Money on the Camino

[kodo]

Hi!

I'm planning on walking the Camino from June 18th to July 23rd. The question I'm about to post here has probably been posted somewhere else on this forum but I haven't found it yet, so I re-post it here

Now, how much money do you think would be sufficient for a walk encompassing roughly four to five weeks? Also, which "form" (credit card, real money) should I use?

Your suggestions are very welcome!

All the best!!!!!

[Covey]

The minumum you need is ?25 per day and probably best to budget on ?35-40 per day excluding the costs of getting to your start point and getting home again.

You will tend to spend a little more in the bigger cities such as Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and Santiago, and a little less when you are walking out in the more remote parts.

I normally start out with ?200 in cash and carry a credit card and a debit card. I also carry a Euro Travel Card from Visa which I load up with euro's before I leave (?1500) and from which I draw ?200 when I need to top up my cash. I don't use my credit card other than for emergencies or booking into a hotel as drawing cash against a credit card can prove expensive. My debit card is a backup to my Travel Card if I need it, as drawing cash from an ATM is cheaper than using a credit card.

The other bits of plastic I carry are my European Health Insurance Card issued by the UK National Health Service so I can get free emergency health care in Spain and a card issued by my travel medical insurer giving details of my travel insurance and contact numbers for the emergency response centre in case I get injured.

Travel insurance is not essential until you are injured, but make sure your policy covers you for a single trip of 6 weeks. Many UK travel insurance policies only cover a single trip of up to 28 days, even if you have an annual policy.

[Ivan Drool]

The minumum you need is ?25 per day and probably best to budget on ?35-40 per day .

I understand that this is an answer through experience... but is it possible to spend less??? I'm planning to do the whole Camino in July, but not really up for parting with a grand an a half.

Is it possible?

Cheers
i

[Covey]

You can do it on ?25 a day, but the rough breakdown is as follows:

Breakfast ?3
Lunch ?5
Evening meal ?9 includes glass of wine
Albergue ?6

Chuck in a cup of coffee mid morning and that is your ?25pd.

You will burn a lot of energy walking 25kms a day so will need the food intake plus you need fruit, chocolate etc. No beer on ?25pd!!!!!

A Coke will cost ?1 and a beer ?1.5 - ?4 depending where you are.

[kodo]

Hi!

Thank you for a *very* informative response! It truly is invaluable to get this kind of information from someone who has "really done it". Looking forward "to the Walk"...

Cheers,
/Peter