Pre-departure Checklist

Things To Do Before Departure

1) It is most important that you begin a regimen of training now. Take several 3- to 5- mile walks each week, including some up- and downhill forays. Work your way to up to daily walks including an occasional ten-mile walk, wearing the shoes or boots you plan to bring with you. You will be surprised at how quickly your legs and lungs get in shape and at how good you feel afterwards.

2) Complete Spain’s the Health Control Form (FCS) prior to your departure for Spain. Note while you can start entering information into the form but the Health Questionnaire and Travel History fields will only be available 2 days (48 hours) prior to your arrival in Spain.

Each passenger must complete a form to receive a SpTH QR code. You can do this from the SpTH mobile app or the web site (although anecdotally the app is much easier to use than the web site). See FAQs here. Download the app from Google Play or iTunes: SpTH. Follow the instructions in the app to complete the form.

You can also complete the form on the web site, again, it isn’t as easy as using the SpTH app: https://www.spth.gob.es/faq [Note: at the top of the page there is a blue box that says “Access the form”, click on this button]. Before you start the form, be sure to have your passport number, flight number, arrival day easily accessible. You will also be asked to create a password to log into the website (write these down so you remember them). You will also be asked to enter the “Address where you are staying” and one must select “Region/Autonomous city”: Pais Vasco

Then you must select “City/Town” for our trip it is: Bilbao

3) In the best interest of the health of the group, we ask you to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen or PCR test before your start your travels and test, again, preferably just before coming to the reception (but no more than 24 hours before joining the group). Please note that if you test positive and are unable to participate in the program, you will be able to file a claim via the included trip insurance.

Covid-19 Reminders

• You should bring your original Covid-19 vaccination card as well as a paper copy and a digital copy (such as a photo of your vaccination card saved to your email or phone). Keep the original with your passport.

• If you haven’t already, email your Covid-19 vaccination information to your primary care physician so that it is added to your immunization record.

• Check with your airline to see if it has any specific Covid-19 requirements in place that are not already covered by the entry requirements for Ireland.

• Be sure to complete the online Stanford Travel/Study Covid-19 Agreement and upload proof of Covid-19 vaccination (including booster) if you have not already.

• The U.S. government currently requires proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within 1 day of departing for the U.S. For those departing for the U.S. on June 21 we will facilitate taking these tests on June 20. However, people flying to the U.S. can use a supervised self-test (sometimes referred to as home test) that meets the following criteria. NOTE: these tests with video health link require WiFi connection and a device that will allow to activate the test on a web site and often also require an app to receive the results to present to the airlines). Examples of providers include Azova, BinaxNow Covid, Ellume COVID-19 Home Test with Azova (available through pharmacies), Cue COVID-19 Test for Home or OTC Use. Afar have reviewed some of these: https://www.afar.com/magazine/cdc-approves-at-home-covid-tests-for-international-travel. It is important to review the test kit instructions prior to departing home to make sure you have the correct web link to activate the kit and may also require one to downloaded an app to receive the test results. It is recommended to secure a such a test kit (usually two tests per kit) if you are traveling on your own or in case you have an unexpected delay and need to test on your own to return to the U.S.

Other Reminders

Travelers to Spain and France must have:

• A valid passport

• A document confirming full vaccination (including booster) against Covid-19 (CDC vaccination card, or documentation from equivalent local health authority if you are not a U.S. resident). Note that as of February 1, you must have a booster dose if more than 270 days have passed since the final dose in the primary vaccine series.

• If you have not already, be sure to check your passport to make sure it is valid for 6 months after your return date to the U.S. and that it has at least 1 completely blank visa page (not including the amendment pages at the back of the passport).

• Get necessary immunizations and prophylaxes (refer to the health and medical section in the Trip Information tab of your trip’s website).

• Notify your credit card company that you will soon be traveling, so that any significant charges you make will not be questioned or put on hold.

Arriving and Meeting the Group

NOTE: All passengers arriving in Spain may be required to undergo a health check at their first entry point. This control may include a temperature check and the checking of your documents.

Group Transfers are included on Wednesday, June 8 from the airport to the Hotel Carlton. The last transfer from the airport will depart at approximately 5:00 p.m. We’ll use the flight information you provide to arrange included transfers. You may be grouped with other travelers arriving on the same flight or at a similar time.

Making your own arrangements: A taxi from Bilbao Airport to the Hotel Carlton costs about €35. Taxis are very safe and accessible. Taxi drivers accept major credit cards.

At the Hotel

Check-in time at the Hotel Carlton is 3:00 p.m. Luggage can be left with the bell captain if you arrive before your room is ready. Our first group activity will be a welcome event at 6:30 p.m. on June 8, location TBA. Note there will be canapes served.

Program Updates and Reminders

The tap water in Spain is safe to drink so in keeping with our effort to eliminate single-use bottles on all Travel/Study programs, we ask you to be sure to bring a refillable water bottle and/or bladder that you can fill in your hotel room or at breakfast and top off at lunch to make sure you have plenty of water during the day.

Our hotels were chosen for their location along our walking route and are the best available in each location. They range from one three star hotel in Portomarín to the 5 star hotels in Bilbao, Pamplona, León and Santiago. Due to the size of our coach and the narrow streets, we will need to walk about 5 minutes carrying our own daypacks (carry-on bags) to and from our coach to one of these establishments.

As we are following a pilgrimage route we change hotels frequently and we will often have one night in a hotel, which means that bringing fewer articles of clothing that can easily be mixed and matched will make it easier to pack and unpack your suitcase. As noted on the Trip Information page, laundry service is available in all of our hotels for a fee, although a minimum stay of two nights is required for this service.

The walking we do on our programs doesn’t qualify us for the certificate at the end of the trip because we are not walking an uninterrupted 100 km to arrive in Santiago. We appreciate that the pilgrim’s passport can be a nice keepsake of the journey and it is possible to obtain your own in St Jean or Roncesvalles. In addition, it may be possible to get one in advance by requesting a credential from American pilgrims on the Camino at https://americanpilgrims.org/request-a-credential/ or failing this from the Confraternity of St. James in the UK at https://www.csj.org.uk/forms/non-members.

Packing Suggestions

The following packing list should help you prepare for the program. These are simply our suggestions; you will want to make your own variations.

* Pack these items in your carry-on luggage [including a change of clothes for hiking and wearing or packing your hiking boots in your carry-on]

Keep in mind, we change hotels frequently on this program and will often have one night in a hotel, which means that bringing fewer articles of clothing that can easily be mixed and matched will make it easier to pack and unpack your suitcase.

We recommend a casual, comfortable wardrobe that you can layer. Smart casual attire is appropriate for evening meals, and often travelers will bring an outfit that can be dressed up a bit for the welcome and farewell dinners (jacket and tie are not required but are preferred for dinner on the last evening).

Laundry service is available in all of our hotels for a fee where we have stays of two nights or more (Leon and . Hair dryers are also provided at all the hotels on our itinerary.