Guidebook Guidance please!

[Former member 110480]

Hey everyone! I was gifted a 2012 edition of the Camino Frances guidebook by John Brierley and was wondering if it would be okay, or if I need to get a 2023 edition. Thanks in advance!

 

[trecile]

You can use the old guide for general route and cultural information and use Gronze.com for up to date information about accommodations.

Camino Francés | Gronze.com

El Camino Francés es el Camino de Santiago en el que confluyen la mayoría de las vías medievales de peregrinación europeas, siendo por tanto el camino de mayor relevancia histórica y el más seguido por los peregrinos. Su punto de inicio, hoy en día, tanto puede considerarse Roncesvalles como...

www.gronze.com

 

[Tincatinker]

Route changes are usually clearly way-marked. Albergues go and come. There are probably quite a few open now that are not listed in JB's 2012 guide but, then, how many Albergues can you stay in on any given night? If you want to check availability for any given location use https://www.gronze.com/camino-frances

 

[J Willhaus]

The maps should be the same. The newer editions are a touch smaller and lighter if I recall.

 

[David Tallan]

Over ten years, there are likely to be a fair number of changes in the albergues and prices. These do change with time, especially the private albergues, which are an increasing proportion. And Covid created even more changes in available albergues.

The description of the route and the towns and villages along it is more durable. Rather than get a new edition, I would supplement with Gronze.com (as trecile suggests above) which, if you don't read Spanish, can be translated by your browser or Google Translate and an app or two (Wise Pilgrim and Buen Camino come to mind).

 

[henrythedog]

Hey everyone! This might be a dumb question but I thought I’d ask it anyways. I was gifted a 2012 edition of the Camino Frances guidebook by John Brierley and was wondering if it would be okay, or if I need to get a 2023 edition. I’ve read that the routes and albergues don’t change rapidly but that is edition is pretty old so I thought I’d check. I’m looking to save a couple dollars wherever I can, but I also don’t want to miss out on cool information or experiences. Thanks in advance!

Gronze and walking away from the sun in the morning will get you there; but investing a trivial sum in an app like ‘Wisepilgrim’ would be a good idea.

 

[wynrich]

You can now get Brierley's guides as ebooks and use Kindle app on your phone. Not sure how easy to use on phone, but no weight at all. Perhaps try a sample first?

 

[DBC]

Hey everyone! I was gifted a 2012 edition of the Camino Frances guidebook by John Brierley and was wondering if it would be okay, or if I need to get a 2023 edition. Thanks in advance!

I bought Brierleys and the Cicerone Camino guide books. As a first timer (2022) aiming for only 20km average per day the Cicerone was more helpful. Especially the walking plans at the back of the book. It lacks the more “spiritual” perspective of Brierley.

 

[MethaV]

Hey everyone! I was gifted a 2012 edition of the Camino Frances guidebook by John Brierley and was wondering if it would be okay, or if I need to get a 2023 edition. Thanks in advance!

I would use the old guide book and communicate with my pilgrim fellows on the Camino.
The app Wise pilgrim is super if you want to use the smart phone, you find everything there.
Buen Camino
Maggi

 

[hokiebobwise]

I bought the 2023 Brierly, but for my July 2023 camino I took wise pilgrim 2023 guide. Briefly has good info, but figuring out where to stay, in paragraph form, was tough. Wise pilgrim has an easier to read layout for accommodations. I did use Gronze a few times, for online bookings, but I wore out my Wise guide.

Bob

 

[RJM]

Hey everyone! I was gifted a 2012 edition of the Camino Frances guidebook by John Brierley and was wondering if it would be okay, or if I need to get a 2023 edition. Thanks in advance!

To answer your actual question and not redirect you away from a guidebook I would say your 2012 edition of Brierley will work just fine as the route itself is the same, just keep in mind, especially since the pandemic, that the accommodations listed have changed.
Mind you, a new 2023 edition is a small investment and well worth it. Keep the 2012 one as a keepsake gift.

 

[trecile]

Mind you, a new 2023 edition is a small investment and well worth it. Keep the 2012 one as a keepsake gift.

No investment needed if they use free online resources like Gronze.