Euro-trip: Travel Guide on a Budget

Written by Victoria Murguia

Located in Northern Spain, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela has become a destination goal of the many people who choose to walk the Camino de Santiago, otherwise known as The Way of Saint James. The Camino de Santiago has become a very famous tourist attraction and religious pilgrimage to many people around the world. A legend states that the remains of St. James were transported by boat from Jerusalem to Northern Spain and buried in where is now known as the city of Santiago de Compostela.

Religious tourists choose to take on the trail during the holy years, after completing the trial of Santiago, those who walked have plenary indulgence for the forgiveness of their sins. With this long excursion having such a rich history that dates back hundreds of years, it’s clear to see why it has attracted so many tourists from all parts of the world. It should be noted that this walk isn’t just a religious expedition, but it is also popular for those who seek backpacking and hiking adventures.

“Santiago de Compostela Cathedral” By Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie is licensed under CC BY 2.0

After so many years of people choosing to embark on this trip, the walk of Santiago has now developed many starting points across Europe to begin the trail. They venture from parts of Spain to France, depending on how long people choose to stay on foot. However, the most popular starting point is in France. When starting from beginning to end, the trail usually takes up about a month because the journey is afoot and there is stopping involved between days. However, oftentimes travelers tend to cut their trip short but still gain a wonderful experience.

“Camino de Santiago- April 2007” By Fresco Tours is licensed under CC BY 2.0

For those who wish to complete the entire trail, it is best to stay mindful of how long you wish to stay backpacking for and to plan their travels ahead. The planning includes the following when you are planning the trip; budgeting for food, and lodging and mapping out your locations. While these are very simple steps, they are also very important because it’s about what’s going to determine how your backpacking experience will be. For this particular excursion, the Camino of Santiago is popular among tourists during the summer because there is more foot traffic and the weather is pleasant. It is also important to pack light and smart, bring things that are only necessary like: limited comfortable clothing, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, and a reusable water bottle. It’s important to do your traveling research before you get to the destination, not only mapping out where you plan on being, but also if there are other ways of transportation needed to get there like busses or trains.

Setting a budget for yourself is also valuable during such a travel, giving yourself a limit on how much you will spend on food and lodging a day. Because they are accessible during this trip, it’s important to keep in mind that there are hostels around the trails. The hostels that provide sleeping arrangements and sometimes meals for a certain price. Keeping in mind all these factors, planning will provide efficient and smooth traveling for those who are interested in a lovely backpacking experience.