trouble figuring out how to adjust my packing (regular vs strict about being light) based on all of this.

You don't need a separate day pack. You can carry your regular backpack everyday. On days that you need to carry less weight offload heavier items into a lightweight duffel bag like this one from Amazon that @J Willhaus has recommended and send that ahead.

 

[annabozeman]

You don't need a separate day pack. You can carry your regular backpack everyday. On days that you need to carry less weight offload heavier items into a lightweight duffel bag like this one from Amazon that @J Willhaus has recommended and send that ahead.

This is a great idea! Just the solution I was looking for. Thank you for the link too.

 

[WanderLustToo]

Hi Konnie, thank you for your info.
I am doing the Portuguese Costal way in late August.
Do you or anybody else know how to manage backpack transfers:
1. which are the most reliable company for the Portugues litoral/costal way?
2. which companies attend the Variante Espiritual? I understand not all transfer companies do this route.
I would appreciate recent experiences with these companies.
Thanks.

I am on the Portuguese way right now. We are using Pilbeo and their service is highly professional with great communication. We started with7 people and got a discount. I highly recommend them for luggage transfer.