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It seems bizarre to many of us but yes apparently they still use cheques in France! I remember a reply from one French member of this forum who said they hadn't used one in years, another who said that they used them regularly. The same with people from the States.I'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
We are not very fond of cheques but they remain used for people who have no other means to receive money: associations, individual people, small gites...It seems bizarre to many of us but yes apparently they still use cheques in France! I remember a reply from one French member of this forum who said they hadn't used one in years, another who said that they used them regularly. The same with people from the States.
I agree with both Margaret & @amandurrBook your meals. It's one less thing to think about on your travels! I never had a bad meal in France.
That's an understatement and a half!They also were quite different and a nice change from the pilgrim meals and del dias in Spain.
Prepare yourself for an amazing Camino. The Camino is loaded with beautifulI'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
Prepare yourself for an amazing experience. This Camino is full of beautiful medeivalI'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
I'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
Prepare yourself for an amazing Camino. The Camino is loaded with beautiful
Prepare yourself for an amazing experience. This Camino is full of beautiful medeival
architecture and art, nature, and people. Do take in the detours, Cele Valley, take a day trip to Rockamadour, stay with Serge in Cahors, the Altreia albergue in
I'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
Before I started I prebooked until Cahors. Now I am booked up until Condom. About 200 people left Le Puy on the day I did. Since Figeac the numbers have decreased a lot. I am currently doing the Cele variant (amazing!) and it's not crowded. Quite a few people are not booking in advance.@Mananath , what are the numbers like on the trail, and have you pre-booked everything? (I assume so because of your comment about cheques).
I'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
It is phenomenal...seriously!I am currently doing the Cele variant (amazing!) and it's not crowded.
This was mostly true, but since I walked it with three camino girlfriends, we felt very comfortable in spite of that because we had each other. Since I speak so little French, and Spanish, I do not like pouring over menus in other languages and don't always have good success in choosing. Google translate helps, but not always perfectly when using it for restaurants.The early stages I had more English speaking companions but after a week it got to be more and more French only.
I'm starting the Le Puy in early July hopefully. In my efforts to communicate with the gite owners, I am using email as my French is almost non existent.
I'm getting lots of replies outlining, in great detail, the options.
Do I have to select breakfast or communal dinner already? Surely its too early to be asked these questions. I don't know when or what I want to eat tomorrow yet. Is it possible to just book the dormitory bed and later, closer to the date, contact them to add me to the communal meal or breakfast etc?
Another reply asked to send a cheque for a deposit. Are cheques still a thing? I haven't seen a cheque in many years. Is this usual in France?
If anyone that has done the route, or any French pilgrims can advise, that would be great.
Lastly, am I running a risk if I don't pre-book, or are there enough Gites in a general area to cover pilgrims in July, or are there crunch spots with bed shortages?
Many thanks to anyone who offers advice.
I agree!For what it's worth, I would highly recommend going with the offered meals! I felt absolutely spoiled with the meals offered with demi-pension, and it provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with the hosts and the other pilgrims.
Hospitaleros were thinking this too. Then they have been fooled by fake reservations...I always felt camino was supposed to be relaxed.
yes, but I'm sure this isn't unique to the French. But somehow the Portuguese, Spanish and Italians get on with it without IBAN and cheque requests, in my experience. But it is their world, so on I go with IBAN transfers......Hospitaleros were thinking this too. Then they have been fooled by fake reservations...
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