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BEFORE YOU PURCHASE THE 'CAMINO DE 

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA  ULTIMATE HANDBOOK'

PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

  

ARE THE PILGRIM GUIDES  UP TO DATE ?

              

Many 'camino guides' are published by companies that initially produced road maps only, for motorists. In order to branch out they hired the services of a journalist to inform their readers about the cultural treasures along the camino, as well as its many historical aspects. The most common problem with these 'camino guides' is that they are not up to date. Publishers will not send out staff to check out thousands of kilometers of pilgrim roads, and their numerous catering services. Instead they rely on information obtained by phone. They let their 'fingers do the walking'.
          The expensive Euro (1 Euro = US$1,46 or AUS$2) makes it virtually impossible for American or Asian publishers to obtain information out of first hand. (Although the "Handbook" is published in the USA, it is produced and written by European residents.)


DO 'CAMINO WEBSITES' PROVIDE FREE INFORMATION?
 

Camino websites are being paid for by a company or by a Government Tourist Office. A substantial amount of money is spent once, but after that nobody maintains them. Still, these websites - with flashing pictures and mini movies - look magnificent. The 'pilgrim to be' wonders whether the information provided is still accurate, because these sites never state the following: latest updates made on ...  by ... Be aware of the fact that all websites are designed with commercial intentions. The so-called "free" Pilgrim Forums usually ventilate "every personal opinion on any issue". Their premise: "the crowd always knows best!" is a complete nonsense, because the sources cannot be verified. Anyway, their main aim is to sell books, airline tickets, memberships, trips and travel gear, so who cares? You will receive unwanted mail (POP-UPS) from companies that sell adventure tours and camping equipment if you visit  the 'camino sites' regularly. Travel Clubs will charge up to $3000= for a ten-day walking tour (excluding air-fares). At the end of it you will think: "I could have done that myself, and saved myself a cool $2500."  



Joy from Seoul (South-Korea)

She walked from St. Jean PP tot Santiago in January 2010.

Jack met her several times. She is pictured here in the refuge

of Puente la Reina. Joy downloaded a pilgrim itinerary from the

Internet.

"The information a got from the Internet was all wrong!"

 

 



WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED TO SUCCESFULLY MAKE

A PILGRIMAGE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA?

                  

Are you the student who buys or photocopies his studybooks ("just in case"), but never reads them, not even after the exam?

 
"Historical Atlases" won't bring you to Santiago, to the contrary. They only give you a false sense of security while still at home. Detailed descriptions of "Gothic altars" and "Medieval villages established by King Sancho III" are not helpful at all because many churches are closed to prevent robbery. Nostalgic stories in books full of colored pictures printed on heavy paper won't bring you anywhere, because they feel like a rock in your backpack.
 
What you need to successfully reach Santiago is professional advice from veteran pilgrims who posses an excellent knowledge of the Spanish culture and languages. Accurate maps and lists of distances are important, as well as the names, addresses and accurate phone numbers of albergues, hotels, restaurants and medical centers. Good information (if only one correct phone number) might even save your life.


 CONCLUSIONS
 
You will make a pilgrimage which will require a significant amount of preparations. Also quite some money will be invested in equipment, travel, accommodation, food, whatever. Of course you won't leave home without some well tried-out boots, good rainwear, a strong backpack, reliable travel insurance and decent credit cards. You may have to spend a few thousand dollars to realize your dream to enter the 'Gates of Santiago de Compostellae'. Preparations may well have taken months, even years: you saved up money. Finally, here you are, you have arrived in Spain and it all starts now. However, are you going to put this enterprise at great risk by downloading the necessary information from some unreliable Internet site? Do you buy a $7 guide which hasn't been updated for years? How about purchasing a decent, verified guide produced by an academic publishing company?
     
The 'Camino de Santiago' ULTIMATE Handbook is updated continuously through the Internet. Veteran pilgrims on the road physically challenge the written text on a bi-monthly basis and revise it IMMEDIATELY when necessary. Purchasers of the book will receive Newsletters and Updates. No unsollicited mail or pop-ups will ever be sent out to you, because we only sell one book. 
 
A final note before finalizing this essay. The 'Camino Handbook' will inform you where you can sleep well and have a good meal. Numerous establishments have been tried out extensively and anonymously. However, the Handbook also tells you where you may sleep and eat for free (or for nor so much money), so the amount invested in the book will be returned to you within days. The total costs of staying overnight in the albergues between Roncesvalles and Santiago may be kept as low as € 78=, keeping the total expenses at just over € 400=. (Please note that this is a minimum: the more money you carry, the safer your trip will be!)
 
Think about it. Have a good walk, and, most of all, a fulfilling arrival in Santiago.