Calculating Your Average Daily SpendDaily costs on the camino are very difficult to quantify in general terms because there are many factors to take into consideration. We are all individual and have very different needs, very different preferences and are on very different budgets. What we spend in total depends on how many days we walk, what type of accommodation we stay in and how we take our meals. Depending on how much you have to spend, here is a very basic idea of what it will cost you per day on the camino.
|
CAMINO FUN!
|
The Camino on a Shoestring
|
If you do not have much money, but are compelled to walk the camino, it can be done at very low cost. There are albergues which accept donations only, rather than charging a standard low fee. You could stay at these places for free, though you would assist them in return by donating whatever you could. You'd have to find out where these places are and plan your walking stages accordingly. There are other albergues that only charge around 8 Euro. Depending on the time of year, you could sleep in a tent. Many people do. It is added weight, but at least you don't have to pay for accommodation.
You could also eat cheaply if you stick to bread, cold cuts of meat and fruit, drink water during the day and stay away from bars and restaurants. If you do like wine and beer, they can be purchased at very low prices in the supermarkets. If you keep all small treats such as coffees and sweets for the evening, you could have a wonderful camino experience. |
|
The Restricted Budget
|
Many people walk the camino on a restricted budget and albergue accommodation is ideal. They cost from around 15 Euro (some municipals might cost less-around 8 Euro-but some accommodation can cost between 45-60 Euro). You could get away with around 15 Euro for food per day; there are pilgrim menus that cost less than the A la Carte menus and if you buy your breakfast and lunch for the next day from the village shop (bread, cold meat cuts or cheese and fruit), you could eat well and spend minimally.
With just a little more to spend, you might want to sleep the odd night or two in a low-cost hostel, just to escape the busy life of the albergues once in a while. The hostels range in price, but can cost as little as 45 Euro in some villages. If you don't mind sharing with another pilgrim, you could share the cost of a double. Some hostels offer a pilgrims menu. |
|
The Generous Budget
|
If you are not deliberately seeking an austere experience while doing your pilgrimage, a generous budget will allow you to stay at some lovely hotels along the way. In some of the smaller, more remote villages you will only find albergues, but if you plan your walking day appropriately, you will manage to spend the majority of nights in either a hostel or hotel. Hostels can be very basic, though a number are of 3-star hotel quality, and very comfortable indeed. In the larger towns, you will find fine dining outlets and many other forms of entertainment. The most wonderful overnight experiences can be had at the Paradors, those luxurious hotels in the large cities that have been converted from old castles, monasteries, convents and fortresses. Here you can bask in the history of the city in a perfectly modern setting. In the busier periods, you might need to book well in advance.
Spending two or three nights in certain places of great historical interest will bring a whole new dimension to your camino experience. You may want to hire a guide in order to learn more, take off-road tours to certain monasteries and monuments, or just take time out to enjoy a peaceful environment before walking on. On a generous budget, hotel, guide and entertainment costs are not an issue and how much you enjoy the camino all depends on what you want to do with your time. |
|
