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Should albergues only accept those walking to Santiago? - Camino de Santiago Forum
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    Sil
    Sil is offline Senior Member
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    Default Should albergues only accept those walking to Santiago?

    There has been a lot of discussion and concern about the enormous pressure on albergues during the Holy Year.
    The pilgrims' office estimates that only 1-in-5 pilgrims on the camino will earn a Compostela. Thousands walk short sections of the main routes, or variants (like the Aragones, Catalan, San Salvador etc), with no intention of walking to Santiago.
    Perhaps one way to lessen the burden would be for albergues to only accept pilgrims who are walking to Santiago?
    I know that it would be hard to police, but the word would soon move along the grape vine and those not walking to Santiago could find alternative accommodation leaving beds free for the die-hard, Santiago Holy Year pilgrims.

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    Covey is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Should albergues only accept those walking to Santiago?

    Some of the official albergues look at your boots to check if you are a walking pilgrim or an "autobus pilgrim"

    The autobus pilgrims can prove a nuisance as they roll up in a coach and try and bag 20-30 beds in one hit. Many official albergues will not accept the bus pilgrims and make them wait until all the walkers have arrived, or send them off to the private albergues.

    The easiest way to ease the congestion would be to stop handing Compostella to the cyclists. I can see no reason why cyclists should get a compostella as it is a modern form of transport just like a car or bus. The "old and traditional" way of completing a pilgrimage is on foot or on horseback.

    They could also stop the Sarria to Santiago tourist trip and change the criteria to only give a Compostella to those starting before Leon or even Burgos.

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    JacquelineRowe is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: Should albergues only accept those walking to Santiago?

    I absolutely agree 110% with Covey! And I've never walked it yet (but read lots about this issue) - but anyone not WALKING 100% then I believe should not get any space allocated until after 5pm when most walkers would be in!! Pilgrims did not cycle nor did they catch a bus!

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