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Guidebook Format

Frankybaby66

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Last Camino June 24 Camino Ingles/Finisterre
Hi all, it's been over 5 years since I walked the CF and my Brierley's looking suitably tired and out of date (an omen?).
Planning on doing a sizable chunk of the CF later this year and want to update my guide book.
Question is, kindle version or physical book?
Any thoughts/experiences of what would be the 'better' option appreciated.
Thanks. . and Buen Camino
 
Train on the 4-day Catalina Camino
Train for your next Camino on California's Santa Catalina Island March 16-19
I bought the Kindle version this year, but on my phone the print is very small and there is no way to enlarge the font. I didn't plan to take my Kindle this time although I have in some past trips when I took no phone. It is heavier than the paperback edition.
 
All you need is a pair of open eyes and Gronze on your phone.
Buen Camino
 
More 2024 Camino Guides available
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
I have both the physical and the Kindle version.
Like J Willhaus, I'm not too excited about the Kindle version.
 
I second and highly recommend the Wise Pilgrim guide books. They are sized to fit a cargo pocket. The print face can be a tad tiny for some. I always bring an inexpensive, plastic, pocket magnifying glass.

I find these pocket magnifying glasses inexpensively on Amazon by the bunch. At nearly 70 years old, I find salting them around the house and in the car is a wise investment (no pun intended).

Plus, the (separately available) Wise Pilgrim apps are far better than just about any other app out there. No magnifier needed for those, because you can pinch zoom them on your smart phone.

On balance, the Wise apps on your phone are my recommended way to go as they add zero weight to your carry load. However, if you are a purist who prefers paper, then I highly recommend the Wise Pilgrim printed guides.

Hope this helps.

Tom
 
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It's interesting isn't it; the one thing that always occurs on the forum is that there is no 'one size fits all'

I have used and like the Brierly guides but my preference now is to carry a paper Village to Village guide and use a Wise Pilgrim app on my phone. I find the Village to Village very handy when planning, both before I leave and as I walk from place to place. It's now covered in pencil marks and notes so is also a memento! The Wise Pilgrim app I really like and use for reassuring me about where I am and checking which route alternative and current information about accommodation options. I particularly like the comments left by users and tried to leave my own as I went.

During 2020 I did a virtual Camino de Santiago having ordered 3 different guide books from Ivar. It was a great opportunity to compare and contrast without having to carry the weight!! I had a lot of fun choosing my virtual accommodation too. Not a single bed bug bite
 
You are, of course, correct. Everyone does their own Camino in the end. Mine is NOT to tell you the only or best way. That is for each pilgrim to discern for themselves. My role is to provide what I hope is helpful and useful information to others.

Over time, the preferred means of navigating and obtaining useful information have settled out. Yes, Brierely is among the best. He was formerly THE best. In the past six to eight years the Wise Pilgrim Guides have developed and evolved into a very useful set of apps and guides. Their utility seems to broaden with each update and annual revision.

Over the years, several other guides and apps have come along that provide as good or - in some cases - better information to the pilgrim. I am waiting for a multi-lingual Gronze app, fused with a good mapping program. Their lodging information is among the very best. But, having it only available in Spanish is a limitation. Over time, people have developed clever work arounds - I have.

In my experience, the Wise Pilgrim Guides currently offer the best fusion of information and navigation. This said, everyone has their personal preference. I merely state mine here for what it might be worth to others.

Hope this helps.

Tom
 
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Perfect memento/gift in a presentation box. Engraving available, 25 character max.
Thanks Tom, I walked with the Camino Ninja app in Portugal last year, and was planning on using it again. But after the sad passing of the guy who developed and updated it, was looking for alternatives. I have a sort of loyalty to John Brierly guides as it got me through my first Camino. Will check out the Wise Pilgrim app though. Thanks again
 
I used the Buen Camino App last year on the Aragones and liked it. It is also in Spanish, but that was not a problem for me.

Edit: I see you can choose your language now. There are several routes on this app to choose from.
 
Last edited:
Frankybaby66 said:
I walked with the Camino Ninja app in Portugal last year, and was planning on using it again.
Click to expand...
You can still use the Camino Ninja app for the GPS, and I would imagine that little of the other information has changed.
I like the Buen Camino and Wise Pilgrim apps - I use both, along with Gronze.com. I have never used a physical guidebook.
 
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On our first 2016 Camino, we read our Brierly every night for the next day. Phil would make a little slip of paper each night of the km to each town or intersection so he could reference it throughout the day without pulling out the book. He also had WisePilgrim's App, but that was in 2016 and he didn't use it that much. I also used the Yellow German book in 2016 as it was a very precise guide with excellent directions electronically on Kindle.

Now we use an App to give us an estimate of how far we have gone and how much further to go. If we have internet, we also use Gronze.com to look at reviews and photos of different albergues.
 
Thanks for that - do you still carry a JB Guide as well as using the app? Just curious. . .
 
Frankybaby66 said:
Thanks for that - do you still carry a JB Guide as well as using the app? Just curious. . .
Click to expand...
I think I would for a Camino other than the CF, but we are pretty familiar with the CF now. I did buy the new Kindle version to read on my phone now in case I want to read something about the route, but with the availability of books and Apps on my phone, we only read the hard copy at home now.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
For some guidebooks, an "update" means changing the year on the cover. The 2016 Michelin version did not list the twenty-year-old albergue I volunteered in, but it did list the one in the same village that had been non-existent for many years.
 
I am on my way late April on the Camino. Frances and have not been able to find the NINJA app? Is it no longer available? I am looking for a planning app and resources on available lodging and interesting stops. ANy recommendations? Thanks
 
Doingit said:
I am on my way late April on the Camino. Frances and have not been able to find the NINJA app? Is it no longer available?
Click to expand...
The creator of the app passed away, so it's no longer available.

You can use Wise Pilgrim or Buen Camino apps.

A Complete Guide to the Caminos to Santiago de Compostela

A complete guide to the Camino de Santiago, including accommodation on the Camino Francés, Camino del Norte, Camino Portugués, Camino Primtivo, Vía de la Plata, Camino de Invierno, Finisterre & Muxía, San Salvador, Camino Olvidado, Caminho Nascente, Camino da Geira, Camino Inglés, Vía Podiensis...
wisepilgrim.com

APP del Camino de Santiago Buen Camino 2014 - 2024

Aplicación del Camino de Santiago profesional, con mapas, perfiles, alojamientos, planificador de etapas, a pie o en bici (Btt), en idiomas y actualizada.
www.editorialbuencamino.com

Additionally, Godesalco is a good site for planning stages

Godesalco.com

Guías prácticas para recorrer a pie la Vía Podiense y la Vía de la Plata, galerías de imágenes de los Caminos de Santiago y utilidades para preparar tu peregrinación: mapas, planificación, compañeros...
godesalco.com

And Gronze has information about the route and accommodations.

El Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

Bienvenido a Gronze, tu Guía del Camino de Santiago: Información práctica, actualizada y participativa de los principales Caminos de Santiago.
www.gronze.com
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Is it ok if I flip the script?

As the maker of physical books and electronic guides, I am all ears when it comes to making the types of changes that pilgrims are looking for. Many of them are obvious because I am a pilgrim that uses my own guide and so I know what I want. Others less so.

I have a short list of features that I am working on, and a long wish list of content I would like to add, but what do YOU want to get out of a guide/app? What is missing, or what is not working?

I am here to help pilgrims and hospitaleros and whatever changes make that happen I am happy to entertain!
 
Frankybaby66 said:
Planning on doing a sizable chunk of the CF later this year and want to update my guide book.
Question is, kindle version or physical book?
Any thoughts/experiences of what would be the 'better' option appreciated.
Thanks. . and Buen Camino
Click to expand...

Hi Frank and all!!
I brought the 2022 Kindle version off Amazon!
Had issues with my assistive tech so got a refund!
On Kindle i have the Village to Village (i like this one) and Sandy Browns Camino Frances guides (downloaded all his GPX tracks onto OSMAND+ this is the track i will follow) both on my phone and my 8 inch tab!
Both work without any problems.

WisePilgrim is a great app on my phone i used on the Portuguese and i am taking it on the Frances!
Layout is so easy to follow with lots of additional info and reviews of bars/cafes and accommodation plus where available whatsapp contacts! My assistive tech deals better with this app than others.

None of these add any weight.

For all you guys that find any of these or any other guide book hard to read because of font size or contrast bright sun on the screen etc!

There are apps on Google Play for Android called Google Talkback, Android Accessibility Suite and Android Accessibility Menu similar apps on Appstore.

This doesn't mean you have to be sight impaired to use them; they will just make it easier for you.

The Kindle app on devices allows you to customise the book by changing font size, style,reading preferences etc
With the above your device will if you double tap top left of screen it give you a menu, double tap top of page to read it aloud (choose current page which i use or continuous reading;which is a pain cos you cant remember it all) allow a high contrast colour inverted screen,enhanced magnification from a shortcut or triple tap and more.
The video below will give you an idea;if you move your phone /tab to a horizontal/landscape position the text gets bigger but obviously show less of what you want unless you scroll. As i cant read mine is set to announce everything in the back ground.

So if you guys have issues with small print; they say where there's a will there's a way and there is
Hope this helps somebody;don't be put off by the length of the post it takes about five minutes to set up!
Woody
 

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