Just some notes about what and how we did it all, they might be of use to someone.
Resources
I spent a while browsing the various Camino forums and reddit subgroups but the following were useful:
| Websites/blogs | Reddit groups | Apps |
| tuljak.com stingynomads.com caminocomfort.com | /r/CaminoNewbies /r/CaminodeSantiago | Buen Camino Wise Pilgrim Camino Ninja |
There are also many many videos on YouTube documenting people’s Caminos, some good, some bad, but most of interest and you can pick up a lot of useful information.
Equipment/clothing
Footwear:
Browsing the forums it seemed the overriding answer was trainers or trailrunners rather than walking boots or walking shoes. Having completed the walk I would agree that you could do it in trainers/trailrunners with no problems but if you’re used to your walking boots/shoes then wear them. The other heated discussion point was goretex vs no goretex. Many people argued that no goretex lining was better as even though your feet might get wet, the trainers would dry out quicker. I hate walking with wet feet and in actual fact, we had biblical rain for the majority of the first day so I was very glad of my goretex lined boots. At the end of the day, walk in what you feel comfortable in but I did observe that the majority of people with taped feet or with a hobble were wearing trainers….
Walking clothes:
Wear what you like, anything goes on the trail. Depending on the time of year you may need to be warm or cool but, as with most walking activities layers are key. Being able to warm up or cool down quickly is paramount. In warmer weather I tend to walk in a sun hoodie and this was ideal – it wicks so keeps you cool and the hood and long sleeves keeps the sun off without getting too hot.
Many people walked in shorts but I prefer long trousers, again, just wear what is comfortable for you.
Raingear:
I took a poncho that covered me and my rucksack rather than a traditional waterproof jackets and I’m glad I did. It packs smaller than a jacket and in the rain it performed better and gave better protection and ventilation compared to a jacket.
Rucksack:
A sack of between 30-40 litres is probably big enough for most people if you intend on carrying your gear. We did the walk over 6 days, and were away for a total of 8, and I managed with a 30l Mammut rucksack. Whatever you take, make sure it fits you properly and has a rain cover! I also took a small bum bag to carry the essentials such as phone, cash, passport and credential.
Food
Where the accommodation offered breakfast we made the most of it. If we passed a small cafe we tended to stop for food and drink mid morning or mid afternoon. Most days we were in the vicinity of a cafe/restaurant for lunch and made use of the really good value peregrino menu, usually 2 courses including a drink for anywhere between €5 and €10, occasionally we’d come across a restaurant in the evening offering a similar daily menu of 3 courses with a drink for c€12. Other than that we never had a problem finding a restaurant or bar.
Being vegetarian (but eating fish) I had a lot of tuna and hake, both local to the area, and generally had no issue finding a suitable menu. Salads were often available and were large, fresh and filling.
Accommodation
In the planning stages we agreed we wouldn’t use the communal dorm type rooms often found in Albergues. We’d instead use hotels, B&Bs, guest houses or private rooms that exist in some of the private Albergues. We pre-booked our first night’s accommodation, the night we needed in Santiago (figuring it would be busy) and the airport hotel prior to our flight home. Everything else we thought we’d book as we go, which turned out to be a mistake for a number of reasons:
- We didn’t realise the route would be so busy
- The coastal route joined our central route at Redondela which meant even more pilgrims seeking accommodation
- We were over-nighting in the main towns along the route, in hindsight it would have been easier to stay outside the main towns.
Booking.com was the main tool we used to book our accommodation and apart from one miss on day 2 we didn’t have any problems with any of the rooms. Those we used:
| Location | Accommodation | Notes | Price per night per room |
| Valenca | Alojamento de Vila | Modern, clean and comfortable twin room with en-suite. There was a kitchenette for use and tea/coffee was provided. Excellent location. | £75 |
| O Porrino | Casucho da Peregrina | A private Albergue. We booked a 4 person room with a shared bathroom. The room was clean and comfortable, all bedding and towels were provided as was a good continental breakfast. | £68 |
| Redondela | n/a | see here | |
| Pontevedra | Hotel City Express Comercio | Brilliant location less than 5 minutes walk from the old town. Slightly tired and dated but clean and comfortable. A really good value 3 course evening meal and a filling breakfast. | £59 |
| Caldas de Reis | Grupo Arcanos Pensión Atenea & Via Romana | Unbelievably cheap! Modern, clean and comfortable twin room with a shared bathroom. Getting access wasn’t the easiest but apart from that it is highly recommended. Yards from the Camino and opposite a great little restaurant offering a cheap menu peregrino. | £37 |
| Padron | Albergue con encanto d’camiño | Private room for 4 with a large en-suite. Apart from being on a busy main road it was fine. Clean and comfortable but a little musty. A small take out breakfast was offered but we didn’t partake. Located 5 mins from the old town centre and the Camino. | £81 |
| Santiago de Compostela | Hostal Nomade Santiago | Huge twin room, very modern, clean and comfortable. Located on the Camino and about 200m from the cathedral. It’s actually the upper floors of a wine bar with the lift located in the wine bar itself. A bit of luxury for the last night. | £123 |
| Porto airport | Park Hotel Porto Aeroporto | Your typical bland, modern airport hotel. Located a 10 minute walk from the terminal. Everything you need and nothing you don’t. Small bar but breakfast was excellent. | £86 |
