First time in Camino and will be traveling solo.

[aes]

Hello, my name is Allan and I am planning to walk solo "The Complete Camino de Santiago Frances from St. Jean" on April 1, 2025. This my first time to hike in Camino de Santiago.

Do you have any idea how much would it cost me if I use a travel agency to plan may Camino pilgrimage?

Thank you.

 

[trecile]

It's easy to find out the costs by going to the providers' websites.

But the majority of forum members and pilgrims on the Camino arrange it themselves and save a lot of money in the process. Plus you can customize the Camino for your ability and interests. And when you are in control of your own bookings you can change them as circumstances change, as they are likely to do over a walk of many weeks.

 

[aes]

It's easy to find out the costs by going to the providers' websites.

But the majority of forum members and pilgrims on the Camino arrange it themselves and save a lot of money in the process. Plus you can customize the Camino for your ability and interests. And when you are in control of your own bookings you can change them as circumstances change, as they are likely to do over a walk of many weeks.

Thank you for your suggestions. I appreciate it very much!

I will be starting to do my own research on how to navigate / explore the Camino cost-efficiency.

Suggestions are welcome!

 

[MARSKA]

In regards to cost plan on 50 euros/day on average. I am a "mature" woman who walked St Jean to SDC without using a travel company in 2023 & again in 2024 - and met so many awesome people. You do not need to pay a travel company..

Look at gronze.com, pick up a guide book, and download wisepilgrim or other Camino apps.

Keep asking questions on this forum& you will get answers and support!

 

[Corned Beef]

A lot of the agencies offer packages for "the first 100km" or the "last 100km". If you are uncertain about either your abilities or your motivation then book one of the 100's and then complete the rest at your leisure. The packages help work out if this is for you as it takes a lot of the planning work / bed race out of it.

But the obligatory warning. If you do one, you'll want to do another.

 

[davejsy]

Yes the Camino Frances is not complicated and it better done on your own terms and at your own speed. Plenty of great YouTube and internet articles that will cover all you need to know, as well as this forum.

If cost efficiency is of particular importance then planning it and executing it yourself will save you a lot of money, although I can understand why you may feel more comfortable having everything arranged for you when you do not know what it will entail.

 

[Roland49]

If you are on the cheaper side and do it all by yourself (Albergues, dorms, Pilgrims Meal or Menu del dia, shopping in supermercados): anything between 25-75€ per day.
If you want it comfortable: 75€ and up.

On my CF in 2019 I spent 24€ per day in average.
On my CP in 2023 I spent 27€ per day in average.
Travel expenses not included! Albergues only, most days Pilgrims Meals.
Only a minimal rise of costs.

I will be on the CF next year in summer and do plan with daily rates of 35€.
Don't use a travel agency for a pilgrimage, the way is well marked, the pilgrims are the most awesome people you'll ever met if you let it happen! The uncertainty is part of the experience!

 

[woody66]

9

Doing it yourself is part of the fun ; planning your stages, booking your stays, sorting your gear and booking flights all help you get through the months of waiting for the day you start Camino!!

It's so much easier than you imagine.

Use a company and it costs shed loads of cash for very little in return!
They are also in control of your walk if your sick your itinerary is planned and paid for!

Sort your own route stages and stays ;;your in control!

I use Gronze, which is great and the Wise Pilgrim app plus Booking.com (you can book the whole way with free cancellation up until a few days before arrival ; i had to cancel 27 stays last year and lost no money!
You defo don't need more for the Frances; or in fact any other main route! (Gronze is in Spanish but Google Chrome browser translates it to English)
Have a wonderful walk.
Buen Camino
Woody

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

 

[Pafayac]

Do not give your money to travel agencies: they are killing the Camino spirit.
If you need advices and recommendations, you will find plenty of them here.

 

[montyhiker]

Finished my 1st Camino Francés solo this past May. Started on 4/25. Skip the travel agencies—you don’t need them and they just wanna make a buck—Part of the Camino experience, and fun, is doing the planning yourself. I would budget €50/day and just reserve Albergues through Pamplona. Use this Forum to bounce ideas off others, download a couple apps like Camino Ninja, Buen Camino and Gronze. Getting there is the first “fear” to overcome. I flew into Paris, connected to Biarritz then grabbed a shuttle to SJPdP via Express Bourricot. Trust me: planning it yourself is half the adventure. Buen Camino!

 

[CTLawGal]

Hello, my name is Allan and I am planning to walk solo "The Complete Camino de Santiago Frances from St. Jean" on April 1, 2025. This my first time to hike in Camino de Santiago.

Do you have any idea how much would it cost me if I use a travel agency to plan may Camino pilgrimage?

Thank you.

Hello Allan - I think on this forum you will find there is a strong preference for doing it yourself, all for very valid reasons that make a lot of sense to me. But there can also be reasons you might want to consider an agency to prebook - a lot depends on age, fitness level, whether you want a single room or want the albergue experience, luggage transfers or backpack, prebooking vs spontaneous booking on the route, and other factors that weigh into what you think you need for an experience like this.

Below is a link to my response to a similar thread, relating not just to cost but addressing some reasons why a person might consider using an agency and some other considerations (My Experience Using Booking Agency...). There is a lot of info in that posting you might find interesting. As one of the other responders suggests, take a look at the booking agencies to get an idea of pricing (I used Follow the Camino) - most (all?) of the lodgings will include breakfast, many (maybe half or more) will include dinner (either a good thing or not), but you will want to factor buying fewer meals into your budget, and arrange baggage transfers.

C

Post in thread 'My experience using booking agency for accommodation & bag transport'

Jul 6, 2023

I hesitate to reply to this thread (for reasons that are likely obvious), but since there are some who expressed interest in learning about the experience of using a tour company, I will share mine. And thank you to Liltravlr for taking the time to share a thoughtful summary of her experience.

I recently completed my first Camino (Norte to Primitivo to Finisterre/Muxia) booking with Follow the Camino, a total of 42 days and over 1000 km (620+ miles for the metric impaired - I include myself among you!).

Before outlining my thoughts on the experience of using FTC, for those who are...

• CTLawGal

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If you're interested in more details, please DM.

 

[Frans57]

Hello, my name is Allan and I am planning to walk solo "The Complete Camino de Santiago Frances from St. Jean" on April 1, 2025. This my first time to hike in Camino de Santiago.

Do you have any idea how much would it cost me if I use a travel agency to plan may Camino pilgrimage?

Thank you.

Hi Allen,
I am a first time Camino pilgrim myself and am planning to walk Del Norte in May.
Just in the process of gathering all info I could find, I also asked an agency to make an offer.
For a 37 day Camino, including hotel rooms with private bathrooms, meals and transportation of luggage, they ask more than € 6000. So you can imagine that I am planning my Camino myself, with the lovely help of my fellow pilgrims on this excellent forum.
Buen Camino!
Frans

 

[bestfootforward]

Hi Allen, I echo the sentiments of everyone above. Walked CF in 2018 having done my own planning. I met several others who had taken the travel agency/tour group route - some walking the entire Camino, others doing sections - and once they started walking and got the gist of the Camino, they found being locked into specific destinations and accommodations every day very restricting and they wished they'd free-wheeled like the majority do. Of course we're all different, but IMO you'll get a far more organic, joyful and fulfilling experience - which goes to the heart of what the Camino is all about. Whichever your Way, Buen Camino!

 

[Kathy F.]

Don't be afraid. You can do this on your own, as have millions of pilgrims before you, with much more "rustic" accommodations.
May I ask why you want to go with a travel agency? Are you looking for someone to just plan (as you wrote) your trip or to go with you and transport your pack, have a hotel room ready when you arrive, etc? No judgement, just wondering what you expect from an agency.

 

[60LifeChange]

Ditto on all the above. if you have a specific reason or mindset to go with a travel agency, and have the wherewithal? Enjoy. but I will parrot what has been said above. Doing it on your own gives the experience a "thrill" as you aren't sure what to expect next. I am hoping to start the Camino (my first) on or around Cinco De Mayo (May 5th) and will look into reserving Albergue's for the first few stops. But a mantra I am starting to get familiar with? The Camino will provide... will let you know how it works out as I am truly excited about the entire journey.

 

[60LifeChange]

Thank you for your suggestions. I appreciate it very much!

I will be starting to do my own research on how to navigate / explore the Camino cost-efficiency.

Suggestions are welcome!

I am currently using Expedia, Viator for setting up flights, hotels... I have an app, Buen Camino that I have been exploring, but I will look at Gronze from suggestions in this conversation. I also use Google Maps for most of my travel. worked well in Paris, and a few other areas. I also use Trainline for Train tickets such as my trip from CDG to St Jean via Bayonne. Used it to get around Europe in 22. also look into getting an ESIM chip for your phone as US based cell carriers like Verizon? ouch... expensive.