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I don't understand this. How did Booking decide where you are supposed to be staying? I usually tell them where I want to stay.Booking.com would not give me details of where I was supposed to be staying
From your post, it seems that you did it without your phone in April 2024. How was it? I suppose it is very possible, as many people do choose to live without mobile phone. However, I love my phone and would not go on a Camino without it. My husband can stay home, but my phone must come!Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
I made the bookings a month beforehand, but couldn't remember every single accommodation where I stayed, and booking.com wouldn't tell me where each hotel/albergue was even though I knew which town I was staying in. Like I said, try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different consecutive towns.this. How did Booking decide where y
And yes, I "managed" it, but with great difficulty, and with very little sympathy from fellow pilgrims. If it wasn't for the actual Portuguese/Galicians, I dread to think how I would have got on. And don't even start me on trying to get home. Lol.I don't understand this. How did Booking decide where you are supposed to be staying? I usually tell them where I want to stay.
From your post, it seems that you did it without your phone in April 2024. How was it? I suppose it is very possible, as many people do choose to live without mobile phone. However, I love my phone and would not go on a Camino without it. My husband can stay home, but my phone must come!
As to the question of whether reservations are necessary, I expect it depends a lot on when you are walking and what your accommodation expectations are.
I am very sorry to read that you were mugged at knifepoint for your phone on the first night of landing in Portugal. This is horrible.I made the bookings a month beforehand, but couldn't remember every single accommodation where I stayed, and booking.com wouldn't tell me where each hotel/albergue was even though I knew which town I was staying in. Like I said, try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different consecutive towns.
Why not access the booking site or your emails (as you have an email confirmation of every reservation) from another phone/computer?I made the bookings a month beforehand, but couldn't remember every single accommodation where I stayed, and booking.com wouldn't tell me where each hotel/albergue was even though I knew which town I was staying in. Like I said, try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different consecutive towns.
To me a phone is imperative when you travel. They give you the opportunity to be efflcient and tailor your experience to what you want, make ‘on the spot’ decisions, be flexible with your plans and limit your reliance on others. Of course you can go without a phone but it’s unthinkable to me.So, before I began my third Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon in April of this year, I had a week with a friend who lives in the Algarve beforehand. However, literally on the first night of landing in Portugal, I was mugged at knifepoint for my phone. Now, this normally wouldn't matter, as for over a thousand years, the pilgrimage has existed without these pieces of plastic and lithium. Anyway, I digress. Knowing the Portuguese Central (especially from Ponte de Lima onwards, given most people dare not to take the Central from Porto), and it would be busy from Ponte de Lima onwards, I reluctantly pre-booked accommodation from there to SdC. Anyway, Booking.com would not give me details of where I was supposed to be staying (you try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different towns). Regardless, being the enterprising Englishman I am, I managed to virtually find every hotel/albergue and secure my accommodation. But this was extremely difficult, and certain fellow pilgrims made this experience more difficult, but again, there were two (you know who you are), who genuinely went out of their way to help me, even though one of them wasn't even starting until Porto (again, you Canadian legend, you know who you are). Also, a rumour also began that I'm the "Brit who hates Americans". A) I'm not British, I'm English, and B) I hate everyone equally. Again, I digress, but this is my question. Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
Possible, yes, but as always a lot of factors are involved.it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
I walked my first Camino from SJPDP to Santiago with no mobile phone (and no internet access at any point along the way either). Not through choice - simply because for all practical purposes they didn't exist at the time. These days I carry a mobile phone and am very glad to do so. In fact I carry a backup as well!Of course you can go without a phone but it’s unthinkable to me.
I am very confused by your post. Most people do walk the central route from Porto, although the coastal is getting more popular every year. As @C clearly asked for clarification about Bookings. Are you saying that Bookings would not release your information on which hotels you booked? Again some confusion. Why would certain pilgrims make it more difficult? But to your question of walking without a phone.So, before I began my third Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon in April of this year, I had a week with a friend who lives in the Algarve beforehand. However, literally on the first night of landing in Portugal, I was mugged at knifepoint for my phone. Now, this normally wouldn't matter, as for over a thousand years, the pilgrimage has existed without these pieces of plastic and lithium. Anyway, I digress. Knowing the Portuguese Central (especially from Ponte de Lima onwards, given most people dare not to take the Central from Porto), and it would be busy from Ponte de Lima onwards, I reluctantly pre-booked accommodation from there to SdC. Anyway, Booking.com would not give me details of where I was supposed to be staying (you try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different towns). Regardless, being the enterprising Englishman I am, I managed to virtually find every hotel/albergue and secure my accommodation. But this was extremely difficult, and certain fellow pilgrims made this experience more difficult, but again, there were two (you know who you are), who genuinely went out of their way to help me, even though one of them wasn't even starting until Porto (again, you Canadian legend, you know who you are). Also, a rumour also began that I'm the "Brit who hates Americans". A) I'm not British, I'm English, and B) I hate everyone equally. Again, I digress, but this is my question. Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
A) I'm not British, I'm English, and B) I hate everyone equally.
Therein lies the source of our different reactions. I hate some types of direct human interaction, especially with strangers, but the phone brings much closer contact with my extended family.the phone has replaced so much direct human contact (though of course it can also enable contact. )
No matter what you say or don't say, it is guaranteed that you will upset someone!I hope these thoughts don't upset anyone.
For me too.The challenge for me is to use my phone when needed and not as a crutch the minute I feel lonely/uncomfortable/unsure/bored. I hope these thoughts don't upset anyone.
Do you back your phone up to the cloud? My iPhone is set up to do this automatically so I can always access my data from any internet enabled device. So as long as I can access the internet, I can check my emails for bookings etc if my phone is lost..And yes, I "managed" it, but with great difficulty, and with very little sympathy from fellow pilgrims. If it wasn't for the actual Portuguese/Galicians, I dread to think how I would have got on. And don't even start me on trying to get home. Lol.
There is no doubt that a phone is indispensable for most practical things, though as a grumpy old woman who also travelled in pre-tech days, I still feel it's a pity that the phone has replaced so much direct human contact (though of course it can also enable contact. )
Therein lies the source of our different reactions. I hate some types of direct human interaction, especially with strangers, but the phone brings much closer contact with my extended family.
I guess that not every fellow pilgrim was willing to do so but a few did. I guess that is why @Josephus wrote:I wonder if any fellow pilgrims would have lent you their phone etc for this purpose
Yes, probably. If not, you’ll find out quickly enough. If you are worried about it, buy another smartphone.So, before I began my third Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon in April of this year, I had a week with a friend who lives in the Algarve beforehand. However, literally on the first night of landing in Portugal, I was mugged at knifepoint for my phone. Now, this normally wouldn't matter, as for over a thousand years, the pilgrimage has existed without these pieces of plastic and lithium. Anyway, I digress. Knowing the Portuguese Central (especially from Ponte de Lima onwards, given most people dare not to take the Central from Porto), and it would be busy from Ponte de Lima onwards, I reluctantly pre-booked accommodation from there to SdC. Anyway, Booking.com would not give me details of where I was supposed to be staying (you try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different towns). Regardless, being the enterprising Englishman I am, I managed to virtually find every hotel/albergue and secure my accommodation. But this was extremely difficult, and certain fellow pilgrims made this experience more difficult, but again, there were two (you know who you are), who genuinely went out of their way to help me, even though one of them wasn't even starting until Porto (again, you Canadian legend, you know who you are). Also, a rumour also began that I'm the "Brit who hates Americans". A) I'm not British, I'm English, and B) I hate everyone equally. Again, I digress, but this is my question. Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
Did you make these bookings on Booking.com as a guest? If you have a registered account, all the bookings will be available if you sign in, click your profile and then my trips.I made the bookings a month beforehand, but couldn't remember every single accommodation where I stayed, and booking.com wouldn't tell me where each hotel/albergue was even though I knew which town I was staying in. Like I said, try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different consecutive towns.
Yes, clearly it is because you managed, right?Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations?
Never mind those folks, Barbara. Everyone has opinions. (I didn't see your post but would have happily agreed.)However when I tried to make a similar point in a post once, I managed to upset several people.
I do too. But these days it's an unpopular thought around here.left his device at home because it helped him to disconnect from his usual daily life and focus on his pilgrimage. I think there's a lot in that.
"Managed" being the operative word. I'm not trying to stir up any pot. Sounds like you are more than anything, but I digress. I'm just trying to gauge reaction. To answer other questions, I was actually mugged in Faro, in a rather sketchy area has I had to fly there and it was too late to go to Portimao. My major obstacle was the two step verification for Gmail. I knew my password, but obviously couldn't type the verification code into a phone I wasn't in possession of. Booking.com wouldn't give me the exact address of all the accommodation I'd booked from Ponte de Lima to Santiago, despite me knowing which town I'd be on which date. GDPR, apparently. Like I said, I admire anyone who can remember 11 hotels/albergues in a row. Luckily, I'd prepaid my week in the Algarve, and my 3 nights in Lisbon. It wasn't until I got to Azambuja/Santarem that I started to worry, as booking started to take money from my account, but I didn't know where it was going. Anyway, the amazing hospitalero in Azambuja and I spent 2 hours on his iPad going through every hotel in each town on my itinerary, managed to remember 10 of the 11, and he phoned the 2 in Portugal to explain my circumstances and confirm I would still be arriving. The lovely receptionist at the hostel in Santerem phoned the others and did the same. But that wasn't the end, 2 were cancelled in the meantime because I didn't confirm (although as I just explained, I had), so my first thoughts upon arriving in a certain town was A) would I actually have accommodation? and B) was it paid for? This was stressful to say the least, and this culminated in my final night with me sleeping in the airport carpark in A Coruna, after my hotel there was cancelled. As for what I was saying about other pilgrims, I have noticed people do not like parting with their phones, pilgrims or not. I remember asking one particular British couple if I could use theirs just to phone my ex or stepdaughters just to let them know I was still alive, and it was like I was asking them to donate a kidney. I even offered to pay. That is just one example. The not so good experiences far outweighed the good, but I'll choose to remember the angels. As I have stated, I'm not here to agitate, I'm just genuinely curious to see if you can more than just "manage". Because of course it's possible, but it is obviously becoming increasingly difficult, as I can attest to.Yes, clearly it is because you managed, right?
So why stir the pot?
Yes, as I stated in my previous post. It was around 11pm, in the old town, on my way back to my hotel after an evening meal. Why do you ask?So the mugging was in Faro. What time of day and where exactly?
It's great that you got this help. I am still puzzled why you couldn't log into your Booking account, using his iPad, to get the information. Was there a 2-factor authentication problem?Anyway, the amazing hospitalero in Azambuja and I spent 2 hours on his iPad going through every hotel in each town on my itinerary
No, I just couldn't remember the correct password or combination of, hashtags, commas, etc. And after 3 attempts it booted me out. But yes, a special shout out to Miguel at the Azambuja municipal albergue. A true Camino angel. Muito obrigadoIt's great that you got this help. I am still puzzled why you couldn't log into your Booking account, using his iPad, to get the information. Was there a 2-factor authentication problem?
I had a similar problem when my phone went astray on my birthday on my Camino Portugues in 2018 (not a theft, fortunately). All of my plans and plane tickets home, etc. we're on my phone and in my Google Drive. But the two factor authentication meant that my Google Drive was inaccessible without my phone. Fortunately, a fellow pilgrim leant me their phone when I finally remembered that I could use "find my phone" to track down its location and we were reunited. Since then, I always carry a slip of paper, separate from my phone, with the pre-issued Google authentication codes I can use if my phone is unavailable.My major obstacle was the two step verification for Gmail. I knew my password, but obviously couldn't type the verification code into a phone I wasn't in possession of.
Because I am thinking about living there.Yes, as I stated in my previous post. It was around 11pm, in the old town, on my way back to my hotel after an evening meal. Why do you ask?
Yes, exactly this! Best well-rounded reply imo.I had a similar problem when my phone went astray on my birthday on my Camino Portugues in 2018 (not a theft, fortunately). All of my plans and plane tickets home, etc. we're on my phone and in my Google Drive. But the two factor authentication meant that my Google Drive was inaccessible without my phone. Fortunately, a fellow pilgrim leant me their phone when I finally remembered that I could use "find my phone" to track down its location and we were reunited. Since then, I always carry a slip of paper, separate from my phone, with the pre-issued Google authentication codes I can use if my phone is unavailable.
I think there is a big difference between setting out without a phone on a Camino, where you plan for ways to organize things without it (e.g. printing out return flight tickets in advance) and suddenly finding yourself without a phone. In general, the ways we got around pre-phone still work, but you have to be prepared to use them. If you had planned to be without your phone (e.g. either not done bookings or done them in advance and carried the details with you in a notebook, or done them at public computers and carried the details in a notebook) things would have been a lot easier. It is the suddenly finding yourself without when you haven't planned for it but built reliance on the phone into your Camino that is so challenging.
By all accounts, it's generally safe. But as with everywhere, crime is rising. I live in London, so there's more chance of it happening here. I guess it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time. Don't let my experience put you off. The Algarve is beautiful.Because I am thinking about living there.
Fair enough.I'm just genuinely curious to see if you can more than just "manage". Because of course it's possible, but it is obviously becoming increasingly difficult, as I can attest to.
Nothing personal meant @TravellingMan22, because I'm not immune.Not only did I not know the address of the hotel, I didn’t even know the name. All I do is click on directions in booking! Thankfully I found it by chance.!
Yes to both. Having a GPS on a phone or other device is convenient but not necessary. And in all my Camino time, I never made a reservation anywhere.So, before I began my third Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon in April of this year, I had a week with a friend who lives in the Algarve beforehand. However, literally on the first night of landing in Portugal, I was mugged at knifepoint for my phone. Now, this normally wouldn't matter, as for over a thousand years, the pilgrimage has existed without these pieces of plastic and lithium. Anyway, I digress. Knowing the Portuguese Central (especially from Ponte de Lima onwards, given most people dare not to take the Central from Porto), and it would be busy from Ponte de Lima onwards, I reluctantly pre-booked accommodation from there to SdC. Anyway, Booking.com would not give me details of where I was supposed to be staying (you try remembering 11 hotels in 11 different towns). Regardless, being the enterprising Englishman I am, I managed to virtually find every hotel/albergue and secure my accommodation. But this was extremely difficult, and certain fellow pilgrims made this experience more difficult, but again, there were two (you know who you are), who genuinely went out of their way to help me, even though one of them wasn't even starting until Porto (again, you Canadian legend, you know who you are). Also, a rumour also began that I'm the "Brit who hates Americans". A) I'm not British, I'm English, and B) I hate everyone equally. Again, I digress, but this is my question. Is it really possible to do the Camino in 2024 without a smartphone, or without reservations? Thoughts?
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