Son and friend need a tent ASAP arriving Porto

[BevKieransMum]

They both were only taking hand luggage and left their tents behind this morning as they couldn't take tent poles etc in the cabin. Their plane lands soon. Both are on a very tight budget. Where would be the best place near the airport to buy or hire tents. Awoke to panic via text and trying to help from UK.
Any ideas? Be so grateful.
Beverley

 

[Kirkie]

First, don't panic. If they can set off on such an adventure, they will survive. Next: Decathlon.
Next, word of mouth - let them ask other pilgrims what they might suggest.
Next, send them a few bob so they can afford the tent.
Then have a cup of tea.
They will be fine.
Words from an elderly woman.

 

[ivar]

Dechatlon Boavista, Porto:

Decathlon Porto Boavista · Rua Gonçalo Sampaio nº 350, Praça do Bom Sucesso n.º 23, 4150-365 Porto, Portugal

★★★★☆ · Sporting goods store

maps.app.goo.gl

Open 10am to 10pm every day.

https://www.decathlon.pt/store-view/loja-de-desporto-porto-boavista-0070284602846

 

[JustOneGuy]

They both were only taking hand luggage and left their tents behind this morning as they couldn't take tent poles etc in the cabin. Their plane lands soon. Both are on a very tight budget. Where would be the best place near the airport to buy or hire tents. Awoke to panic via text and trying to help from UK.
Any ideas? Be so grateful.
Beverley

do you mean that they were into the allowed weight and size for the hand baggage BUT they refused to take the poles??

Can you please tell me which airline were they flying? I never heard about this limitation.

Thanks for the information... and sorry about the inconvenience. I am sure they will find something good at Decathlon for a few bucks: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kpCE6zdQmC1McdKH7

 

[Robo]

Dechatlon Boavista, Porto:

Decathlon Porto Boavista · Rua Gonçalo Sampaio nº 350, Praça do Bom Sucesso n.º 23, 4150-365 Porto, Portugal

★★★★☆ · Sporting goods store

maps.app.goo.gl

Open 10am to 10pm every day.

https://www.decathlon.pt/store-view/loja-de-desporto-porto-boavista-0070284602846

Amazing prices!

 

[Roland49]

Dechatlon Boavista, Porto:

Decathlon Porto Boavista · Rua Gonçalo Sampaio nº 350, Praça do Bom Sucesso n.º 23, 4150-365 Porto, Portugal

★★★★☆ · Sporting goods store

maps.app.goo.gl

Open 10am to 10pm every day.

https://www.decathlon.pt/store-view/loja-de-desporto-porto-boavista-0070284602846

That would have been my recommendation, too!

Bom Caminho!

 

[RRat]

They both were only taking hand luggage and left their tents behind this morning as they couldn't take tent poles etc in the cabin. Their plane lands soon. Both are on a very tight budget. Where would be the best place near the airport to buy or hire tents. Awoke to panic via text and trying to help from UK.
Any ideas? Be so grateful.
Beverley

A functional tent will cost more than multiple nights in an albergue.

 

[trecile]

A functional tent will cost more than multiple nights in an albergue.

I was thinking the same. And there's no guarantee that they will find places to pitch a tent.

 

[JustOneGuy]

I have been thinking about doing the Camino with a tent, but one thing is holding me back: where do I wash up? And are there enough authorized free or paid campsites along each route?

 

[trecile]

Dechatlon Boavista, Porto:

The Matosinhos Decathlon is actually closer to the airport.

Decathlon Matosinhos · Av. Arquitecto Fernando Távora 1343, 4450-820 Matosinhos, Portugal

★★★★☆ · Sporting goods store

www.google.com

 

[trecile]

And there are authorized camping site, or paid campings, on each route?

Very few. Most people who camp on the Camino wild camp, although it's technically not legal in Spain. I don't know about Portugal.

 

[JacquelineA]

It’s not legal in Portugal or Spain to camp wild.
But it’s also not even necessary if you are on a low budget.
Staying in albergues,is probably cheaper and the albergues are on the Camino, campingsites usually are not.

I met a Scottish family on the Camino Portugues who send their tent etc to Santiago because it was much more convenient (less weight and no fuss to set your camp up) and cheap to stay in an albergue.

 

[JCarpenter]

Do they really need a tent? A good sleeping pad and canvas will do.

 

[Laura Blue]

do you mean that they were into the allowed weight and size for the hand baggage BUT they refused to take the poles??

Can you please tell me which airline were they flying? I never heard about this limitation.

Thanks for the information... and sorry about the inconvenience. I am sure they will find something good at Decathlon for a few bucks: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kpCE6zdQmC1McdKH7

Wouldn't have thought you could take tent poles on a pane as you're mostly not allowed to take walking poles.

 

[Laura Blue]

The Matosinhos Decathlon is actually closer to the airport.

Decathlon Matosinhos · Av. Arquitecto Fernando Távora 1343, 4450-820 Matosinhos, Portugal

★★★★☆ · Sporting goods store

www.google.com

and it's a good place to start walking.

 

[Laura Blue]

I was thinking the same. And there's no guarantee that they will find places to pitch a tent.

I walked via the Littoral and can't think there were places to camp and soo hot now!

 

[Vacajoe]

It’s hot, it’s illegal to wild camp, legal campsites are not that cheap, and they don’t currently have a tent. This may be the time to advise them to stay in albergues versus camping.

 

[Kirkie]

They both were only taking hand luggage and left their tents behind this morning as they couldn't take tent poles etc in the cabin. Their plane lands soon. Both are on a very tight budget. Where would be the best place near the airport to buy or hire tents. Awoke to panic via text and trying to help from UK.
Any ideas? Be so grateful.
Beverley

And?

 

[hikentravel1234]

do you mean that they were into the allowed weight and size for the hand baggage BUT they refused to take the poles??

Can you please tell me which airline were they flying? I never heard about this limitation.

Thanks for the information... and sorry about the inconvenience. I am sure they will find something good at Decathlon for a few bucks: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kpCE6zdQmC1McdKH7

Actually, she said they weren't allowed to take the tent poles in the cabin.

 

[henrythedog]

Posts 5 onwards haven’t been seen by the OP as of now.

 

[hikentravel1234]

It’s hot, it’s illegal to wild camp, legal campsites are not that cheap, and they don’t currently have a tent. This may be the time to advise them to stay in albergues versus camping.

Agree but if their budget is super tight, they may decide to take their chances by "stealth camping" in rural area with few or no people around. I saw many areas on the Coastal route in April (I went as far as Caminha then crossed over to Central). On the central, starting with Valenca), I don't really recall but I suspect there are also some isolated places.
It's not very common on the Camino but occasionally done, usually by young, on a very struck budget, and occasionally, as a necessity when someone brings a dog. I met one nice kid who only brought some food and 20 Euros to do the Frances (!!!). Besides donativas, and charity, I think he sometimes just laid down to sleep.