Hello everyone, my Husband and I are in our 50's and considering a pilgrimage along the Camino Frances from Burgos to Santiago de Compostela in the month of September, I'm starting to gather information, we have 25 days to finish and would like to get recommendations on hostels (private room and bath) along the route. I will appreciate your help as this will be our first time.

thank you

You can join the Society of St. James; they have a forum.

http://www.csj.org.uk/

There are other web sites devoted to the Camino. You can also do a search on this board for trip reports by people who have walked the Camino.

thank you so much adrienne i will check it out

Hello Tribi,

We did the Camino from O'Cebreiro to Santiago a couple of years ago. If you click on my name you can find my trip report. Although our accommodations were mainly small hotels or B&B's you may find some useful info. On the website of the luggage transport service we used they have a list of all sort of "pensiones", hotels and B&Bs in all the towns you'll be going through from Leon to Santiago http://www.caminodesantiago2010.com....amientocf.html

Buen Camino!

Do you have John Brierley's Camino guide? I can't remember if he has refugerio or hotel information but it's a fantastic guide for the routes and sights along the way. You might be able to get a copy from your library to look at before buying.

http://www.caminoguides.com/guide.html

If you search Fodor's and other sites, you will find out a great deal about the Camino. And there aren't always private rooms available. And as you get later into September there is almost 50% chance of rain some time during the day.

You should also learn about foot care and the treatment of blisters.

I've read quite a few books by people who have walked the Camino and can recommend:

I'm Off Then (Hape Kerkeling)
Travels with My Donkey: One Man and His Ass on the Road to Santiago (Tim Moore)
What the Psychic Told the Pilgrim (Jane Christmas)
Off the Road (Jack Hitt)
The Year We Seized the Day (Elizabeth Best & Colin Bowles)

The first two were the best.

We are walking in June - we only have a couple weeks, so we are going to walk from Leon

Check out this excellent video and others in the series.

vimeo.com/39571423

Shows the whole walk from St Jean to Santiago.

Pack light

thank you all so much, I will do my homework.

I also need recommendation on getting to Burgos from Madrid. bus or train?

People who haven't been to northern Spain are often surprised how verdant it is, and June should be the height. The later in the month you go, the smaller the chance of rain.

"the whole walk", in a spiritual sense? or a physical one? (it starts in Sweden)

Tribi,

I did it by bus and it was fine. Not sure why I selected that over train , maybe it had to do with cost at the time, but I'm just looking now and it looks like train fares are very competitive. It takes about the same time. Given that I would go with train, IMO its more comfortable and allows you to get up, walk , have some to eat, etc

I took the bus last year from Barajas airport to Burgos. If you are going to Burgos upon landing in Madrid, this is an easier option than going into Madrid to get the train or bus.

Here are photos from my trip. It includes all the places mentioned in this thread except O'Cebreiro since I stupidly missed the exit and didn't realize it until too far down the road!

https://picasaweb.google.com/1075540...CPbR6qm-vJjuGA

joannhyc your photos are amazing

Gorgeous photos, joannyc. Thanks for posting!

Thanks very much, tribi and LotsaPasta!

Even if you are half serious about the walk, I strongly recommend you to join the forum and ask:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/

You will find all the info you need and all your questions answered by the people who have done the walk.

I am going to start my Camino Frances starting on April 22 from St.Jean Pied de Port.

We had to change our starting point, and now we will start in Astorga. Is there anyone that can give me information on hotels or rural houses with private rooms and bathrooms along the way.