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Walk without reservations or sign with tour

El Gallo

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances; Sept.2015
I am considering doing the Camino del Norte next year. I have seen there are tour companies (Mac Adventures is one) that make reservations for you at each stop. They offer a private room with HOT shower, breakfast, and some other small things. The price is not bad.
My concern is that you have to walk at THEIR pace to make it to the reservation each day, then you gotta find the place. What if you stop in a town that you really like and would want to spend an extra day there. What if you just want an extra day's rest.
I think I have just answered my own question but would appreciate feedback from anyone who has booked in advance.
Buen Camino
 
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.

You can as well book in advance without using the tourist companies. Then it is easier to cancel a booking if you want a change in your scedule. I did that on the Norte from Irun to Santander May 2013. Plenty of room everywhere. And half the price of a fixed tour I think. Might be more crowdy if your camino is in August I guess.
 
Camino wristwatch
Perfect memento/gift in a presentation box. Engraving available, 25 character max.
Well, the price is "not bad" from some perspectives. I see on the website that 40 nights of lodging starts at 2290 pounds, which is about $3800 dollars. Rounding that comes out to about $100 a night. Though private accommodation on the norte is undoubtedly more expensive than on the Frances because of all the tourist towns it passes through, the kinds of places you will be booked in are undoubtedly going for less than half of that, in some cases a lot less than half.

I have reserved and planned stages for friends on the camino, and I know it is a very time consuming endeavor, but that seems to me to be all that is added by this company for that price. So if it's worth it to you to double your accommodation price by having someone else do the reservations, that's of course up to you. With a Spanish phone and a guidebook, you can preserve the flexibility others have mentioned and stay in the same places at at least half the total cost. Others can correct me if I'm wrong about prices on the Norte (I haven't walked it since 2006, I think), and I don't know if this is a standard tour company mark-up, but I personally wouldn't pay that amount to lock myself into an itinerary in order to save making a bunch of phone calls from the Camino. I mean no criticism of those who do want to spend that, it's all a matter of what it's worth to you.
 
We found accomodation for ourselves booking just one or two nights ahead and the total cost per day for 2 of us including food was less the 100€ per day.
You can find accomodation via sites such as booking.com and venere.com, or gronze.com and by internet search for the towns you are passing though. The CSJ and the Cicerone guides and gronze are guides to the route and also have suggested accomodation plus phone numbers as well as the list of albergues.
 
Camino Cleanup Program & Retreat
Join the Camino cleanup. Logroño to Burgos May 2025 & Astorga to OCebreiro in June
For a good place in Llanes we can recommend the Gran Hotel Paraiso. If you do stay there please do tell them 'saludos de Terrencio y señora' .
 
Gracias Tia! I will make a note of the Hotel Gran Paraiso in Llanes and will say Hi on your behalf if it happens to be on my path.
 
Sound advice above by seasoned pilgrims. I think that few would advocate using a tour company for the reasons you have identified yourself. But it is your choice not that of anyone else. Do you know any Spanish? If not get the relevant phrases sorted out and written down before you go. Maybe think of getting "Camino Lingo" by Sillydoll?
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I've done it both ways. They both have advantages and disadvantages. Both were a good experience. It's a matter of personal choice.
 
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