Well, I do it for more than one reason.
Honestly, the MAIN reason I do it is for my own health. My specialist prescribed long distance walking for my MCS, and the Camino serves that purpose well. Over the years, I've made relationships with various landlords and business owners and I get good prices. When I take a group, I work up the costs for 8 people and divide by 7, so it benefits me, but it ALSO benefits those in my group, as they are getting lodging, backpack transport, and someone who knows the ropes at a VERY low cost.
The second reason I do it is to help those who would like to walk but are a little afraid for whatever reason. Some don't speak Spanish and worry they will not be able to communicate. Some have medical issues and cannot carry their own pack. Some are afraid to walk alone, afraid of getting lost, afraid of wild animals, afraid of not having a bed, afraid of how long and far they can walk, afraid of not finding a taxi or bus when they need it, there are many reasons people choose a group. Some just enjoy walking in a group and not having to make the arrangements themselves.
PROS: When I take a group, I take them for 3 weeks and I plan MY trip for 6 weeks. This way I can get in 3 weeks of walking on my own before hand. As any of you know who have traveled to Europe, once you are there, it's not too expensive, so I can choose where to start walking on MY 3 weeks.
You meet and make friends with some wonderful people!
Many pilgrims, after walking with my group, gain enough confidence to go back and finish up the sections they missed on their own. Many become addicts like us! lol!
Then there's the walking and the beauty of Spain.
It never disappoints.
Seeing the wonder in the eyes of new pilgrims... it's healing and satisfying.
Knowing that they never would have done this alone but now maybe they can!
CONS:
1)
It is a HELL of a lot of administrative work. If I added up the hours of taking reservations, making sure everyone has signed all the paperwork, making sure they all have travel insurance, negotiating and making the lodging reservations, negotiating and making the backpack reservations, emailing back and forth with SEVEN nervous pilgrims, supplying them with all the info they need to make their Camino a good one, I probably MAKE less than $2/hour, if that. So those who think I"m getting a "free ride" are out of their minds.
2) Ok..so this will be a vent and you've heard it before from me.
There is almost always that one person, that one difficult to deal with person, who makes you want to pull your hair out. I have had drunk people who started fires in lodging fireplaces at midnight, leaving them roaring, then going to bed, having the landlord up putting out fires at 2 am. I have had people hanging their wet dripping raincoats on precious antique statues. I've had people being SO very rude to taxi drivers and pack transporters. I've had people who chose to sleep in the bathroom, so their roommate could not use it or to sleep in the landlords OFFICE, or outside the lodging door, for whatever reason. I had one woman who didn't arrive in Roncesvalles from Orisson until just before 10 pm, stressing out the entire group. I've had extremely argumentative people who fought with other group members. I've had people get upset because I wouldn't carry their packs up 2 flights of stairs even though I make it very CLEAR I will not do that unless they're injured. I've had one woman throw a temper tantrum because she checked into the wrong private room, when she was supposed to be in a double shared, and knocked her big old suitcase all around the beautiful antique furniture. I've had a woman screaming in my face because I told her she it wasn't right to cancel her taxi on the spur of the moment, when he drove so far to pick her up. I've had people who were TOLD if they snored they needed to book a private room drive out their roommates, forcing me to figure out lodging for the other. I've had people complain the lodging at San Martin Pinario "felt like a prison cell" when they were clearly told and shown photos of the rooms ahead of time. I had to leave one fellow at a bar because he ordered his breakfast 5 minutes before the scheduled taxi, forcing us to leave him on his own. He was warned in writing the group would leave if he wasn't ready, but boy, he sure did get P.O.'d.
So though MOST of the people in your group will be wonderful, there will always be that "one" who seems to live to make your 3 weeks a nightmare :::laughing gleefully:::
I don't do well with difficult people. I tend to say what's on my mind. It's a result of childhood abuse, being clear and to the point - and some folks prefer to be coddled - for you to beat around the bush.
So I would suggest a class on dealing with difficult people before leading a group, unless you know all the folks quite well. I have learned by being in the fire. Probably not smart. lol!
All that said, I have had some WONDERFUL groups and made some life long friendships.
So it's certainly not ALL bad.
But it is work, not a vacation, when you are responsible for all those folks.
3)
What if's. You need to be prepared for the "what ifs."
What if one of your walkers gets sick and needs to stay in place. Will the others still walk?
What if YOU get sick? Who will lead them?
What if ... (use your imagination)
Otherwise, it can be a gas and a lot of fun!
Suggestions:
Make sure your walkers know all the "rules" and what to expect.
Leave nothing to common sense - some won't have any.
Do not take more than 7 plus yourself.
You can get 8 into a taxi -more and you'll need 2 taxis.
Relax and let them work some problems out for themselves.
Don't babysit them.
After the first day or two, cut them loose and let them take their own lead.
Have fun and a Buen Camino!
