What would you change about the CF - if you could?

[Mito]

Perhaps. But fewer people would consider 200 km an easy walk. So there would be fewer people walking it.

And I should add: no requirement would mean an increase in people doing day walks or driving and getting the certificate. What a nightmare!

 

[Mito]

i wish more albergues and cafes were open along the Camino in December and January. I wonder if that would draw more pilgrims that time of year and take some of the pressure/crowd off of the other seasons. The weather can be a little tricky but not that bad IMO except in the mountains I suppose. we had a wonderful experience in December and January seeing the Christmas lights and happy new year. It’s shocking how a few people were out there when I hear about the crowds during the other times of year. Maybe if “off season” were made more welcoming more people would do it then versus other times. You just need the right gear - but that’s true no matter when you go.

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km? And were albergues well heated? I’m from Maine and prefer cold to heat. I usually do the Camino in March.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I tried to stay there in October 2022 because I remembered it as a wonderful, welcoming albergue. That late in the season I was the only pilgrim and was put up in the biggest room with no heat. After a brief attempt to take a nap and finding out the shower room was also too cold, I left (not asking for a refund) and hoofed it the rest of the way to Pamplona. Sad, but true. There were smaller rooms in the albergue which could have been heated but they didn’t bother. Disappointing. On the subject of snoring: some albergues have rooms for women only. As women are less apt to snore (sorry guys, it’s true) these are much quieter than mixed rooms.

Some of the sweetest places I've stayed had no heat and no hot water.
Example: San Anton
I don't think a lot of pilgrims walk in October - probably turn off the heat to save cash.
For what pilgrims pay it must be difficult to pay the heating bills.

 

[Bradypus]

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km?

I walked the Frances in January last year. There were a number of stages which had to be a fair bit longer than that. I don't think it could be done in 15km stages in January or February without the use of taxis.

 

[TravellingMan22]

You in a “quiet car?” On the east coast, Amtrak trains have at least one car where you aren’t even permitted a conversation. Heaven!!

No it wasn’t a quiet car, but it was very quiet until two folks started having a ‘heart to heart’ at the top of their voices!! One moved to the next carriage!

Lots of lone travellers and all manner of American life on board. Train went from Seattle to LA so not for the faint hearted especially arriving at LA after midnight though it’s totally cleaned up from the 80s! One chap had done 70 hours on Amtrak this week alone! Defo different vibe compared to Philly to NYC!

 

[Silvermomma]

Wouldn't that just mean that the "crowds" would start at the 200km mark instead of 100km? It would probably be better to get rid of the requirement altogether.

I think fewer "bucket list" do-it-in-a-week people would invest in the extra time.

 

[Silvermomma]

And I should add: no requirement would mean an increase in people doing day walks or driving and getting the certificate. What a nightmare!

Maybe they should stop the certificate thing. I have never picked one up. Maybe someone can open an Etsy shop and make them, LOL.

 

[easonm]

I’d love to go in the winter! Was it possible to find lodging that wasn’t too far apart? Say…..15 km? And were albergues well heated? I’m from Maine and prefer cold to heat. I usually do the Camino in March.

I can only speak for the short walk from Sarria but most of the albergues were closed between xmas & new year. I’m glad I booked in advance and booked hotels and of course they were heated and totally fine - with 15mi our longest day. I can’t speak for the other parts of the Camino but from Sarria to Santiago, it was a dead zone in terms of albergues and cafés. Almost everything Cerrado the whole way. on the plus side we had the Camino to ourselves and got to see a lot of pretty Christmas lights. It’s understandable of course that the locals/hosts want some time off.

 

[davejsy]

Wouldn't that just mean that the "crowds" would start at the 200km mark instead of 100km? It would probably be better to get rid of the requirement altogether.

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity, otherwise the problem wouldn't exist. So scrapping the Compostela would be interesting to see what effect it had.

 

[Paul.W]

They heard of Benidorm and that is why they don't serve a English Breakfast

Hahaha Agreed

 

[Molly Cassidy]

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity, otherwise the problem wouldn't exist. So scrapping the Compostela would be interesting to see what effect it had.

I expect the tour companies would just make their own certificates and people would be happy with that.

 

[C clearly]

It is interesting though that gaining the Compostela is obviously the driving force for the last 100km popularity,

I am not so sure of that. Spaniards make up the vast majority of the walkers from Sarria, and that distance is quite convenient for them to walk in a week or less. I suspect that most of them would continue to walk that segment, and would be satisfied with a Welcome Certificate or Distance Certificate.