do I need a phone?

[glennb]

I'm considering whether to bring my iphone on the Frances route this April. I'd like not to.
To the extent I need to communicate with home, I can do it from villages along the way at internet cafes.

I suppose my biggest concern is that I may need it to call ahead for reservations each day. Thoughts?

 

[CaminoGen]

The short answer would be, no. However, if it makes you feel more secure and are ready to assume the weight of the phone and charger, then bring it. Internet is readily available everywhere (from 0.50 to 1 Euro for 20 minutes). I wrote almost every day back home; my Facebook posts became my journal with the added bonus of having my friends and family cheer me on.

I used the web to make 2 reservations so I didn't really need a phone.

 

[letendre]

I'm considering whether to bring my iphone on the Frances route this April. I'd like not to.
To the extent I need to communicate with home, I can do it from villages along the way at internet cafes.

I suppose my biggest concern is that I may need it to call ahead for reservations each day. Thoughts?

I think the phone is very useful to ensure that albergues are open in April or to book a room in a hotel or guest house etc..
It is true that the weight of the phone and the charger is important ; it's a total weight around 120 gr.

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/el-camino-frances/topic12380.html#p81985

 

[Pieces]

I liked my phone for keeping up with people i met on the way, also used it as my only camera, but never to call home...

 

[Freetime]

My thoughts for walking as light as possible is to carry things that do double duty. Long pants with zipper off legs to convert to shorts are a good example.
My Android and other Smart Phones can be thought of the same way. It is my phone, camera, journal, guide book with maps, take along Bible and other reads, internet browser, variable brightness and color flashlight for night time bathroom trips, and many other things.
Charging can be a concern. So I am bringing a 2 panel solar cell charger capable of charging and running devices at the same time. Is 11.5 x 6.5 inches and weighs just 8 ounces.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Android phone using Tapatalk.

 

[evanlow]

Hi freetime,

Do you have a model of the charger?

 

[Pieces]

my normal charger is about a fourth of the weight and i never had issues recharging...

 

[Freetime]

Evanlow, I found it on Amazon by looking for "solar phone charger".
The one I will mentioned is the Suntactics sCharger-5. It is running at around $140.

Tony

Sent using Tapatalk.

 

[evanlow]

Interesting choice. No internal batteries, bigger panels.

Freetime, have you field tested it on the camino? Where would you mount this device? Behind your backpack? Or will it primarily be used in the albergue in the afternoon?

 

[letendre]

Hi freetime,

Do you have a model of the charger?

The best is a light charger for USB.

 

[Freetime]

I am currently planning to make my first Camino in 2014.
I had plans of unfolding it in the pack netting each morning. Except under a totally tree lined canopy or storm clouds all day, it would get enough sun for the time I will be walking. If I needed more than that I would have to resort to alternate methods as we all would anyway.

I have heard of flexible solar film that is less expensive and can be rolled up but I havent done any research in that department yet.

Tony

Sent using Tapatalk.

 

[evanlow]

Hi Freetime,

The mounting have to secure and durable as one may have to remove and put on the backpack a couple of times a day. I am also still not convinced how much can the sun charge in a couple of hours with those panels.

I'd probably go with just charging at the albergue like everyone else, maybe with an extra battery case for my iPhone to extend the battery life.

 

[Finisterre]

no
how would you know when to call ahead?

 

[Abbeydore]

no
how would you know when to call ahead?

agree,
guess what: phoned bank to tell about credit/debit card etc, they said they'll phone my mobile to check, I said it's too heavy! get lost! :evil:

Less is More

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've never taken a phone on the Camino and have never missed having one.
In fact, I've much enjoyed being "disconnected" for a time.
Plenty of places to make inexpensive phone calls or emails.

 

[tpmchugh]

Yes. My son is currently in O Cebreiro having started from St Jean on the 2nd March. He was totally unprepared for the walk on the road to Roncevalles. He became extremely tired and disorientated but because he had brought his phone he was able to ring me at home in Ireland. I then rang the Refugio in Roncevalles and the lady there kindly jumped in her car and drove down the road to pick him up some 6k away. He freely admits he was unprepared and would never have made it the rest of the way. He has taken things a bit easier and learned how to pace himself and is now just 7 days away from Santiago. However, I dread to think what the consequences of having no means of communication would have been. So even if you dont use it, bring it.