Albergues open? Porto to Santiago, Late October/Early November

[Grezbob]

I and my wife are in the early stages of putting together the plans for our first camino starting from Porto. For a variety of reasons we are certain it will have to start the last few days of October and go on into November (unfortunately this is not negotiable due to work and other commitments).

Basically we need to know if the albergues are going to be open at that time of year or do we need to take the more expensive option of booking hotels along the route?

Thanks in advance,
Graham.

PS. I'm new to the site and had a look around before posting but didn't find anything that quite answered my question. Sorry if I missed it. If this is the case then I'd be grateful for any of the links!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hi - unless for unseen circumstances I am sure the albergues will be open on this route at this time.

 

[tutinegra_pt]

Hi, in:

http://www.vialusitana.org/en/albergues_eng/

you have information with good updates

if you whant other information (with good updates), look also:

http://vaicomcalma.blogspot.pt/2012/02/portosantiago-compostelametereologia.html


Yes is my first reply , I hope it is helpfould

João

 

[Grezbob]

Thank you both for such quick replies. I feel much more confident now!

Those links look most helpful.

 

[PEI_Heather]

Hi Grezbob,
I walked, with two Camino friends, from Lisboa to Santiago last year 13 Oct/4 Nov (then to Muxia, Finisterre & Cee 5-10 Nov). The hostels were all opened; we stayed at some residentials (pensions) in a couple of places, however. One in particular (escapes my memory right now) was damn, dirty, stinky. You'll know it when you see it...stay at one of the residentials mentioned in Brierly's book... You'll be two of few people walking at this time...most of the people we met were on their way TO Porto after they finished their walk to Santiago!

When you are in Porto, go visit Liverio Lello, considered one of the, if not the, most beautiful bookstore in the world. JK Rowling based Hogwarts from her Harry Potter books on it.

I hope you don't get as much rain as we did!!! (This is where the purchase of an Altus or other such raincover is really really worth it.)

Cheers!
Heather in PEI, Canada

 

[PEI_Heather]

(Oh and also go to the Majestic Cafe in Porto as well, to start off your walk in glorious style. It's gorgeous and magical.)

 

[Grezbob]

Thanks Heather!

Yes, I'm starting to realise that we're likely going to be encountering some rain on the way but that won't deter us.(We'll actually be in India during monsoon season this year so this should be a breeze all be it somewhat colder!)

Thanks for the info on the hostels/pensions. Roughly, how much did they cost you a night?

I just Googled the Majestic Cafe and it looks amazing and Liverio Lello has made the wife extremely happy!

Thanks again!

 

[PEI_Heather]

Hi again,
What I meant was that the hostels were opened from Porto on, and we stayed in a few residentials on that section of the Caminho. From Lisboa to Porto we stayed at mostly residentials. (What a treat! Our own bathroom, beds with sheets and blankets, privacy, no snorers--the bane of my existence, even with hardcore earplugs!)

The residentials generally ran about 15E each person. Sometimes a bit more but we never stayed at a place less. The 15E may sound expensive, on the Camino/Caminho, but you have to weigh that with the cost of food and drink, which was far far cheaper (and better) than on the Camino Frances. When we were in Portugal, a cafe com leite + croissant would be approx 1.25-1.50E; once we crossed the border to Spain, the same would be anywhere from 1.80E and up...usually up. Far up!

I also had coffee in the cafe where JK Rowlings wrote the first Harry Potter book. Allegedly. I was at the post office and asked the man helping me to show me on my map how to get to Liverio Lello--the bookstore Rowlings based Hogwarts on. He asked if I was a Harry Potter fan, to which I replied yes, and he told me where this cafe was. So, according to the post office employee, I had coffee in the same cafe where the book was written! (I'm going to say that he was right, just because I wanted it to be so!)

Oh, FYI: no photos/no cameras in Liveria Lello. There is signage everywhere in the bookstore as well as employees with eagle eyesight telling visitors so. I bought a small book about the history of the place. Since it was after I had finished my Camino (I returned to Porto afterwards for a few days), I could handle a little bit of extra weight. That book and a million Valor chocolate bars to take home for family, friends and me!

Cheers!