Another Newbie

[Eoin]

howdy..

another newbie starting during the 3rd week of august. we start on the camino at Sarria and planing on taking it easy over 6 days to reach santiago.. just a few questions to put my mind at ease..

will this section be very busy during this time??

will it be difficult to find accomadation along the route other than in the pilgrams hostels?? say 2 star hostels/hotels? approx how much should a twin room cost?

if staying in pilgram hostels are bed clothes provided or is a sleeping bag required??

would a budget of E50 per day be sufficient for food and lodgings?

lastly re 2 stamps per day.. are these required from start point and finishing point per day or can they be obtained along the way in various villages? or can the 2 stamps be from the same town??

many thanks in advance.
E

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Eoin ~
Congrats on your upcoming Camino. The Sarria to Santiago stretch will be busy during this time, but reports are suggesting that there is adequate accommodation in albergues or hotels. A twin room in a 1-2 star hotel likely would be in the 30E to 50E range, so a 50E budget with hotel stays could be a problem. You'll either want to shop for low-end hotels or plan on albergues.

Albergues very seldom have bed linens so sleeping bags (or some people just use sleeping bag liners in the summer) are a necessity.

On stamps, always make certain to have your credentiale stamped where you stay overnight. If it's an albergue, they'll require you present your credentiale anyway and will stamp and date it when they sign you in. Remember to have your passport handy, too, as they'll ask for that. Then also, somewhere along the way during the day -- at a church or cafe/bar -- get it stamped. That suffices for the 2/day you'll need. However, don't feel limited by 2/day. Your credentiale will have many blanks for stamps. Be extravagant! Get it stamped everywhere and anywhere. The result is a colorful credentiale that is a great keepsake of your trip. Make certain to keep one last blank on your credentiale for the Pilgrim Office in Santiago, because they'll give it its final stamp there.

Buen camino!

[Gazza]

Eoin

If your starting from Sarria & taking 6 days, then your walking under 20kms per day. Assuming your getting up bright & early you should finish before 1 each day. 2pm at the latest. You will have no trouble with Accom at that time of the day.

From Sarria onwards, there are some very nice Private Albergues (9 euro). Spotlessly clean & quite modern. These also provide you with the socialising aspect with fellow Pilgrims & provide any help from the Camino family......

Buen Camino

Gazza

[Eoin]

ah good stuff... thanks for the replies... cleared a few bits up for me..

the reason that we are taking 6 days is that we want to take it easy so i doubt we will be "very early starters"!!!

re the price range of hotels... H.Nerd.. are those prices per room or person should have specified that there are 2of us and were thinking about twin rooms..

hostels around the world have never bothered me but just a little concerned about the curfew... are there curfews in the private ones??

thanks again
E

[HuskyNerd]

Hi E ~
The hotels are on a per room basis. Sometimes albergues have a curfew, but in general people are anxious to get to sleep by 21:00 or 22:00 so there's usually no need to enforce the curfew. One of the most annoying aspects of albergue life is that some folks want to be on the road by 05:30 in the morning. This means talking and rustling about while others try to sleep. I've usually set 07:30 as wake up time and 08:00 as out the door, and that's meant I was last one up and out. After a few days of the 05:30 rustlers a 21:00 bedtime feels great.
Buen camino!