I can't get through to Refugio Orisson!

[Marla in CA]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[naplesdon]

from the USA: try 0033559491303

 

[Marla in CA]

Thank you. I tried that # a few hours ago, but will try again. Maybe they don't answer after 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

 

[Kathor1]

Refuge Orisson

Refuge Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle - Le Refuge Orisson accueille les pèlerins, en pèlerinage vers St-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Reposez-vous dans ce refuge avec restaurant sur le Chemin de Compostelle, dans le Pays Basque.

refuge-orisson.com

They have revamped their website. You can book through the website. I see three different phone numbers on the website; unfortunately one of these numbers is not in international format. There's also their email address on the website.

 

[Marla in CA]

Refuge Orisson

Refuge Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle - Le Refuge Orisson accueille les pèlerins, en pèlerinage vers St-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Reposez-vous dans ce refuge avec restaurant sur le Chemin de Compostelle, dans le Pays Basque.

refuge-orisson.com

They have revamped their website. You can book through the website. It appears that they may have changed their phone numbers for contacting them. There are three different phone numbers on the website (a landline and two mobile phone numbers). There's also their email address on the website.

Thank you. I should have been more specific in my post. I have gone to the website and sent an email several days ago, requesting a reservations. No response. So I sent another email last night. No response yet, but maybe it takes a few days. So I called the 2 different #s listed on the website. No answer. I am just getting concerned since it is only 5 weeks away.

 

[Kathor1]

Thank you. I should have been more specific in my post. I have gone to the website and sent an email several days ago, requesting a reservations. No response. So I sent another email last night. No response yet, but maybe it takes a few days. So I called the 2 different #s listed on the website. No answer. I am just getting concerned since it is only 5 weeks away.

You can always try the third number: 06 38 26 97 38. If you are calling from the USA I think you need to type the number as follows into your phone: +33638269738

It's 10:30 pm now but I'm sure you know this. ☺

 

[Marla in CA]

Yep. I will try early tomorrow morning, California tine.

 

[Kathor1]

Yep. I will try early tomorrow morning, California tine.

Updated on 13 Aug 2019:
The name of the sender of the email that confirms your booking and invites you to pay used to be Sarl Apathia but it has now changed to:
"Refuge" <reservations@refuge-orisson.com>

Their email reply can take a while. Also, check your spam folder.

 

[Marla in CA]

Thank you!! Will check Spam.

 

[trecile]

Look for an email from SARL APATHIA

 

[Scotty100]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Agree that it can take a while but they do respond via email. We had to modify a booking at it was no problem. We did it in French using google translate.

 

[Marla in CA]

Agree that it can take a while but they do respond via email. We had to modify a booking at it was no problem. We did it in French using google translate.

Thank you! I will try my hardest to be patient for next few days.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Back in 2016 I emailed a booking request. Used Google Chrome to translate the English into French. I think it took 3 or 4 days to respond. I think the overnight charge inc evening meal was E30.

 

[JillGat]

I recommend being patient. They have a ton of requests and will get back to you. Reserve on the website, send them an email and then wait.

 

[Kathor1]

Just for info: You don't need to fuss about with Google Translate anymore. Orisson's new website is available in French and in English. You place an order for one or more beds by filling in all your details and it then looks like this:

 

[trecile]

I never had a problem making a reservation using English in the past. I did say "bonjour" and "merci" though.

 

[Kathor1]

I tried that # a few hours ago, but will try again. Maybe they don't answer after 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

Btw, should you run out of patience waiting for their email reply ☺: I noticed that there is a typing error in one of the phone numbers in the English version of the new Orisson website. One digit is wrong and that number will never answer. The French version appears to be correct. The three numbers in international format are:

+33638269738​

+33559491303​

+33681497956​

 

[LesBrass]

I live in France so I thought it would be far easier for me to call to reserve my bed. When I spoke to them they said the only way was through the website. So I went on line to the new site and sent a request... I totally missed the section where you can book!

They replied saying I can only reserve through the website. I went back, did this, booked two beds and they emailed back with a paypal request.

i hope you get to book the beds... buen Camino

 

[Kathor1]

I totally missed the section where you can book!

It isn't particularly obvious, is it? I sometimes roll my eyes ... and then the way it's been translated into English doesn't make things more obvious either. So for newcomers, below is what you have to look for when you want to book a bed at Orisson in either English or French. Start by clicking into the box for arrival date (START), the rest is more obvious.

 

[LesBrass]

It isn't particularly obvious, isn't it? I sometimes roll my eyes ...

No it really isn’t actually maybe you should put this into a new thread and it could be pinned... because it really isn’t obvious and what you’ve done is really useful

 

[trecile]

They replied saying I can only reserve through the website. I went back, did this, booked two beds and they emailed back with a paypal request.

Does the email with the PayPal request still come from Sarl Apathia? That's another thing that's always been confusing about the Orisson booking process - the email with the PayPal invoice comes from an email address that's unexpected, and often ends up in people's spam folders.

No it really isn’t actually maybe you should put this into a new thread and it could be pinned... because it really isn’t obvious and what you’ve done is really useful

I agree that a sticky "how to book at Orisson" post would be very useful.

 

[peckahad]

Hope you get your reservation for the 18th. I will be staying there that night. I got my reservation last January.
Buen Camino

 

[rnwinters]

Thank you. I should have been more specific in my post. I have gone to the website and sent an email several days ago, requesting a reservations. No response. So I sent another email last night. No response yet, but maybe it takes a few days. So I called the 2 different #s listed on the website. No answer. I am just getting concerned since it is only 5 weeks away.

Yes, we had the same problem last year. All I can say is keep trying and be persistent. It took me four tries by e-mail to get a reply. They are very popular and fill up way in advance. My guess is that at this point they are already full. We booked 5 months in advance.

 

[Kathor1]

On the other hand, it's not all their fault. The owner of Orisson is active on Tripadvisor and wrote recently to someone from the UK who said it was so difficult to book [my translation from French]: Dear Mr [...], we have sent you confirmation emails since March when you made your first booking. You have now 3 reservations for the same date! The last confirmation email was sent on 5 June. Look into your spam file or your trash file [...].

Please, anyone who wants to book in the near or distant future, also note the comment from @LesBrass earlier in this thread which makes it very clear that they want you to use the booking system on their website and not phone calls or emails to make your initial reservation. You may be wasting your time and their time and may loose your chance to get a bed if you follow the advice to try to phone or email instead of using the booking system on their recently updated website.

 

[Marla in CA]

Back in 2016 I emailed a booking request. Used Google Chrome to translate the English into French. I think it took 3 or 4 days to respond. I think the overnight charge inc evening meal was E30.

I never had a problem making a reservation using English in the past. I did say "bonjour" and "merci" though.

I speak French.....

 

[trecile]

On the other hand, it's not all their fault. The owner of Orisson is active on Tripadvisor and wrote recently to someone from the UK who said it was so difficult to book [my translation from French]: Dear Mr [...], we have sent you confirmation emails since March when you made your first booking. You have now 3 reservations for the same date! The last confirmation email was sent on 5 June. Look into your spam file or your trash file [...].

But they really need to do something about the email coming from Sarl Apathia. It needs to be clear that it's from Orisson.

 

[Marla in CA]

Yes, we had the same problem last year. All I can say is keep trying and be persistent. It took me four tries by e-mail to get a reply. They are very popular and fill up way in advance. My guess is that at this point they are already full. We booked 5 months in advance.

Oh wow, thank you for both pieces of info. I need 5 weeks from now. I will attempt a call now. I am only 5 weeks away, so now I am not as hopeful that I will get a bed, even if I do get through.

 

[Marla in CA]

Hope you get your reservation for the 18th. I will be staying there that night. I got my reservation last January.
Buen Camino

Wow! Last January! Fingers crossed for me please!

 

[Kathor1]

But they really need to do something about the email coming from Sarl Apathia. It needs to be clear that it's from Orisson.

Updated on 13 Aug 2019:
The name of the sender of the email has now been changed to:
"Refuge" <reservations@refuge-orisson.com>

I couldn't agree more. I have two internet providers and they both allow me to create aliases, so I would think they could easily change their S.a.r.l Apathia to Refuge Orisson in the emails they send ... LOL, I just noticed that my spell checker software wanted to change their business name to Apathy.

 

[trecile]

Oh wow, thank you for both pieces of info. I need 5 weeks from now. I will attempt a call now. I am only 5 weeks away, so now I am not as hopeful that I will get a bed, even if I do get through.

Did you use their booking request form on the website? I believe that's the only way that they are booking right now.

 

[Marla in CA]

Did you use their booking request form on the website? I believe that's the only way that they are booking right now.

Yes, I did.

 

[Marla in CA]

No, I did not! I overlooked it until just now!

 

[Marla in CA]

Yes, I did.

Yes, I did.

I changed my answer.. No, I did not!!!!! Didn't even see it, until instructions from all of you. Thank you!

 

[IcEaNa]

I managed to booked mine for 19th Sept but it was a pretty long process. The payment link gave a URL error and the emails took a couple of days for them to reply. And with the Paypal confusion, I emailed to double check too. So it took over 2 weeks from booking to confirming but they do get back!

Hope yours get sorted out soon! Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

I changed my answer.. No, I did not!!!!! Didn't even see it, until instructions from all of you. Thank you!

Can you clarify step by step step exactly how you made your booking?

 

[Marla in CA]

I managed to booked mine for 19th Sept but it was a pretty long process. The payment link gave a URL error and the emails took a couple of days for them to reply. And with the Paypal confusion, I emailed to double check too. So it took over 2 weeks from booking to confirming but they do get back!

Hope yours get sorted out soon! Buen Camino!

This forum is amazing! I don't know what I would do without all of you and your wisdom/experience, etc. So I finally found the booking section on the website and completed that about 2 hours ago. I have not received a payment link, so I do not know if I booked it correctly but it sure seemed like I did. I don't remember the message I received, but it was something like a thank you for booking. I assume now I sit and wait a few days for a payment link? Or a response saying they have availability or are full? As far as I know Orisson is the ONLY hotel between SJPDP and Roncesvalles, so if I don't get a bed, I am sunk!

 

[Deleted member 59555]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

How many times have we heard this. Just as the first day is the hardest phisycaly. So the first day is the hardest mentally dealing with orisson. Good luck.

 

[Marla in CA]

How many times have we heard this. Just as the first day is the hardest phisycaly. So the first day is the hardest mentally dealing with orisson. Good luck.

Lol.

 

[strangecreature]

Hi Marla, I had trouble booking Orisson as well and it took me a couple weeks to figure it out. I think booking a few months in advance is the best bet, but obviously that doesn’t help you now.

On The Napoleon there is another Alburgue at Hunto which is a few kilometers BEFORE Orisson, so it would make an even shorter first day but longer second day. Alternatively you could go the Valcarlos route and stay in Varcarlos and that breaks the first day in more manageable sections as well. There is a municipal alburgue in Valcarlos. Hope you get your bed in Orisson! Good luck.

 

[Marla in CA]

Can you clarify step by step step exactly how you made your booking?
[/QUOTE

I called all 3 numbers listed on the website. One did not work and the other 2 worked, but no response. Hopefully that was due to the time difference.

I sent 2 different emails directly from the website, over a period of either 2 or 3 days. I told them what I was interested in - a bed for 1 adult on Sept. 18, 2019. To date, no response. But it has only been a few days.

After one kind pilgrim's response on this website 2 hours ago, I realized that there is a booking section on the website. I completed that just 2 hours ago. I believe when I was finished, it said "thank you" or something like that, so I feel it went through. No indication or request for $$ though.

 

[Marla in CA]

Hi Marla, I had trouble booking Orisson as well and it took me a couple weeks to figure it out. I think booking a few months in advance is the best bet, but obviously that doesn’t help you now.

On The Napoleon there is another Alburgue at Hunto which is a few kilometers BEFORE Orisson, so it would make an even shorter first day but longer second day. Alternatively you could go the Valcarlos route and stay in Varcarlos and that breaks the first day in more manageable sections as well. There is a municipal alburgue in Valcarlos. Hope you get your bed in Orisson! Good luck.

Thank you so much for providing me 2 alternatives! I hope I don't need them and that I hear back from Orisson, but if I don't hear back in a few days, I will look into your suggestions. I really, really appreciate your input and for giving me hope just in case.

 

[Rover]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

You know what they say about the squeeking hinge . . . there is not easy answer to your frustration. It took me several months to get a response from them. If guess they are booked now so strongly consider your options as few as they may be. I believe there is a little talked about alburque a few km's before Orisson
you might want to look into other wise it's on the Ronsevalles and take a different route.

 

[Marla in CA]

Hope you get your reservation for the 18th. I will be staying there that night. I got my reservation last January.
Buen Camino

Me too, Peckahad.

 

[AlexanderAZ]

Wow! Last January! Fingers crossed for me please!

I also booked in January for Sept 28th arrival. I too will keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[LesBrass]

But they really need to do something about the email coming from Sarl Apathia. It needs to be clear that it's from Orisson.

they've sorted that bit but maybe because there is an attachment and links it could go in some folks spam?

 

[alipilgrim]

It took them 2-3 weeks to respond to my booking request, but that was over the winter period

 

[LesBrass]

I've made a little document which I hope will help with the process for booking a bed. I booked in May but also tried to book again today to ensure things hadn't changed. This document isn't from Orisson but to the best of my knowledge it's correct. I don't know what happens if they are full but this document should help you to make your initial reservation.

I've stayed at Orisson four times and each time I've had no issues booking my bed.

I live in France and speak French but when I called Orisson they were very clear that bookings must be made from the website. If you wish to stay in the gite you will also need to follow the same process but choose the KAYOLA option from their website.

I hope this is useful... if I've made any errors please feel free to let me know and I can update the document.

 

[Marla in CA]

I also booked in January for Sept 28th arrival. I too will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Thank you!! I haven't heard anything back from them yet, so I am just trying to be patient right now....

 

[Marla in CA]

Updated on 13 Aug 2019:
The name of the sender of the email that confirms your booking and invites you to pay used to be Sarl Apathia but it has now changed to:
"Refuge" <reservations@refuge-orisson.com>

Their email reply can take a while. Also, check your spam folder.

Thank you for the info.

 

[Marla in CA]

I've made a little document which I hope will help with the process for booking a bed. I booked in May but also tried to book again today to ensure things hadn't changed. This document isn't from Orisson but to the best of my knowledge it's correct. I don't know what happens if they are full but this document should help you to make your initial reservation.

I've stayed at Orisson four times and each time I've had no issues booking my bed.

I live in France and speak French but when I called Orisson they were very clear that bookings must be made from the website. If you wish to stay in the gite you will also need to follow the same process but choose the KAYOLA option from their website.

I hope this is useful... if I've made any errors please feel free to let me know and I can update the document.

Thank you so much @LesBrass. I went back on the website because I wasn't wise enough yesterday to take a picture of the order. So I made another reservation, and I am pretty sure it is the same response as I received yesterday. Hopefully they won't penalize me for making 2 reservations, and will realize I did it just because I am a nervous pilgrim in search of a bed! I am hoping that when the order form said "Thank You" it means that there is room available. I am hoping that if it was full, it would not have allowed me to place the order. But maybe that is wishful thinking..... ANyway, can you please tell me what Kayola is? That is the first that I have heard about it in these forums in the last 13 days since I joined.

Thank you in advance.

Marla

 

[LesBrass]

Thank you so much @LesBrass. I went back on the website because I wasn't wise enough yesterday to take a picture of the order. So I made another reservation, and I am pretty sure it is the same response as I received yesterday. Hopefully they won't penalize me for making 2 reservations, and will realize I did it just because I am a nervous pilgrim in search of a bed! I am hoping that when the order form said "Thank You" it means that there is room available. I am hoping that if it was full, it would not have allowed me to place the order. But maybe that is wishful thinking..... ANyway, can you please tell me what Kayola is? That is the first that I have heard about it in these forums in the last 13 days since I joined.

Thank you in advance.

Marla

I’m not sure what happens if they’re full... sadly I think you might still get the ‘Thank You’ screen because you’ve only placed a request and nothing more. Hopefully you’ll get a reply soon and this will confirm for you.

Kayola is their gite, located a little before Orisson. You can sleep here and I believe you can still join everyone for dinner in the main building. This could be a useful alternative. The crazy thing is having walked it four times I still don’t know where the gite is

 

[Marla in CA]

Thank you. I have never heard of a gite before. If it is close by, then I will book there. It beats the pressure of walking the whole way to Roncesvalles the first day. Yes, I said I was "hoping" that the thank you was an indication they werent full, but I realize I might be too hopeful. Now I am wondering how long I give them to reply before I book the gite. Just so frustrating.

 

[Kathor1]

Now I am wondering how long I give them to reply before I book the gite. Just so frustrating.

I think those of us who follow this thread are all on tenterhooks now ☺. My money is on you getting a bed at Orisson on the 18th of September. It's a Wednesday (not on the busier days Friday-Sunday), it's in the second half of the month when the onslaught of the first two weeks is over. My understanding is that they themselves may offer you a bed at Kayola if Orisson is fully booked.

Kayola is a small house, on the right, on a bit of a hill and you see it when you join the road again after the zig zag trail. I had my eyes peeled for Orisson and thought we had arrived when I spotted Kayola, only to realise that there were another 800 m / half a mile uphill to go. People who stay at Kayola have to walk up to Orisson and back down to Kayola again if they want to have a drink or go for dinner, there is no transport between the two buildings.

The booking system doesn't check whether there are enough free beds available.

 

[spiritwanders]

Hey there... first time posting here. I booked online through their website for the 21th September and it just took a couple of days to be confirmed.

 

[Marla in CA]

I think those of us who follow this thread are all on tenterhooks now ☺. My money is on you getting a bed at Orisson on the 18th of September. It's a Wednesday (not on the busier days Friday-Sunday), it's in the second half of the month when the onslaught of the first two weeks is over. My understanding is that they themselves may offer you a bed at Kayola if Orisson is fully booked.

Kayola is a small house, on the right, on a bit of a hill and you see it when you join the road again after the zig zag trail. I had my eyes peeled for Orisson and thought we had arrived when I spotted Kayola, only to realise that there were another 800 m / half a mile uphill to go. People who stay at Kayola have to walk up to Orisson and back down to Kayola again if they want to have a drink or go for dinner, there is no transport between the two buildings.

The booking system doesn't check whether there are enough free beds available.

From your mouth to God's ears, Kathar1na! Your post and so many of the other posts I have received in response to my question give me the feeling that I already have a Camino "family" and I haven't even left CA yet! Thank you so much for your concern, thoughts, and info regarding Kayola and how the refugio does business. So far I haven't heard anything, but I am being patient. Someone else posted with a couple of alternatives in case I don't get in. Last night I realized that I will prepare for one of the 2 alternatives, if I don't get a bed. I even have come to terms with going all the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles , if I have to. In the meantime, I am practicing patience and remaining hopeful!

 

[trecile]

When I stayed at Orisson in May there were a number of people who couldn't get reservations there, but stayed somewhere close by (sorry I don't know the name). They were picked up at Orisson in the afternoon and driven to the gite, where they also had dinner and breakfast. In the morning they were driven back to Orisson. I believe that they heard of this place from the Pilgrims Office.

Another option to split the first day's walk is to use Express Bourricot's Mountain Shuttle. After walking up past Orisson they pick you up in the afternoon, and take you back to St Jean. In the morning they drive you back to where you left off.

Passengers tranport on the way of Saint James | Trip from Biarritz to St Jean pied de port

Transporting people around the Way of Saint James. Trips from Biarritz to St Jean Pied De Port to Roncesvalles, and the whole pilgrimage region

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[LesBrass]

Hey there @Marla in CA .... I had a reply from Orisson! I tried to book a bed yesterday... I tried to book a bed in November and they are closed but that was a pretty fast response... I’m hoping you’ve heard something too!

 

[Marla in CA]

Hey there @Marla in CA .... I had a reply from Orisson! I tried to book a bed yesterday... I tried to book a bed in November and they are closed but that was a pretty fast response... I’m hoping you’ve heard something too!

Hey there @Marla in CA .... I had a reply from Orisson! I tried to book a bed yesterday... I tried to book a bed in November and they are closed but that was a pretty fast response... I’m hoping you’ve heard something too!

Hey @ LesBrass and @Kathar1na and everyone who was on tenterhooks, as soon as I read @LesBrass' post, I checked my email. Nada. But the email was waiting in my Spam for the last 2 hours. I am in!!!!! I have a bed in Orisson! THank you all so very much. I could not have accomplished this without you.

Marla

 

[strangecreature]

Lmao, @Marla in CA you DO have a Camino family already cause I’ve been checking this thread everyday hoping to hear you got a spot at Orisson! I know what that stress was like, so glad for you. Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

I don't know if Orisson has this on their site or not, but somewhere in their reservation process they should let people know to watch for an email from reservations@refuge-orisson.com, so that people can keep their eye out for it, or better yet add it to their contacts so that it won't go into their spam folder.

 

[NorthernLight]

I read these threads ... and I am grateful I haven't ever wanted to stay in Orisson. All the teeth-knashing you all do waiting to hear, then trying to figure out paypal ... it's less stressful just to walk.

Congratulations on your booking. How long do you have to make the payment before they cancel it?

 

[Leandra]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Hello!
I’ve booked it, easily by his website!
Good luck!!

 

[cherirae]

I booked through the website and received a prompt reply

 

[John Ferguson]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

They are very busy. I didn't receive any word at all, but on my arrival they had received my reso.

 

[Marla in CA]

I read these threads ... and I am grateful I haven't ever wanted to stay in Orisson. All the teeth-knashing you all do waiting to hear, then trying to figure out paypal ... it's less stressful just to walk.

Congratulations on your booking. How long do you have to make the payment before they cancel it?

Let's just say I gave my credit card within a millimeter of a second of receiving the email and prompt to pay!

 

[Jeanne from Washington]

Following

 

[trecile]

Following

Just FYI, if you want to follow a thread you only need to click the box above the first post that says "watch".

 

[taigirl]

I

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!
[/QUOTE
I got on their website and filled out the booking form. Got a link to the payment within the hour and confirmation as soon as I had paid. Will be there early September.

 

[Garry John]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi I walked the Camino in May. I was unable to contact them so instead walked on day one to Orrison for lunch, carried on to the statue of Our Lady & was picked up by a shuttle & taken back down to SJPDP. Day 2 shuttle back up to statue and carried on. This is an option you could try if contacting Orrison fails. Have a great way. Garry

 

[Kathor1]

They are very busy. I didn't receive any word at all, but on my arrival they had received my reso.

Did this happen recently? And if so, did you try to book (not email) on the Orisson website that has been modernised this year? It's worth pointing out that people who did so got a reply fairly quickly, even within hours or days.

I know it's a lot to read in this thread but I was happy to see that @Marla in CA has a bed for the 18th of September, yeah! And the time between the moment she discovered the booking section on their website and the time the confirmation email with the payment link plopped into the spam folder of her mailbox? Less than 2 days!

For anyone who is unclear about the current booking process or relies on outdated information, please see the excellent file earlier in this thread (click here) with a detailed description of the steps for booking a bed at Orisson from their website.

 

[Sarandipity]

Buen Camino and thank you for this thread! It helped me so much with my Orisson booking yesterday. But, nervous nelly here still isn't positive I have a bed...

I placed my order via their website yesterday morning at about 10am for my stay Saturday, Sept. 21st (yes, cutting it close!). I received my email request for payment via PayPal at 1am this morning (only 15 hours later).

I've clicked on the PayPal link, paid, and have received a payment confirmation email from PayPal.

Unfortunately, I'm still not quite sure that I have a reservation because of the wording on the page that popped up after I made the payment. Here's a screenshot. Note the blue box that says:

"Your pre-order has been received. You will be prompted for payment for your order when your pre-order is released on at a future date. Your order details are shown below for your reference."

This wording seems strange, and I'm not sure what is meant... I'm assuming that since I've received a request for payment from Orisson, have paid via the PayPal link, that I'm good to go?

 

[trecile]

Buen Camino and thank you for this thread! It helped me so much with my Orisson booking yesterday. But, nervous nelly here still isn't positive I have a bed...

I placed my order via their website yesterday morning at about 10am for my stay Saturday, Sept. 21st (yes, cutting it close!). I received my email request for payment via PayPal at 1am this morning (only 15 hours later).

I've clicked on the PayPal link, paid, and have received a payment confirmation email from PayPal.

Unfortunately, I'm still not quite sure that I have a reservation because of the wording on the page that popped up after I made the payment. Here's a screenshot. Note the blue box that says:

"Your pre-order has been received. You will be prompted for payment for your order when your pre-order is released on at a future date. Your order details are shown below for your reference."

This wording seems strange, and I'm not sure what is meant... I'm assuming that since I've received a request for payment from Orisson, have paid via the PayPal link, that I'm good to go?

You are right that the wording is strange. I wonder if it is just a bad translation into English. Under the old system I never received a confirmation of any kind from Orisson after making my PayPal payment, but I always had my bed when I arrived at Orisson. I think that you are fine.

 

[Jeanne from Washington]

Just FYI, if you want to follow a thread you only need to click the box above the first post that says "watch".

Thanks, I'm a newbie and I didn't know that.

 

[findelmundo]

Just to advise fellow peregrinos that the response from Orisson sometimes goes to a spam folder. Orisson's reply was received in my spam folder 2 days after booking with a 4 weeks lead time. Suggest checking your spam folder.

 

[MarkyD]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

I had the same issue last year, then I checked their website which said to email. They replied saying they didn't take reservations, but if I could get there before 12 o'clock then there should be beds available.
I arrived at 11.45 and managed to get a bed in the lower dorms. Others who arrived later had to go back to SJPP or carry on walking to Roncesvalles- where a bed wasn't guaranteed either - in which case a taxi to a hotel or continue walking were the options available. Unfortunately, the 'bed race' is part of the camino experience, but you'll find out how to dodge that as you go - pick places to stop that are less popular (although at the beginning there are not so many options).
It all depends on numbers of people arriving, when and where. Don't take anything for granted, but be assured that there will always be a solution. Good luck and buen Camino.
Mark

 

[strangecreature]

@Sarandipity You have a reservation, it’s based on that PayPal payment, Orisson doesn’t actually send you a confirmation email. I had a thread about this a few months ago cause I kept waiting on a confirmation too. I had the same wording and same concerns.

 

[Peter J Martin]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

A third option, I walked to Orrison from SJPdeP in July, got a taxi back to SJPde P, and taxi back to Orrison next day and continued on to Ronchesvalles. No problems, no worries.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Does anyone know how many beds are available at Kayola and Orisson combined? 15 + 18, right?
Or are there more?
What happens if both are full?

 

[Kerstin58]

Does anybody have any advice for calling or emailing the Orisson refugio? I have read elsewhere that they are very difficult to contact, but I need a reservation for Sept. 18, just a bit more than 5 weeks away. Any tips will be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Hope you have got an answer now. But I have understood that they do not have Internet so it can take several weeks. If you should call them they just speak French...

 

[Kathor1]

Hope you have got an answer now. But I have understood that they do not have Internet so it can take several weeks. If you should call them they just speak French...

For those new to the thread and who don't have the time to read all the messages, @Marla in CA got a reply within days after having booked through their web page and so did several others in recent times.

@Kerstin58, when did you book at Orisson? Was it recently through their web page and how long did it take before you got their reply?

@Marla in CA, buen camino again! Only four days now, right?

 

[Kathor1]

Does anyone know how many beds are available at Kayola and Orisson combined? 15 + 18, right? Or are there more? What happens if both are full?

From their new fancy website:

• With a capacity of 28 places in dormitories of 6 to 10 bunk beds, Refuge Orisson is open from April to October
• With a capacity of 12 places, Kayola is open from April to October
• Kayola has a double room (44 €) in addition the dormitory beds (17 €)

I think if they are both full you won't get a bed . If you were wondering whether they put up tents: as far as I know they don't. Not anymore.

 

[Anniesantiago]

From their new fancy website:

• With a capacity of 28 places in dormitories of 6 to 10 bunk beds, Refuge Orisson is open from April to October
• With a capacity of 12 places, Kayola is open from April to October
• Kayola has a double room (44 €) in addition the dormitory beds (17 €)

I think if they are both full you won't get a bed . If you were wondering whether they put up tents: as far as I know they don't. Not anymore.

Thank you. Exactly what I was looking for.
I didn't see their new website.

 

[Marla in CA]

For those new to the thread and who don't have the time to read all the messages, @Marla in CA got a reply within days after having booked through their web page and so did several others in recent times.

@Kerstin58, when did you book at Orisson? Was it recently through their web page and how long did it take before you got their reply?

@Marla in CA, buen camino again! Only four days now, right?

Leaving tomorrow night for Madrid! Less than 24 hours away! So I fly into Madrid, then fly a few hours later to Pamplona. Stay over in Pamplona, wake up and head for SJPDP. That should be the 17th. I will officially start the Camino on September 18th. I know I am going to have the journey of a lifetime.

 

[peckahad]

Leaving tomorrow night for Madrid! Less than 24 hours away! So I fly into Madrid, then fly a few hours later to Pamplona. Stay over in Pamplona, wake up and head for SJPDP. That should be the 17th. I will officially start the Camino on September 18th. I know I am going to have the journey of a lifetime.

I will see you in Orisson on the 18th. Leaving Dallas now for Paris on to SJPDP night of 17th. Hopefully in Santiago in Early November. Buen Camino