OrrisonAlberge booked out - alternatives?

[Sloaners]

Hi, first post so apologies if this topic has been covered before...

My 67-year old mother is starting from St Jean at the end of the month. She was hoping to spend the first night in Orrison but the alberge is fully booked.

Does anyone know if the alberge may keep some unbooked spaces, or if there is alternate accommodation close by?

She is an experienced walker but is too anxious to attempt the 25-odd ks all the way to Roncesvalles on her first day.

Any advice much appreciated.

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Sloaners ~
Unfortunately, the only alternative to Orisson on the Route Napoleon between St. Jean PdP and Roncesvalles is the tiny albergue at Hunto, which is a mere 5 kms out of St. Jean. Your mom has these options:

• Change her departure date to coincide with an opening at Orisson
• Ask Orisson about the possibility of staying in one of their overflow tents
• Do the entire Route Napoleon from St Jean to Roncesvalles, but have her pack taken by van to Roncesvalles which will make her day a fair amount easier (she'll still need to carry ample water and food). Check with Express Bouricot for prices.
• Walk the alternate route to Roncesvalles via Valcarlos
• Camp at the emergency shelter at the top of the pass if she has plenty of food, water, and a good sleeping bag

If she's fairly fit, a good walker, has good boots, and starts early in the morning there's no reason she can't do the whole day, especially if she sends her pack on ahead. Hope this helps!
==Sandy

[grayland]

Don't dismiss the Valcarlos route as an easy alternative. Many times it is the only way to Roncesvalles as the Route Napoleon is closed for weather. I have done both. I can't really say the that the Route Napoleon is a much, or any, harder way to go...the main difference is that Orrisson and Hunto are often full and there is no where else to stop.

Sandy laid it out very well as to choices.

[Sloaners]

Many thanks for the replies.

I just suggested the tent overspill, but my mum's entire camping experience consists of one very unhappy rainy night about 40 years ago, so that is not an option apparently! I'm sure that she'd be well and truly fit for the whole day, especially if she takes the less arduous route, but she's getting quite anxious about the imminent trip now.

She has now found out that there's a taxi to Roncesvalles so it looks like she's going to start the walk from there.

I've been trawling this forum on her behalf and it sounds fantastic - I wish I was going with her!

Thanks again.

[Dobby the house elf]

Hi Sloaners
I have sent you a PM.
Dobby the house elf

[Covey]

Sloaners...... Your Mum could walk the Winter Route as suggested by Greyland. It is the "old" road route which wanders through the valleys and on up to Roncesvalles. I walked it last August to see what it was like and it was fine. There are plenty of places to stop and have refreshment and the route is 400m lower overall than the "over the top" Route Napoleon.

Last year my companion and I stopped for lunch at a café and watched a very colorful wedding at the church opposite!

The Route Napoleon is a long uphill walk for 20kms, mostly on the road, and if the weather is clear, the views are spectacular. If the weather is no so good, then you will walk most of the way to Roncesvalles in poor visibility and get wet!

Not many Pilgrims walk the winter route in summer, but if there is low cloud when you set off from St Jean, then turn right at the fork in the road just outside St Jean and walk the lower route.

Anyway, your Mum will not be the oldest walking that day by a long way!!

[Sloaners]

Thanks Covey - I'll put that to her. She's doing the Camino in 2 trips so is only going for 2 weeks this time - so I think she has persuaded herself that starting from Roncesvalles is the best option.

Dobby - PM hasn't shown up in my inbox yet for some reason but I'll keep my eye out, thanks!

[Covey]

In that case if she is going via Bairritz then she needs Express Bouricot They have an office about 25m from the Pilgrim Office in St Jean and can transport either her pack or Mum + pack from St Jean to Roncesvalles.

I presume she has got her tickets booked already as Roncesvalles is not the easiest place to get to if you are flying in from the UK. She could get a ride to the top of the Route Napoleon with Burricot or a St Jean taxi and then walk the 8kms downhill section to Roncesvalles. Kind of break in the legs gently!! At the age of 64 even I am beginning to think that the Route Napoleon without something which weighs the same as a London bus on my back is a smarter move!!

[cindy]

Hey everybody,
I haven´t been on the forum for a bit as i started preparing my camino. Now, with a week to go i am feeling a little bit apprehensive(?). I was really going for it and depending on what time i arrive in pamplona(and then get the bus or taxi to st jean) i thought of just starting the same day.... and that means that i would probably want to stop at orrison... Now i´m reading that you actually can reserve a place there... I thought the camino didn´t do reservations....
Is this just an exception to the rule or have i missed something?

[HuskyNerd]

Hey ~
Congrats on your upcoming camino. Orisson is in France and it is quite common for the gites (French albergues) to accept and sometimes even expect reservations. Once into Spain it's rather uncommon to find albergues that will do this, though some private Spanish albergues are willing.

Unless you're really crunched for time or worried about the climb why not enjoy a night in St. Jean? It's a pleasant town and will provide a rest and some relaxation before a month's long walk.

Buen camino!

[grayland]

Actually, I find that many, if not most, of the private albergues take reservations in Spain.

[HuskyNerd]

I stand corrected. Thanks, Grayland. Here's a helpful post on another Forum booking ahead at albergue - Camino de Santiago de Compostela forum that details the approximately 60% of private albergues on the Camino Frances in Spain that take reservations. Just remember that private albergues are only a portion of the total albergues out there and that most albergues (as noted in the post) do not take reservations.

[cindy]

Ok, if i´m going to do this, i´m going to do this right... In my preparations i didn´t really plan on bookings and as i´m working up to an hour before my bus leaves for Pamplona, i have decided not to worry about it and just see where thingss take me....worse cases scenario i can always use my creditcard for a hotel or.....sleep outside. I am now just soooooooo wanting to get started that i can hardly wait. (apart from the local walk i did last sunday that made me add one thing to my to-do-list: get more compeed!!!) I am only doing part of the camino this time as i can´t take a month off, but i have decided to go without internet, mobile, book, i-pod etc.... Going to be a pleasant shock to the system i think. Will let you know how it was, but thanks to the forum i have the feeling i´m prepared.....

[Lipka149]

cindy dear, you are good to go.

Walk softly so you do not need the compeed.

Buen Camino !