D
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
It's tempting to think that there must be a way to weed out fakers. I think that a "minimum number of stamps" rule would deny accommodation to legitimate pilgrims who want to start their pilgrimage in San Sebastian. And I don't know how effective it would be at deterring deliberate fakers. I expect that word would quickly spread among them about how to get the requisite number of stamps in one's credencial. As it is, the article mentions tourists arriving at 09:00 AM from the nearest accommodation - just a couple of km away - and getting shirty about the fact that the Donostia albergue is off limits at that time.Can't help thinking this problem of fake pilgrims could be fixed with a little more discrimination. What if they only allowed pilgrims who'd already got one stamp in their credencial? So you wouldn't be able to start you camino at that albergue, but it would week out most of the fakers.
The stamps are dated though, so this would give it away if someone had done this the same day. The idea is that if they're going to cheat, the least they have to do is invest the previous day at an albergue, either Irun or Pasajes.If they have a stamp from the last youth hostel they should stay somewhere else. OK, sounds doable. But we also have good public transport in this area which anyone can use to cheat.
This thread is about the difficulty / impossibility of running a donativo albergue in a touristic spot - specifically Donostia San Sebastian. The behavior of cyclists is a total red herring. Could you start a new thread if you want to exchange views on cyclists?Controversially, I'm going to say, the worst single group of people I have seen treating the albergues as a discount accommodation for tourism has been the groups of cyclists
I think the comments are on-topic. The article talks about tourists taking places from pilgrims. Many of these tourists are cyclists, particularly on the Camino Frances. I've seen this with my own eyes.This thread is about the difficulty / impossibility of running a donativo albergue in a touristic spot. Please could you start a new thread if you want to exchange views on cyclists?
I don't know if there is a way to weed out the tourists. Stamps minimums wouldn't work as almost everyone who doesn't start in San Sebastian starts one day sooner in Irun. If someone walked from Irun to San Sebastian there is no way they will be doing chores. That was the hardest walk of any of my caminos.It's tempting to think that there must be a way to weed out fakers. I think that a "minimum number of stamps" rule would deny accommodation to legitimate pilgrims who want to start their pilgrimage in San Sebastian. And I don't know how effective it would be at deterring deliberate fakers. I expect that word would quickly spread among them about how to get the requisite number of stamps in one's credencial. As it is, the article mentions tourists arriving at 09:00 AM from the nearest accommodation - just a couple of km away - and getting shirty about the fact that the Donostia albergue is off limits at that time.
I wonder if the albergue could weed out fakers by requiring people to do some chores in exchange for their stay. I imagine that the prospect of doing some cleaning might put off some fakers. But it might put off some pilgrims too. It really is a challenge to come up with a solution. I think the best outcome may be for the private sector to take care of accommodation in San Sebastian, and for the volunteers to support pilgrims elsewhere.
Starting in Irun is already a whole lot more hassle than just arriving in San Sebastian by bus and expecting a bed waiting for you. It should weed out those casual fake pilgrims who have just read online that all you have to do is arrive and ask for a "credencial".I don't know if there is a way to weed out the tourists. Stamps minimums wouldn't work as almost everyone who doesn't start in San Sebastian starts one day sooner in Irun. If someone walked from Irun to San Sebastian there is no way they will be doing chores. That was the hardest walk of any of my caminos.
My husband is on the Norte now and is finding accommodations to be difficult to find open.I came across this article from the Noticias De Gipuzkoa (a local news site for the Donostia-San Sebastian region). If I understand correctly, the local association won't continue to offer pilgrim accommodation in the building provided by Claret Ikastola:
https://m.noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/20...5axf7gNONFp7uD0nFayqKe6XpbN54Aauzvfrg#Loleido
A deteriorating set of circumstances since 2016 makes it impossible for the local Camino association to recruit volunteer hospitaleros:
- Albergues close to beaches attract tourists who masquerade as pilgrims to get a cheap beach holiday
- Websites / social media are promoting a systematic abuse of the albergue network
- Hospitaleros feel disenchanted because they didn't volunteer to serve "pseudo-pilgrims"
- Donativos in touristic areas receive pitifully small donations. (Only one third of guests leave any donation)
- In addition to being freeloaders, the pseudo-pilgrims are demanding and ill-mannered
- There have been multiple thefts from albergues
Sorry to hear that. I would have expected this time of year to be ideal. I hope his luck improves as he progresses.My husband is on the Norte now and is finding accommodations to be difficult to find open.
He is at an albergue tonight.Sorry to hear that. I would have expected this time of year to be ideal. I hope his luck improves as he progresses.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?