Travel Agencies

[Melcro]

Hi All!

My husband and I have been communicating with Follow the Camino, a travel agency that plans the route, books lodging, transfers luggage along the route, etc. I know we could easily book everything on our own, but my husband feels more at ease having people in the know organize it for us. That said, can anyone comment on Follow the Camino agency? Or any other reputable agencies?

Thank you!
Happy Walking!

 

[Takahiwai]

I don't know what route you're planning, or when you're planning to do it, but my advice, after reading your message, would be to leave your husband at home!

 

[Pafayac]

The camino is organised, yet: these agencies sell a useless service.
Do you need something special (like private rooms) ? Even if you need this, or backpack transportation, it is easy to organise them on your own.
Using these agencies prevents you to change your mind, to adapt your walk day after day, taking profit of experience.

 

[J Willhaus]

I don't know about this agency specifically, but my advice is to ensure that they plan days with distances for you that you know you can walk and that any lodging is actually close to the Camino route. Some companies have a set itinerary and not one that is tailored for your specific needs.

 

[Tincatinker]

my husband feels more at ease having people in the know organize it for us

Does your husband ever go shopping?There are more people in the know on this forum than are employed by every Camino travel agent in the world.

Which Camino are you planning on walking and from where?

 

[trecile]

I understand your husband wanting to have everything arranged by "experts," but what you will probably get is a cookie cutter itinerary. These agencies don't know your abilities, and you could be stuck with an itinerary that is too ambitious or too slow for you.

If you plan your own stages and book your own accommodations you are in control, and have the ability to change your stages as you go along.

However, if you are planning a very short Camino, like Sarria to Santiago, it's probably fine to use an agency. On longer Caminos of a month or more there's a lot more time for things to happen, like injury or illness, the desire to stay on the same stages as the pilgrims that you meet, wanting to take a rest day, etc. that can make you want to alter your original schedule.

 

[jungleboy]

This thread is in the Vía Serrana forum, for what it's worth. I don't know if it's there by accident, but if not, it's not a camino I'd expect Follow the Camino or other agencies to cover. I could be wrong though!

 

[Melcro]

Oops. I meant to post this in the Camino forum. We’re walking from Valenca to Santiago in May.

 

[Melcro]

I understand your husband wanting to have everything arranged by "experts," but what you will probably get is a cookie cutter itinerary. These agencies don't know your abilities, and you could be stuck with an itinerary that is too ambitious or too slow for you.

If you plan your own stages and book your own accommodations you are in control, and have the ability to change your stages as you go along.

However, if you are planning a very short Camino, like Sarria to Santiago, it's probably fine to use an agency. On longer Caminos of a month or more there's a lot more time for things to happen, like injury or illness, the desire to stay on the same stages as the pilgrims that you meet, wanting to take a rest day, etc. that can make you want to alter your original schedule.

I should have be more clear: we are walking only part of the Camino, from Valenca to Santiago, in May 2025. We chose the route and asked the agency to plan around that - lodging with private bath. Includes breakfast every day and most dinners. They also transfer our luggage.

 

[Melcro]

I don't know about this agency specifically, but my advice is to ensure that they plan days with distances for you that you know you can walk and that any lodging is actually close to the Camino route. Some companies have a set itinerary and not one that is tailored for your specific needs.

Thanks for the feedback. We were sure to research the various routes first and chose to go with Valenca to Santiago, very doable for us. We are pretty active and walk a lot. The itinerary would be tailored to our needs. I just want to make sure we’re going with a reputable agency.

 

[Melcro]

Does your husband ever go shopping?There are more people in the know on this forum than are employed by every Camino travel agent in the world.

Which Camino are you planning on walking and from where?

Ha! Yes, my husband loves to shop!
We are planning to walk from Valenca to Santiago in May.

 

[Melcro]

I don't know about this agency specifically, but my advice is to ensure that they plan days with distances for you that you know you can walk and that any lodging is actually close to the Camino route. Some companies have a set itinerary and not one that is tailored for your specific needs.

Does your husband ever go shopping?There are more people in the know on this forum than are employed by every Camino travel agent in the world.

Which Camino are you planning on walking and from where?

Also, apologies if I offended anyone here. This forum has been incredibly helpful! Lots of people here “in the know.”
Thank you!

 

[trecile]

This thread is in the Vía Serrana forum, for what it's worth. I don't know if it's there by accident, but if not, it's not a camino I'd expect Follow the Camino or other agencies to cover. I could be wrong though!

Oops. I meant to post this in the Camino forum. We’re walking from Valenca to Santiago in May.

I have moved the thread to the Camino Portuguese forum.

 

[trecile]

I should have be more clear: we are walking only part of the Camino, from Valenca to Santiago, in May 2025. We chose the route and asked the agency to plan around that - lodging with private bath. Includes breakfast every day and most dinners.

I strongly recommend that you NOT include any dinners. You will probably meet other pilgrims along the way that you want to dine with, and with your dinners pre-booked this probably won't happen. I met a woman a few years ago who had booked a Camino with all breakfasts and dinners included, and ended up eating with other pilgrims and foregoing her pre-paid dinners.

 

[Tincatinker]

I should have be more clear: we are walking only part of the Camino, from Valenca to Santiago, in May 2025. We chose the route and asked the agency to plan around that - lodging with private bath. Includes breakfast every day and most dinners. They also transfer our luggage.

Okay, so here is the information on the route possible stages and accommodations: https://www.gronze.com/camino-portugues#localidad-52 You can now compare and contrast and consider the deal you’ve been offered

 

[Melcro]

Okay, so here is the information on the route possible stages and accommodations: https://www.gronze.com/camino-portugues#localidad-52 You can now compare and contrast and consider the deal you’ve been offered

Thank you!

 

[Melcro]

I strongly recommend that you NOT include any dinners. You will probably meet other pilgrims along the way that you want to dine with, and with your dinners pre-booked this probably won't happen. I met a woman a few years ago who had booked a Camino with all breakfasts and dinners included, and ended up eating with other pilgrims and foregoing her pre-paid dinners.

Good idea! I might exclude the pre-paid dinners. Thank you!

 

[J Willhaus]

I have met several people who walk their Caminos using an agency (both CF and CP) and while it is quite a bit more expensive they have enjoyed their experiences. If that is the way you chose to go, just know that many of us here on the forum will probably try to tell you over and over why planning it yourself is what many of us chose to do and enjoy doing it that way. Please don't take offense to that.

 

[Melcro]

I have met several people who walk their Caminos using an agency (both CF and CP) and while it is quite a bit more expensive they have enjoyed their experiences. If that is the way you chose to go, just know that many of us here on the forum will probably try to tell you over and over why planning it yourself is what many of us chose to do and enjoy doing it that way. Please don't take offense to that.

No offense taken at all.

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

Hi All!

My husband and I have been communicating with Follow the Camino, a travel agency that plans the route, books lodging, transfers luggage along the route, etc. I know we could easily book everything on our own, but my husband feels more at ease having people in the know organize it for us. That said, can anyone comment on Follow the Camino agency? Or any other reputable agencies?

Thank you!
Happy Walking!

I used Follow the Camino last year, everything was organised very well. Even though there was a change in our accomodation halfway to Santiago, we were notified well in advance and everything worked worked out fine.
I've been walking the Way since 2007 and I have done the refugios, endured the snoring, snored myself carried my bag. swapped war stories along the Way, laughed and cried, slept under the stars, etc, etc. However, I'm getting on a bit now. I want to tick off as many Caminos as I can. The years in front of me are beginning to thin out now. So, I intend to use organisers from now on and put all my energy into my knees and feet. Others can transport my bag and worry about where I will rest my weary, bald, aged head at night. Buen Camino! Ultreia!

 

[auburnfive]

Melcro,
I respect your desire to make things easy, and use an agency even though it’s easy to do it yourself. However, please please do not include dinners in your booking plans. We had that on my first ( booked ) Camino. Meant we had to wait until the designated place was open, usually too late for what we wanted, and had to pass by many tempting lovely places.
Breakfast is also a bit confining, we had to wait until 9 when we found we’d rather get walking and stop to eat a few km down the road, but not so bad as having dinners locked in

 

[Melcro]

Melcro,
I respect your desire to make things easy, and use an agency even though it’s easy to do it yourself. However, please please do not include dinners in your booking plans. We had that on my first ( booked ) Camino. Meant we had to wait until the designated place was open, usually too late for what we wanted, and had to pass by many tempting lovely places.
Breakfast is also a bit confining, we had to wait until 9 when we found we’d rather get walking and stop to eat a few km down the road, but not so bad as having dinners locked in

Thank you! Great advice!

 

[Melcro]

I used Follow the Camino last year, everything was organised very well. Even though there was a change in our accomodation halfway to Santiago, we were notified well in advance and everything worked worked out fine.
I've been walking the Way since 2007 and I have done the refugios, endured the snoring, snored myself carried my bag. swapped war stories along the Way, laughed and cried, slept under the stars, etc, etc. However, I'm getting on a bit now. I want to tick off as many Caminos as I can. The years in front of me are beginning to thin out now. So, I intend to use organisers from now on and put all my energy into my knees and feet. Others can transport my bag and worry about where I will rest my weary, bald, aged head at night. Buen Camino! Ultreia!

Great to hear that someone has actually had experience with Follow the Camino! I’m comparing quotes with other agencies before I settle on anything.

 

[trecile]

Great to hear that someone has actually had experience with Follow the Camino! I’m comparing quotes with other agencies before I settle on anything.

Have you looked at how much it would cost your to book the stops yourself? It should only be 5 - 7 nights. Luggage transport is easily arranged through Tuitrans, Top Santiago, Pilbeo, or other companies.

 

[domigee]

I strongly recommend that you NOT include any dinners. You will probably meet other pilgrims along the way that you want to dine with, and with your dinners pre-booked this probably won't happen. I met a woman a few years ago who had booked a Camino with all breakfasts and dinners included, and ended up eating with other pilgrims and foregoing her pre-paid dinners.

So did I. We made friends with a pilgrim (on the francés) who had booked EVERYTHING ahead and many evenings, he just ate with us, foregoing whatever he had paid for. Sad.

 

[DavidOB]

I used a different agency (CaminoWays) to arrange my lodging and luggage last year on the Camino Frances and was very satisfied. Sure, it's a bit more expensive. I did not feel that it limited me in any significant way. Since it was my first time on CF and I was solo, I appreciated the peace of mind that someone with some know-how had weighed in. When I queried their suggested routing, they were very willing to adjust given availability. I've walked/hitch-hiked/camped in all sorts of places, mostly Africa (East, West, and South), Asia, and U.S, and slept in all kinds of situations, but now in my 8th decade I don't mind outsourcing some of that, having some peace of mind that there is a place waiting for me, and having my own small, basic room where my snoring will be less intrusive for others. Having now done CF, in the future I'd be much more comfortable working out details myself (with the great and valued advice from my good fellow peregrinos, of course). On the other hand, if you've got the bandwidth to deal with arrangements and logistics while you walk (as I did years ago), that can be a lot of fun and rewarding in its own right.

 

[Melcro]

Wow! Sounds like you’ve had some great adventures! Thanks for the feedback.