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Hi Mattoy,

Yea I would love to share.

First off, the trip was amazing and life changing. We found out about it from watching Martin Sheen pretend to do it in the "The Way". I remember watching this movie and turned to my girlfriend and said "We will be doing this within a year." She laughed at me, said I was crazy and that she had a PHD to finish and start a job.

Fast forward to August, she finished up her graduate school, I proposed, and off we went. We had done the research, gotten the guidebook and went off.

We started in St Jean and ended up in Santiago in 32 days.

Things we struggled with:

1. Finding a place to say. I would say in about 40% of the cases the first alburge we tried to get in to was full. As Mattoy mentioned you can only reserve a spot in the alburge if it is private. I guess the thing that bothered me was I didn't want to call ahead. I never not know where I am sleeping at night and really loved the fact that it wasn't set in stone. Additionally, there were days where my fiance' couldn't continue so if we had made that reservation we would never had made it.
   
   2. This is a little dirty and not a huge deal but there is shit everywhere. You are walking through rural spain with livestock all over the place. As a result, fecal matter is all over the place. As a result, people who weren't careful with washing their hands got gastro. Not the end of the world, but also not pleasant.
   
   Things I Loved
   
   
2. The people. You will meet some of the coolest people on the trip. You will here so many fascinating stories and realize just how truly different and awesome some people are. I got to meet a monk on the trip. Enjoying a dinner with her was one of the highlights of the trip.
   
   2. Wine!!! Wine is super cheap and you have a bottle with every meal almost. My fiance' and I had Sangria or wine at every meal and it was really really nice. The beer is also super cheap and good.
   
   3. The scenery. There are obviously some parts that aren't that great but over all WOW!!! The walk is amazing for the scenary and things you get to see.
   
   4. I was able to get away and just focus on me, my relationship with God, and my future with my soon to be wife (June 7th!). I haven't been away that long without calling anyone from home or anything.
   
   What I gained
   I gained an immense understanding of myself. I also was able to relax, disconnect and focus intrisically on me and what I am doing. You have so much free time while you're walking to just reflect. A few times I just put on the headphones, blasted the music and started walking.....amazing time.
   
   
   The Camino is what you make it and what you put in is what you get out of it. I met some people who were so determined to get to a certain place the quickest, or had to meet their planned out schedule and as a result, they didn't have time to focus on themselves they had to get their day done. An example, we stopped for lunch and were having a beer and some people we were friendly with came up. We asked them to join us but they were too far behind "their schedule" to stop. I feel like you're missing the point of the Camino if that is your thought.
   
   
   tl;dr - buy a sim card and make your reservation in the morning for the Alburgue you plan to sleep in at night, bring ear plugs, and don't feel like you are chained to your schedule.
   
   
   
   

Hey!

I walked the French Way in November and a part of December. I walked from the 12 November til the 5 of December. I started in Leon however (had to be home by Christmas).

And I loved it. So few people on the road, it is amazing. You keep running/walking into the same people.

Clothing: I wore leggings together with a pair of pants, but in the end I just wore leggings with rain pants over them. They are also easier to clean when you get mud on them. Then I wore a merino wool long sleeve t-shirt and a fleece vest and also a waterproof coat (it was a coat for sailing so it was warm too). I bought all these things at Decathlon. My shoes turned out to be waterproof, but most Albergues have newspapers laying around to stuff in your shoes when they are wet. I didn't really have that many cold days, some days I just walked in my long sleeved shirt. The rain was something else. When it rained, it poured!

Paths: The paths were still safe (Keep in mind, that I can only talk about the French Way starting in Leon). The only thing that wasn't safe was going up to O'Cebreiro when it rained, it is a pretty steep climb. I was lucky that it was a sunny day when I walked, but I talked to some people who did it in the rain and slipped a few times. Sometimes, due to the rain, when you go downhill, the rocks can get slippery too, but if you go nice and slow, you'll be fine. I had the Brierley book with me, I checked it religiously, but thinking back now, I didn't really need it, except from when I was in a town to look for an Albergue.

Albergues: Like u/chookkyy said, a lot of the Albergues will be closed. But there is this awesome site, Gronze. Here you can look up the Albergues on the Way and check if they're open. Really a life-saver. I checked before I went and I didn't once stood in front of a closed Albergue.

I don't really know how much I spent, but not much. I tried to stay under 25 euro a day. I highly suggest to go for the Pilgrim's menu when you have to eat. You get a 3-course meal with a drink and you get a lot of food. Most of the times it was 10 euro. I did it really cheaply. I always chose the cheapest Albergues, except for when I was in Santiago.

You said you would like your own room at the end, but it you're lucky, it could happen on the Way too! One of my Camino friends slept all alone in some Albergues. She had the Albergue all for herself. She did, however, always stop in small towns, not in big cities. Sometimes she was even asked to close up in the morning.

I slept in one Albergue with donation and I paid 5 euro there.

Feel free to PM me when you have anymore questions! I'd love to help!

Buen Camino

You'll love it! I'd listen to the other advice about trying to start a bit later to avoid big crowds as you near Santiago. Save 4 or 5 days after your arrival in Santiago to go on to Finisterra and chill there for a bit; I thought that was one of the most beautiful parts of the Camino, there are far fewer people, and the beaches are beautiful to relax on after a long month of walking.

I walked this year in August; I'd advise you to pack light and consider bringing only a sleeping bag liner instead of a sleeping bag. Maybe a swimsuit too, a few towns have beautiful public pools which are wonderful on a hot day.

You don't necessarily need a guide book, others will have them and will share and the way itself is very well marked. However, if you want a great one, I suggest this version: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0984353348/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1394122278&sr=1-3

It had great info on basically every town, including where you'll find an ATM or pharmacy. Also interesting historical tidbits on the Camino itself. I brought it, and it quickly became the go-to guide for the group I met because of the useful stuff the authors thought to include.

Have a great walk! Buen Camino!

My family and I did it last May/June. It was a great time, but we didn’t see many pilgrims till the last couple days. We had our 2yo (~15kg in his backpack) with us, so we took it slow. I’d suggest breaking in the shoes you plan to walk in prior to the Camino. My wife and I both wore Altra Lone Peaks. They were very comfortable and pretty water repellant. I found soaking my feet in hot water at the end of each day helped me feel better for the next. The first couple km out of Pontedueme suuuuccckkkkssss. It’s a 140m elevation gain. I knew it was coming, but still was shocked at how steep some parts were. It felt like I was walking straight up. Also, there really isn’t much too eat for 14km after Betanzos. So pack a snack, plenty of water and some shade. I used the AllTrails app to track our progress. Have fun. Buen Camino! 👣


Edit:
I also used this book: The Camino Ingles: 6 days to Santiago as a reference. We took 5 days, by doing the first day, Ferrol to Pontedueme.

I carried a Kelty Redwing 50 in the fall of 2015. What matters is how it fits your body. Maybe order all 3, load em up and return the 2 that are less comfortable? If you have an experienced friend that can help you adjust your pack that will help a lot.
Your idea of not spending too much on gear is a great one.
Your boots/shoes and socks are more important than any other gear choice. Buen Camino! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009R6B7EG/ref=twister_B00AAU281Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I recommend a pack cover, that comes with most big backpacks.

Layers are yours friends, usually have 5 layers. (2 stay in the bag, unless it gets way cold or way rainy)

-shirt (cotton or wool)
-cheap thermal top (usually stays in bag)
-merino wool hoodie
-lightweight coat (wool, mini puff, fleece)
-breathable rain shell (usually stays in bag)

I highly highly recommend wool especially thin wool hoodies. Keeps you warm and it breathes. A cotton shirt is fine to wear underneath, but cotton kills. Don’t wear a big cotton sweater, it’s awful.
An example of a wool merino hoodie.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074D4KYMR/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521317080&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wool+hoodie+men+merino&dpPl=1&dpID=31s8tYqdsbL&ref=plSrch

A good fleece jacket or tiny mini puff down or merino wool jacket(think something to protect for wind, but not rain.) wear all the time, but could double as a pillow(put a pillow cover over it, boom it’s your pillow)
Something that is warm, but breathable.
Remember breathable, and lightweight.
Icebreaker, KuHL, Patagonia, NAu, REI has good choices. Find what works for you.


I also highly recommend the Patagonia rain shell, very light weight and breathable. The worse is wearing a poncho and sweating.
The shell is spendy, north of $115, but worth it, and condensed into a quart size bag.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N1NIY0Z/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1521317292&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=patagonia+rain+jacket&dpPl=1&dpID=41Eksinb5XL&ref=plSrch

Extra: my hands get cold I recommend cheap wool fingerless gloves come in handy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000OC0NW4/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1521318795&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wool+fingerless+gloves&dpPl=1&dpID=41MCwrKDvjL&ref=plSrch

Depends what your goals are. June is before the peak, so there's a lot of traffic but not to the point where you're racing for berths in albergues. Personally, I prefer solitude and quiet so I found the first week of March ideal - I'd leave at dawn walking quickly and rarely see more than two or three other peregrinos until I stopped for the day.

This past year, about 35,000 pilgrims arrived in Santiago in June, while there were almost 55,000 in August (not all of those on the Camino Frances). One thing I'd recommend if you're concerned about it being too crowded is to plan your pilgrimage to avoid the Brierley, Miam Miam Dodo, and Jakobsweg stages - most pilgrims will stick to those, so the "in between" towns will still have vacancies in the albergues even during busier seasons.

*Edit: I wanted to clarify my references to the various guides - they're all tremendously useful (I carried a stripped down version of the Brierley guide in March) but I'd recommend choosing different towns for your daily rest than they have.

If you feel more comfortable having a guidebook, I suggest taking one that is current. The Brierley guidebooks are updated regularly and available on Amazon for about $21. See link below. Some people also use Wise Pilgrim apps on their phones.

A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés – St. Jean • Roncesvalles • Santiago (Camino Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1912216000/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cC1cBb14QN6D5

Whatever you decide to do I hope you have a Buen Camino!

I cycled the Camino back in 2010. It was a great experience but I agree with what others here have said and that is you should avoid the walkers paths as much as possible. It is unfair to keep "running over" people and it messes with your rhythm having to keep stopping and starting to dodge other pilgrims.

I'd recommend this book as a guide. The author has plotted a route following the Camino Frances as closely as possible to the walking route, but on the roads. Often the road you cycle will run parallel to the walkers route anyway. Also the roads in Spain have been heavily invested in so most traffic uses new motorways, leaving the old main roads virtually empty. Spanish drivers are also very courteous to Camino cyclists - probably to avoid damnation by hitting a pilgrim with their car!
Didn't really use albergues as we wild camped a lot of the time but there is plenty of oppurtunity to meet others in the numerous cafes along the route, and in the cities etc.
best of luck with whatever you decide!

KT Tape also works well for hotspots (I like it better than moleskin):

• https://www.amazon.com/KT-Tape-Original-Kinesiology-Therapeutic/dp/B001RQYF1Q
  
  Badger Foot Balm is also a quality product for feet:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Badger-634084025019-Foot-Balm-Tin/dp/B0015MTSRS

I'm planning on doing a very similar route this September/October. I'll be starting in Porto and following the Senda Litoral to Vila do Conde and then will be taking the regular Coastal Way to Caminha. I'll walk along the River Minho and join up the the Central Way at Valenca.

I ordered the John Brierly book called A Pilgrims Guide to the Camino Portuguese. I'm pleased with it because it has very nice maps that include the Senda Litoral (as well as the regular Coastal Way) and it lists all the relevant accommodations/albergues and their prices. However, it does not have much descriptive text about Coastal or Litoral routes if you want more in-depth information. IF the Senda Litoral is well way-marked, the maps in this book would probably be sufficient, but I've gotten mixed-messages on that front.

Have you tooled about on Google Earth? I've found TONS of GPS tracks for the various routes-- some seem more accurate than others.

Pick up a copy of John Brierley's "Pilgrim's Guide'. The best guide book there is.

I used this one and found it very helpful: https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Caminos-Primitivo-Ingl%C3%A9s-Cicerone/dp/185284681X

The most help I feel I can give, as someone who is yet to take the journey, is to buy the camino guide book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1912216000/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526580361&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=camino+de+santiago

My mind was just blown, so I'll want to share it with you. The Author of The Alchemist has a book about the Camino: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pilgrimage-Plus-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061687456

It comes in two varieties: a 300-page edition with lots of photographs and philosophical ramblings, and a lightweight slimmed-down version that just contains the maps and the useful information. This is the one you want.

I've seen the former on sale in SJPP, but not the latter. So if possible, I'd buy it in advance.

O shoot, Is this the one you mean? I've been using this one to plan it out ahead of time. That being said I still am about a month and change out from the trip so plenty of time to re-adjust plans.

I'm planning on starting in San Sebastian although we might start at Gernika depending on the other member or my party's schedule.
Not sure whether I'll be making it all the way to Finisterre although I'd like to. I'm starting the trip on the 13th of June and have my flight booked back from Madrid (Barajas) on the 20th I actually have family in Oviedo and my old man lived there/ my grandfather is from there (or a town right on the outskirts, Pravia)I might be avoiding Oviedo altogether and sticking to the coast through Gijon as it's one of my favorite cities in Spain.

It is the Brierley guide and it is still in print and costs 20 dollars. if you spell his name wrong, people rip you off. https://www.amazon.com/Pilgrims-Guide-Camino-Santiago-Roncesvalles/dp/1912216000/