A Luggage Dilema .... Puzzle

[Robo]

I'm sure the enormous brain power available on this Forum will come up with some great solutions to this puzzle.

My wife and I plan to walk a short Camino next year from Sarria to Santiago (May / June). Prior to that we will 'back pack' around Europe for 2-3 weeks, basically just carrying / wearing our Camino gear.

After the Camino, I plan to go to a big industry conference in Barcelona for 3 days. Handy timing.

Well....I can't really turn up to the conference in walking attire. So I'll need to somehow get there in suit and tie.

Other factors......that may or may not assist.

I have a Brother in the UK.
I have someone here in Australia who could post off a parcel for me.

The challenge!

Avoid carting around a bag of 'business attire' prior to the conference.
Arrive at said conference, with aforementioned business attire.....

Solutions on a postcard to........

My best solution so far is to carry a parcel of my business attire to London, our first port of call, and mail it from there to Ivar....

Or, turn up in Barcelona and buy a suit, tie, shoes etc the day before the conference. That might be a last minute panic and rush around though....

 

[dougfitz]

@Robo, you might want to review some of the recent threads on the difficulty with posting from outside of the EU. It seems to me that part of you thinking should be to bring whatever gear you need for the conference with you as personal baggage, and then make any arrangements to send it to where you want it after you have arrived in Europe.

My other thought is to minimise the amount of movement, and associated opportunities for others to misplace your baggage. While having someone post it to Ivar seems to be doing that, it might also be possible to have it posted to your conference accommodation so that it meets you there.

Other than that, I don't see something vastly different from what you have outlined as options.

 

[gerardcarey]

Carry the parcel to London, then post it to your accommodation in Barcelona after ensuring they will look after it for you. On the package write your name, then 'Guest arriving whatever date, please hold.
Check by email or phone that it has arrived.
Has worked for me several times.
Regards
Gerard

 

[MichaelB10398]

I suspect you may be staying in a nice hotel for the conference. Call the concierge and explain your dilemma. Ask if it would be possible for you to mail the suit to them the week prior to your conference. I suspect they would be happy to facilitate this and have the suit unpacked and hanging in your closet prior to your arrival. If possible have your friend in the UK send the parcel to the hotel the week before.

Although I am sure there are others, this is one possible solution.

 

[annakappa]

I agree sending it to your hotel in Barcelona, but I would prefer sending it from Spain! You can buy a suitable box at the Correos ( Spanish Post office). They have several sizes.

 

[fraluchi]

If I understand the dilemma correctly, you arrive in Europe some 4 weeks before the meeting in Barcelona. (2 to 3 weeks backpacking, and 1 week Sarria-Santiago). Supposedly you leave home with hiking gear in a backpack and your dressy outfit in a suitcase. To give proper advice on how to handle the suitcase, it is necessary to know your itineraries. From a logical drop off point, before starting your hikes, you could follow Michael B' s suggestion. Hotels are used to similar situations. Airport lockers cost a fortune. Mail works well within Spain. Ultreya!

 

[EL Guapo]

If it were me I would head to Barcelona first with my luggage and leave it at the hotel of my conference for safe keeping . I am sure they will accommodate you for a small fee. Then catch a bus or train to Sarria for your short walk to Santiago and after that you can catch a transport back to Barcelona . Just a thought. Other wise you might check with a travel agent for more professional travel plans to suit your individual needs . Happy trails, Buen camino

 

[spursfan]

What problem - just turn up at the industry conference in your Camino gear

 

[Tia Valeria]

Wear your suit to travel? Change on arrival in Spain and post it to either Ivar or the hotel?

 

[Kanga]

I aspire to be a person who has so much confidence that I can get away with wearing anything. Be bold Robo! Market yourself as the person who refuses to be a conformist - abandon the business suit and attend the conference in your trekking outfit. While I, of course, will meekly climb back into the dark suit next week. Sigh...

 

[Anniesantiago]

Buy a new suit in Barcelona! The Spanish are very stylish and clothes are quite affordable!
Spanish leather is known worldwide as being superior. I buy shoes there every year in Santiago. Barcelona has some great shopping.

That's what I'd do rather than worry.

 

[SabsP]

Buy a new suit in Barcelona! The Spanish are very stylish and clothes are quite affordable!

Indeed go into every El Corte Ingles, Massimo Dutti or Zara and you won't be dissapointed.

 

[kmrice]

What problem - just turn up at the industry conference in your Camino gear

No, just wear your suit on the Camino. Help set a higher standard of dress for pilgrims!

Get it dry cleaned (maybe twice) when you get to Barcelona.

Actually, I have a similar problem. Planning to do a lot of walking in Europe, perhaps the Le Puy route followed by the CF, and then catch a cruise ship from Barcelona back to the US. I finally decided to just pick up a few cloths in Barcelona and rent a dinner jacket on the ship. Between the time and the cost of shipping luggage to Barcelona that seemed to be the easiest.

Karl

 

[JohnMcM]

Robo,
Sent you a PM. It may help.
Buen (correctly-dressed) Camino

 

[obinjatoo]

I'm sure the enormous brain power available on this Forum will come up with some great solutions to this puzzle.

My wife and I plan to walk a short Camino next year from Sarria to Santiago (May / June). Prior to that we will 'back pack' around Europe for 2-3 weeks, basically just carrying / wearing our Camino gear.

After the Camino, I plan to go to a big industry conference in Barcelona for 3 days. Handy timing.

Well....I can't really turn up to the conference in walking attire. So I'll need to somehow get there in suit and tie.

Other factors......that may or may not assist.

I have a Brother in the UK.
I have someone here in Australia who could post off a parcel for me.

The challenge!

Avoid carting around a bag of 'business attire' prior to the conference.
Arrive at said conference, with aforementioned business attire.....

Solutions on a postcard to........

My best solution so far is to carry a parcel of my business attire to London, our first port of call, and mail it from there to Ivar....

Or, turn up in Barcelona and buy a suit, tie, shoes etc the day before the conference. That might be a last minute panic and rush around though....

Buy a suit in Barcelona. What I learned (one of the many lessons anyway) is to keep life simple. In your case, posting a box of clothing hither and yon from elsewhere in Europe is a set up for complications.
You can give the suit to another pilgrim or homeless person after your done with it.

 

[obinjatoo]

No, just wear your suit on the Camino. Help set a higher standard of dress for pilgrims!

Get it dry cleaned (maybe twice) when you get to Barcelona.

Actually, I have a similar problem. Planning to do a lot of walking in Europe, perhaps the Le Puy route followed by the CF, and then catch a cruise ship from Barcelona back to the US. I finally decided to just pick up a few cloths in Barcelona and rent a dinner jacket on the ship. Between the time and the cost of shipping luggage to Barcelona that seemed to be the easiest.

Karl

I think the adage "dress to impress" is perfect for the Camino! I traveled in rural China many years ago and many of the manual laborers I saw were wearing Mao style cadre suits. Shoveling in a suit and tie. It's true...

 

[gollygolly]

I suggest that the best is to allow enough time so as to buy a new outfit at El Corte Ingles in Barcelona. This is department store located right in the middle of Barcelona with a good selection at very accessible prices. You may be able to look at some of the stock in advance on-line

http://www.elcorteingles.eu

Shoes & socks, shirt & tie and of course the suit. Coming from Australian as a non-European resident you will also be able to reclaim the tax (VAT in the UK, known as IVA in Spain) when you leave Spain. As El Corte Ingles to prepare the form for you and then get it stamped at the airport on departure.

 

[Robo]

Wear your suit to travel? Change on arrival in Spain and post it to either Ivar or the hotel?

Sadly we will actually be back packing around for 2 - 3 weeks prior to our quick Camino and conference....

 

[Robo]

Thanks for all the ideas my 'Virtual Camino Amigos'

I think I might just buy an outfit when I get to Barcelona. Or of course as Kanga suggests, just rock up in my Camino gear