Does Refuge Orisson Have wifi?

[Anniesantiago]

Can someone who has stayed there recently tell me if they have wifi?
Thanks.

 

[james walter purdum iv]

I got there around six because my pack got lost by fed ex. I left sjpp around 2:30 and trudged straight up in the pouring rain...long story short I don't remember

 

[Tincatinker]

Their website makes no mention of wi-fi, which is probably the strongest selling point for many Albergues these days, so I guess not. They obviously have internet access. Perhaps a question for them to address.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've emailed them but thought someone who had been by recently could answer more quickly.

 

[Hiawatha]

Annie , they have a very nicely written chalkboard sign next to the register at the bar , it says ; '' No WIFI , try talking to someone '' , or words to that effect .
So short answer is that they might have an internet connection but they don't offer WiFi to their patrons .

 

[Anniesantiago]

Annie , they have a very nicely written chalkboard sign next to the register at the bar , it says ; '' No WIFI , try talking to someone '' , or words to that effect .
So short answer is that they might have an internet connection but they don't offer WiFi to their patrons .

Thanks Charles. I've seen that sign other places but not at Orisson.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Thanks Charles. I've seen that sign other places but not at Orisson.

I remember seeing it there, and also hearing a staff person talk about how irritating it was watching people sit around staring at their phones, but for booking ahead purposes, it can sure be handy! (not that you need that at Roncesvalles).

I also remember trying to fall asleep on a lower bunk, and having a young woman playing with a VERY bright screened i phone near me. I told her, "early day tomorrow, please turn it off NOW"---and she got deep, deep into the covers and probably roasted for some time.

 

[KinkyOne]

...but for booking ahead purposes, it can sure be handy! (not that you need that at Roncesvalles)....

Oh, but you do. See a few recent posts about Roncesvalles albergue started with reservations this summer.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Oh, but you do. See a few recent posts about Roncesvalles albergue started with reservations this summer.

Man, oh man, K One. This in part explains why I'm not at all interested in walking in the hot and crowded summers! It would be hard to cross the mountains and not have a bed.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Man, oh man, K One. This in part explains why I'm not at all interested in walking in the hot and crowded summers! It would be hard to cross the mountains and not have a bed.

You just have to book ahead -they take reservations via their website, since early this spring.

 

[Anniesantiago]

You just have to book ahead -they take reservations via their website, since early this spring.

I booked Roncesvalles the last two seasons.

 

[james walter purdum iv]

Can someone who has stayed there recently tell me if they have wifi?
Thanks.

There is wifi at the top of the Pyrenees a small station. I was blown away

 

[james walter purdum iv]

 

[mvanert]

Can someone who has stayed there recently tell me if they have wifi?
Thanks.

Nope. It would be nice if there were.

I have health issues. If they had I could have reassured my wife last year that I made it there safely instead of her having to wait until I got to Roncesvalles the next day.

I understand this year sim cards are available that work in both France and Spain. I will definitely be getting one of those for my 2018 camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Nope. It would be nice if there were.

I have health issues. If they had I could have reassured my wife last year that I made it there safely instead of her having to wait until I got to Roncesvalles the next day.

Not having Wifi is one thing, but I'm sure you could still have made a phone call with your cell, no?

 

[mvanert]

Not having Wifi is one thing, but I'm sure you could still have made a phone call with your cell, no?

Nope - no service on my phone. I did borrow a phone and sent an email however since it wasn't from me it went straight to her trash.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Nope - no service on my phone. I did borrow a phone and sent an email however since it wasn't from me it went straight to her trash.

Wow, that's odd as Orisson is not remote, I was sure cell service woild have been available.

 

[jo webber]

Well .... Hubby won't be attached to his phone or tablet with his ear buds firmly implanted.

 

[FLEUR]

We stayed at Orisson in 2012. There were 5 of us in a dorm. The American lady had brought every gadget under the sun. The rest of us Eng./ Fr./ It. only had very basic mobile phones. How times have progressed / changed! Many pilgrims now seem so dependent on gadgets and Wifi.

 

[Kanga]

Yes, things sure have changed. I remember when there was nothing at Orisson, no gite at all, let alone wifi. Only the ruined remnants of an old building. And that was only 16 years ago.

Hate to say it, but some of us old codgers, sound like old codgers....

 

[Bradypus]

Hate to say it, but some of us old codgers, sound like old codgers....

Modern technology has many advantages but one of the big downsides is how quickly our perception of it changes: from being merely a novelty to a useful practical option and then becoming a necessity. When I walked my first Camino there was no internet or mobile phone access anywhere - they had barely reached the major cities and were the sole preserve of the very rich or tech nerds in any case. My contact with home was by letter and two phone calls from towns en route. Now being out of contact for more than a few hours is enough to cause concern in more anxious friends and relations. Even if we walkers are happy to be unplugged our families may not find it so easy. I can understand that concern.

 

[Kanga]

Ah yes @Bradypus, remember phone cards? We used them in public telephone booths.

One of my favourite scenes from St Jacques Le Meque is where they are all trying to find a spot where their phones will connect. Orisson is a bit like that.

 

[FLEUR]

Yes, things sure have changed. I remember when there was nothing at Orisson, no gite at all, let alone wifi. Only the ruined remnants of an old building. And that was only 16 years ago.

Hate to say it, but some of us old codgers, sound like old codgers....

Ha , ha, a bit less of the "old codgers" please Kanga. This one is still going strong (well mostly!) at three score years and ten.

 

[FLEUR]

Predictive chose Dodgers instead of Codgers, probably far more appropriate!!! LOL

 

[Bradypus]

Ah yes @Bradypus, remember phone cards? We used them in public telephone booths.

I remember using them in the UK but not in Spain. My memory of phoning home is vague - probably because the payphones I used were in bars I seem to recall stacking up some 100 peseta coins before making the calls.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ah yes @Bradypus, remember phone cards? We used them in public telephone booths.

One of my favourite scenes from St Jacques Le Meque is where they are all trying to find a spot where their phones will connect. Orisson is a bit like that.

I remember queuing at the main post office/telephone central in Moscow in 1992 and again in Nairobi in 1998 to make calls. Ah, but calling from Moscow anywhere in the world was ridiculously cheap back in the day. Things do change, but not just for the better .

 

[alexwalker]

Not in Orrison; Nevertheless...

 

[HedaP]

Valcarlos route had internet access whenever I tried with my Spanish sim bought in Pamplona on the way to SJPdP. Admittedly didn't try all that often but certainly in Valcarlos.

 

[NomadBoomer]

I understand this year sim cards are available that work in both France and Spain. I will definitely be getting one of those for my 2018 camino.

Recently implemented EU rule means no roaming charges in Europe . Any phone sim / plan bought in one EU country will work the same in any other country. Already been very useful to me.

 

[trecile]

No wifi at Orisson, but I was able to get cellular a signal on my T-mobile phone.

 

[Anniesantiago]

The woman who asked me this question was worried about her daughter.
The girl is now past Roncesvalles, and we have the answer.

So thanks, everyone.

 

[jburr3708]

Recently implemented EU rule means no roaming charges in Europe . Any phone sim / plan bought in one EU country will work the same in any other country. Already been very useful to me.

Interesting. I walked the Camino Portuguese in May/June and bought a Simm card in Porto. It would not work in Spain!

 

[Bradypus]

Interesting. I walked the Camino Portuguese in May/June and bought a Simm card in Porto. It would not work in Spain!

Did you have your phone set to allow international roaming? Many are set by default to prevent it. If not then obviously the sim would not work once out of range of your Portuguese network.

EDIT: Another problem which occasionally happens is that a phone fails to automatically register with a new network on arrival in a different country. Manually scanning for available networks and selecting one has worked for me in the past when this has been the case.

 

[NomadBoomer]

Interesting. I walked the Camino Portuguese in May/June and bought a Simm card in Porto. It would not work in Spain!

I believe that the new rules came into effect on June 15th. You may have just missed out. As the post above states you may have to set up roaming to take advantage of the change.

 

[Bradypus]

I believe that the new rules came into effect on June 15th. You may have just missed out. As the post above states you may have to set up roaming to take advantage of the change.

The recent change is to do with the costs of roaming and not its technical availability. The underlying GSM/3G/4G network has not changed. I do not think that in recent years there have been any Portuguese mobile phone networks whose SIM cards could not be used in Spain at some additional cost provided international roaming was enabled.

 

[ark]

Can someone who has stayed there recently tell me if they have wifi?
Thanks.

No they don't. They have a big sign that says "No we don't have wifi- talk to each other!"

 

[Anniesantiago]

No they don't. They have a big sign that says "No we don't have wifi- talk to each other!"

Yes, that's what several people have told me on this thread.
Thanks