<html><div style='background-color:'><P>I completed the Camino about a month ago, walking from Somport to Santiago, so my experience is fresh, but I walked in late September and October when crowds were only a temporary problem in a few places before Burgos. That said, I would offer the following advice:</P>
<P>1. Money. </P>
<P>a. If you spend most nights in albergues, picnic at lunch, and dine on pilgrim meals in the evening, US$25 per day should be more than adequate for one person. At dinner one evening, a group of us estimated that 3000 ptas per day (about US$17 at current exchange rates) was plenty, allowing a donativo to the albergue, one menu (all I can handle in a day as the amounts of food tend to be plentiful), a desayuno in a bar, an extra coffee, soft drink, wine, or beer at the end of the day, and some food from a supermercado for lunch on the Camino. US$25 would even allow a little extra for incidentals like postcards, film, shoelaces, aspirina and the like. </P>
<P>b. If you plan to spend half or more of your nights in hostals, then I would increase the budget to about 6000 ptas per day (or more, at least US$30). Hostal prices are highly variable, but mostly they run 2500 ptas and up. Two people sharing a room cut the per person cost substantially, as a double room is often only slightly more expensive than a single.</P>
<P>c. If you plan on occasional splurges, add at least another 2000 ptas for those days. The costs of non-menu meals can add up quickly, though in terms of value for money and in comparison to prices in the US, the meals are quite cheap. There are some excellent restaurants in the larger cities, and for those of us who are foodies their temptations are too great to pass up. When exercise allows a 5,000 calorie day, take advantage of it! There are also some excellent hotels at fantastic prices, i.e. 5 star places for the equivalent of US$125 per night. The latter are not a temptation for me, but many pilgrims love a night or two of 5 star luxury enroute.</P>
<P>As an observation, unlike shops in France and Belgium where prices were almost always stated in Euros, Euro prices were rarely posted in shops along the Camino. I fear that may lead to a great deal of "rounding up" come January. Many Spaniards were talking of a 10-15 per cent increase in prices next year.</P>
<P>2. Tent. In the autumn, a tent is unnecessary unless you are walking with a dog. The only campers I encountered were people with dogs not allowed to stay in albergues. In the high season, a tent may be a good idea. A number of the camping areas listed in the CSJ guide were closed in October.</P>
<P>Hope this information is useful.</P>
<P>E. O. Pederson</P>
<P>Seattle, WA</P></div><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href='http://go.msn.com/bql/hmtag_itl_EN.asp'>http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></html>