Walks in Spain or Pilgrim.es????

[Sasha0703]

Looking to book Camino Frances end of March. Good reviews for Walks in Spain but Pilgrim.es has quoted cheaper but can’t find any reviews. Any advice please

 

[Flog]

Yes, but it might not be the advice you want..

With a little research on here and elsewhere, you can quite easily make your own plan. You would save a lot of money and not be tied to a schedule.

 

[Robo]

Looking to book Camino Frances end of March. Good reviews for Walks in Spain but Pilgrim.es has quoted cheaper but can’t find any reviews. Any advice please

Tend to agree with @Flog . I've never felt the need to use a travel company.
I think with all the commercial hype and marketing these days around the Camino, travel companies are trying to make out it's the norm.

But if you feel the need, hopefully someone will be along soon who knows these companies.

Thoughts.

I dug out this old post from 2017. It was after my first Camino from St Jean to Santiago, and a second with my wife of the last 200 kms or so of the Frances.............

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have done group tours on 'holidays' a couple of times. At the time they were a good choice for us. It allowed us to see a lot of places in a small amount of time without the need to be booking accommodation, transport, wondering where to go etc. And of course having a knowledgeable guide was a great benefit. No need to worry about language...All good stuff when doing the sights of Paris and so on.

I can understand how someone on their first Camino might think that going on some kind on group tour would offer similar benefits. Think again perhaps......

There is a huge difference between walking a Camino (particularly the Frances) and doing a traditional holiday tour......

You really can't get lost. You just follow the arrows and all the other Pilgrims.

You are part of a Group anyway, by default. Unless you walk in winter, you are part of a mobile community moving down the trail together. Why would you pay, just to be part of a fixed group, within that community, whose members you are stuck with even if you don't enjoy their company...

The locals have been dealing with and helping Pilgrims for a thousand years. For many we are their livelihood. They will guide you and support you... Language? Learn a couple of dozen basic words just as a courtesy......It's not essential though.

You will make new friends every day. It's kind of impossible not to! And you will stick with others whose company you enjoy. Everyone helps each other out.

You are not alone.............kind of ever! You have to try hard to get alone time sometimes........

Imagine doing a 4 week tour of Europe. The itinerary is already planned out. Eiffel Tower, followed by the Louvre, then on to Munich or wherever. You're going to see all the major sites. On day 1 you set out and find there are 300 other people following the same route. Exact same route. EXACT. Catching the same buses, trains, planes, in fact at every turn there are big signs saying 'this way'......

Everyone around you is going the same way. Exactly the same way! Following the signs. The only decision you need to make, is when to stop each day, and secure a bed in whatever town or village, you find yourself. And you'll look around for that bed, with others who have also decided to stop in the same place....

And where ever you decide to stay, there are more travelling companions staying there. In fact all the people staying there are all going the same way as you. So you can join them for dinner......you'll know some of the faces from seeing them that day anyway.

Getting the idea

To go on a group tour many consider a totally pointless exercise, a waste of money, and actually very limiting.....

Unless....... Due to some kind of physical limitation or maybe a total lack of self confidence, you need the security of a guide.... But even then..........go with a friend if you have to.

If you can manage to get yourself to a bus stop, and go across town to visit a new shopping mall......you are fully equipped to find your way along the Camino. Same degree of difficulty I reckon...... On reflection, the Camino is easier.
Except the walking bit.....and the sore feet ......

P.S. One of the greatest joys of walking a Camino is the sense of Freedom.
Allow yourself to experience that ........
To not do so IMHO is to miss a core part of the Camino experience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've just met too many people very frustrated with being 'tied' to a tour group schedule.
I know many love the concept, and they will voice that here.
I just haven't met any yet on the Camino.

Good luck with what ever you choose

 

[Flog]

I think with all the commercial hype and marketing these days around the Camino, travel companies are trying to make out it's the norm

This is absolutely the case, the same goes with forwarding baggage etc. I'm not dismissing them out of hand, they have their place, but you have a couple of months to do your own research and make up your own mind.

 

[Kanga]

I’m with Flog and Robo. I don’t do any planning if walking the Camino Francés. Catch a bus or train to where i intend to start walking, and walk. No need to book anything, let alone a company organise it.