Remember that the airport bus takes you very near to the Pension Paris. With regards to the Amigos Guide, I would just say that I never used the maps... It is too heavy a combination and they are impossible to consult easily. Actually I never took the maps with me. The guide itself was getting somewhat out of date two years ago - have they updated? A pity that CSJ cannot have a stock in the UK and likewise the US organisation... I remember that an anniversary of St Teresa of Avila was sowing up - it could be this year. I would recommend booking up for a couple of nights in Toledo and Avila (you can reserve at Youth Hostels as long as you are a member and have a credit card of some sort.) The one at Toledo was great and I stayed for three nights. The one at Avila was on the way in but 10 mins to centre. I was alone in a four bedder each time! Booking gives you certainty and a goal. You can call and alter the date. Toledo was really busy and the recommendations of other pilgrims were booked out.
By the way, you can join the Scottish YHA online and it is the best value. A Credencial may get you in but does not allow you to book.... Also they keep your YHA card as surety for the sheets!!!
If you do stay at the Toledo YHA you can use the hospital cafeteria just up the road. It is an old castle, prominently poised on the opposite bank of the river across the pedestrianised bridge.
My last recommendation is to blow the budget somewhat and have lunch in the restaurant of the Parador. The Menu del Dia with El Greco's viewpoint. Amazing and civilised and away from the tourist buses. The staff were so nice and gave me extra treats and wine. I went several times...
Hi, filly, I agree completely about the maps. For those who haven't seen the guide, it is in two parts. The first part, a spiral book, has individual maps inserted at the right place in the guide. The other part is a little box with only maps. So you can easily leave those behind. There is a Spanish version of the guide, dated 2013, but the English version may not have been updated yet. Maps will be the updated ones, though, so there shouldn't be too many problems.
And about the youth hostels -- in Toledo there is a relatively new one, which is much better located than the one on the way in.
https://www.alberguelospascuales.com We stayed there two nights, in a 4 bunk room. Great location, very clean, good price, terrible breakfast. (BTW, we didn't need a youth hostel card, we were fine with our credenciales).
To go off on a little Toledo tangent, I also agree with filly that it would be a shame to just walk right through. If you have time, take at least an extra night. Toledo is amazing. Filled with tourists, true, but at night it empties out and there is just so much to see. Our rest day there was a Monday so we couldn't go to the El Greco museum, but our Plan B was great -- we bought a tourist bracelet (pulsera turistica) that gave access to 6 or 7 places, some of which I would never have visited otherwise.
http://www.toledomonumental.com -- mosque, synagogue, steeple tower views, an El Greco masterpiece. And the walk into Toledo on the Levante, OMG...... It makes all those kms on asphalt so worth it.
