Phone apps Camino Frances

[Kiwi Linda]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

 

[J Willhaus]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

@Kiwi Linda Gronze does not have an app for the regular recommendations. It is web based so you access it through your phone browser instead of an app. There are plenty of other apps that people use if you are more comfortable with those. You can probably look through some of the threads in the technology heading to see some of the more popular ones. We use Wise Pilgrim, but there are several others.

 

[Kiwi Linda]

@Kiwi Linda Gronze does not have an app for the regular recommendations. It is web based so you access it through your phone browser instead of an app. There are plenty of other apps that people use if you are more comfortable with those. You can probably look through some of the threads in the technology heading to see some of the more popular ones. We use Wise Pilgrim, but there are several others.

Thanks your reply was very helpful

 

[Anthony18]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

I used Camino Places by Wise Pilgrim. Worked like a charm. I took my guide book as well as it provided background/historical info that most apps just don't include, plus it was nice to sit at my destination's local watering hole and plan the next day's adventure. If you look at your gear, you could probably save weight by not taking something else. I know a lot of people knock the Brierley guide, but I found it to be excellent. Just my two cents. Buen camino!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I found that cellular data coverage was quite good and that many bars provided free WiFi and so I was able to use the Gronze website along the way. Just make sure to buy a Spanish SIM card when you arrive and get a plan with data.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

Some common apps include: Buen Camino, Camino Ninja, and Wise Pilgrim Frances. I also like Camino Pilgrim. I've got them all on my phone. They are inexpensive enough that it isn't a financial burden and they weigh nothing. This way I can check them against each other for errors or omissions.

 

[linkster]

You can always print to a PDF and save it to your phone for offline use if needed.

 

[Former member 92300]

Buen Camino, Camino Ninja, and Wise Pilgrim Frances. I also like Camino Pilgrim. I've got them all on my phone.

These are my apps. I also use the "Far Out" app (app itself is free) and pay for the Camino maps and use it for my hiking map. It is NOT an app like the ones mentioned above that give information about the Camino and towns and accommodations. It is a hiking map that shows in great detail the trail details and water sources. I have used it for hiking other trails and just like the way it works for maps. And the maps are downloadable to your phone. The Camino specific apps listed above also have maps - but I never got used to them.

I also like to have my kindle app and have some camino guidebooks downloaded. I switch back and forth between the apps, the kindle guidebooks, and gronze . com for information about the towns and albergues. And I use FarOut for following the trail should I need assistance with finding my way (most of the time I just follow the arrows - but I have gotten a bit lost a couple times and a couple times I needed help knowing when I will find my next water refill fountain).

And last - Whatsapp - use for wifi calling and texting. VERY popular in the Camino for linking up with other pilgrims. Also can use it to communicate with home without having to use your data.

 

[dimdog]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

Hi, I walked the French route last year, and used camino ninja, & wise pilgrim, both from play store, both worked well, with lost & phone numbers of albergues, pensions ect, & also had a GPS pin via Google maps, which helped when we set off really early & missed the yellow arrow.
Hope this helps
Buen camino

 

[David Tallan]

These are my apps. I also use the "Far Out" app (app itself is free) and pay for the Camino maps and use it for my hiking map. It is NOT an app like the ones mentioned above that give information about the Camino and towns and accommodations. It is a hiking map that shows in great detail the trail details and water sources. I have used it for hiking other trails and just like the way it works for maps. And the maps are downloadable to your phone. The Camino specific apps listed above also have maps - but I never got used to them.

I also like to have my kindle app and have some camino guidebooks downloaded. I switch back and forth between the apps, the kindle guidebooks, and gronze . com for information about the towns and albergues. And I use FarOut for following the trail should I need assistance with finding my way (most of the time I just follow the arrows - but I have gotten a bit lost a couple times and a couple times I needed help knowing when I will find my next water refill fountain).

And last - Whatsapp - use for wifi calling and texting. VERY popular in the Camino for linking up with other pilgrims. Also can use it to communicate with home without having to use your data.

In addition to FarOut - Wikiloc, Windy Maps, and Maps.me all seem to fill the same sort of niche and have their proponents. I've used the Kindle version of the Village to Village guides on my Caminos and if you are going on the Frances, the Kindle version of Gitlitz and Davidson's guide is, IMESHO, a necessity. The Brierley guides are not available in e-Book versions but you can get the "Maps and Albergue listings only" versions.

 

[Mfazio]

I took the Bierley guidebook and cut out all the pages and organized by each of the stages I planned to walk. Once done with the stage toss that part of the book. Has worked well. I was most familiar with this guidebook and worried about the battery life of my phone. Felt better having a hard copy in my pocket if my phone died. So far the path has been pretty well marked and only need to refer to my phone occasionally.

Also downloaded the guide by Moon on Kindle to supplement when needed. Wise Pilgrim and Camino Ninja have worked well.

Buen Camino!

 

[seashell]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

I’ve always used maps.me for which some very helpful Dutch people created a set of KML files of routes and accommodation on all of the major Caminos. Maps,me was open source but has become somewhat commercialised so the original founders forked the code into a new app called Organic Maps which is superb. Maps of Spain, France etc can be downloaded and are available irrespective of phone signal. I thoroughly recommend it. The Dutch files are available in resources here at the forums. Cheers.

 

[J F Gregory]

In my walking I use Village to Village bound book. My phone us for my camera. The free map picked up at the pilgrim office in SJPDP works for me. Just keep it in a zip lock bag for protection.

 

[Louise Comacchio]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

I downloaded several apps but finf I am only using the Wise Pilgrim ap

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

I downloaded a few but I am only using the Wise Pilgrim app, I have found it great for the few times I was unsure if I was on the right path, plus for working out my next days walk. But having said that, I miss my paperback Brierley guide and have spent time in bookshops in Pamplona and Burgos looking for one in English. I found a paper map which I bought. Given my time over, I would carry the guide and forgo something else, like the corkskrew that I have used once.

 

[chichi]

@Kiwi Linda Gronze does not have an app for the regular recommendations. It is web based so you access it through your phone browser instead of an app. There are plenty of other apps that people use if you are more comfortable with those. You can probably look through some of the threads in the technology heading to see some of the more popular ones. We use Wise Pilgrim, but there are several others.

I used Camino Ninja (with distances, accommodations and booking links) and Camino francais app for map and route clarification when I walked in March. They were perfect.

 

[Martin Doyle]

Last September I used the Camino Ninja app. It was the most up to date for open and closed Albergues. I have Locus Maps on my phone for getting lost.....

 

[fer]

Gronze if available, if not, for android phones, I used Ultreia Camino Frances. It has an offline map option, so no internet connection needed.

 

[Katherine Radeka]

I’m using Buen Camino and Camino Ninja. I find that I use them for different things. Camino Ninja keeps me on route when it’s a bit confusing. I like the stage planning feature in Buen Camino.

 

[Barney12]

Hi I'm walking my first Camino starting in SJPdP on the 25th May. I was thinking of downloading an app onto my phone rather than taking my guide with me to save on weight. I like the Gronze website but can only see the Gronze maps app so not sure if there is an app which includes all the info available on the website. Or maybe there's a better one which includes a route description, a map and accommodation option? Would be good to hear what others recommend.

Hey Linda from kapiti! This is Carey from kapiti!! Sorry for non relevant reply but very excited to know s.one else from kapiti is on here .Buen camino! ( I'm currently at LaFaba)

 

[Kiwi Linda]

I used Camino Places by Wise Pilgrim. Worked like a charm. I took my guide book as well as it provided background/historical info that most apps just don't include, plus it was nice to sit at my destination's local watering hole and plan the next day's adventure. If you look at your gear, you could probably save weight by not taking something else. I know a lot of people knock the Brierley guide, but I found it to be excellent. Just my two cents. Buen camino!

Sounds sensible to have two options thanks for the advice Anthony. And it's the Brierley that I have which is lighter than many other guides luckily so will do as you suggest and ditch something else rather than my guide.

 

[Kiwi Linda]

Hey Linda from kapiti! This is Carey from kapiti!! Sorry for non relevant reply but very excited to know s.one else from kapiti is on here .Buen camino! ( I'm currently at LaFaba)

That is cool Carey. Lafaba is a pretty exotic location. Are you also walking the Camino this year?