Roncesvalles Municipal Albergue

[marstine]

Hi - I have tried to make a reservation at the above several times but no luck with their payment system. My visa won't go through. Called my bank and they said the problem was with the payment system at the albergue. Emailed them, they said to send money through paypal to an individuals name. Seems wierd? Any suggestions. Will I need a reservation for April 19? Or wait to get to St. Jean and make reservation through Pilgrim office?

 

[Tincatinker]

A reservation is unlikely to be necessary in mid- April.

 

[naplesdon]

I found a similar problem with their web address, but had no problems last year. Mid April should be no problem but reserve a day before to be safe.

 

[easygoing]

Hi - I have tried to make a reservation at the above several times but no luck with their payment system. My visa won't go through. Called my bank and they said the problem was with the payment system at the albergue. Emailed them, they said to send money through paypal to an individuals name. Seems wierd? Any suggestions. Will I need a reservation for April 19? Or wait to get to St. Jean and make reservation through Pilgrim office?

Not weird to send money to individuals name. I have emailed properties in Spain and got replies from a totally different name. I stressed a little when they didn't answer my question...is this the right place. But all was well and the reservation was in place when I arrived. The Camino is often in rural Spain and some places one busy person runs every thing.

 

[Kathar1na]

Hi - I have tried to make a reservation at the above several times but no luck with their payment system. My visa won't go through. Called my bank and they said the problem was with the payment system at the albergue. Emailed them, they said to send money through paypal to an individuals name. Seems wierd? Any suggestions. Will I need a reservation for April 19? Or wait to get to St. Jean and make reservation through Pilgrim office?

Just to confirm: over the last year or so, a handful of people, all from outside Europe it seems, have reported the problem you describe, ie not being able to pay through the online reservation system of the Roncesvalles albergue (which btw is not owned by the municipality but by the collegiate church of Roncesvalles) although there is no detectable problem with their credit card. The solution was as you describe, ie contacting them directly and then payment via email/Paypal so there's nothing weird about it.

Probably not related but worth mentioning in this context: everyone trying to make an online reservation for the Roncesvalles albergue should make sure that automatic translation from Spanish to English is switched off in their browser as it may cause problems and make reservation impossible. I agree with others that you don't need a reservation for the date of 19th April.

 

[joeandmiki]

How about mid-May (17 or 18 in May)? So do I. I tried to reserve at Refuge de Peregrinos (Colegiata) but its online system did not work. So I emailed. It asked an alternative way to reserve by Paypal. I asked on its official email "Other way except Paypal?. No response. I left my credit card number and its expiration date, except secret code. I did not yet its response.
Do you think it will be hard to get two beds there in mid-May?

 

[marstine]

Just to confirm: over the last year or so, a handful of people, all from outside Europe it seems, have reported the problem you describe, ie not being able to pay through the online reservation system of the Roncesvalles albergue (which btw is not owned by the municipality but by the collegiate church of Roncesvalles) although there is no detectable problem with their credit card. The solution was as you describe, ie contacting them directly and then payment via email/Paypal so there's nothing weird about it.

Probably not related but worth mentioning in this context: everyone trying to make an online reservation for the Roncesvalles albergue should make sure that automatic translation from Spanish to English is switched off in their browser as it may cause problems and make reservation impossible. I agree with others that you don't need a reservation for the date of 19th April.

Thanks so much for your reply. I did have my English to Spanish translation on. I will go with the majority and not worry about a reservation at this time of the year. We are very excited to head out next week from Seattle to Madrid and onward! Blessings to you all!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I've made my reservations there every year. Their website sucks but yes, you can pay Edurme via Paypal. It's safe. Just do it. Last year in mid-April, I saw them turning people away for lack of reservations.

 

[Anniesantiago]

A reservation is unlikely to be necessary in mid- April.

Actually that's changed. Last time I was there in April, they were turning people away.

 

[Kathar1na]

Last year in mid-April, I saw them turning people away for lack of reservations.

Last year (2017), Good Friday was on 14 April, so the major long Easter holiday with various as well as varying public holidays and school holidays throughout Spain and throughout Europe and with an increase in demand for beds was in mid-April. This year, Good Friday was on 30 March and the "Easter bump" is behind us. Some of you guys don't seem to be tuned into this . The month of May with a new set of attractive public holidays is now looming, of course.

PS: I discovered only this year that some Spanish regions have Maundy Thursday as a public holiday but not Easter Monday while in other regions it is the other way round. Other European countries have Good Friday and Easter Monday as a public holidays, others only one of the two. But all of this explains increased pedestrian traffic in the week before and after Easter Sunday. And as every pilgrim knows, of course, the date of Easter - unlike the date of Christmas - changes considerably from one year to the next.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Or, it could be that numbers have so increased on the Camino in the past two years that the beds were simply full. Time will tell.

 

[Anamiri]

Wow, I was so lucky, I didn't book, I didn't even realise at that stage that booking was possible.

 

[naplesdon]

How about mid-May (17 or 18 in May)? So do I. I tried to reserve at Refuge de Peregrinos (Colegiata) but its online system did not work. So I emailed. It asked an alternative way to reserve by Paypal. I asked on its official email "Other way except Paypal?. No response. I left my credit card number and its expiration date, except secret code. I did not yet its response.
Do you think it will be hard to get two beds there in mid-May?

I would suggest a reservation. They do have a telephone, so why not call them?

 

[Susan Peacock]

I have walked in April also and they were full. However, if you are walking from Orisson or Valcarlos you should be there early enough that you should get a bed. If you are walking a long day from SJPdP the chances are higher that you will have a problem.....but who knows

 

[Anniesantiago]

I just got a note that Edurne is on maternity leave.
She will be back in the office when she can.
If you want a reservation, send the date, and number of people and ask her to hold the beds.

 

[joeandmiki]

Wow!

I just got a note that Edurne is on maternity leave.
She will be back in the office when she can.
If you want a reservation, send your credit card info, the date, and number of people and I think she will hold the beds.

Wow! Wonder of Life! Congrats!!

 

[Anniesantiago]

I changed the posting - maybe don't send your credit card info until she asks for it.
But I think she will hold the beds if you email and give her the date and number of beds.
If you don't hear back, keep emailing. That's what I did and she finally answered.
Their website is difficult - the calendar doesn't work.
I wish they'd get Paypal.

 

[Sandi Smith]

Hi - I have tried to make a reservation at the above several times but no luck with their payment system. My visa won't go through. Called my bank and they said the problem was with the payment system at the albergue. Emailed them, they said to send money through paypal to an individuals name. Seems wierd? Any suggestions. Will I need a reservation for April 19? Or wait to get to St. Jean and make reservation through Pilgrim office?

I had no problem making the payment to Roncesvalles a few weeks ago. I called my credit union, they allowed the use of my visa internationally and all went through without a hitch. So I’m not much help, am I? The first time I tried, I used my Discover. Then I remembered that it’s not used much in Europe. But, if you used a Visa or MC you should have been fine.

 

[JabbaPapa]

IIRC, reservation is not always available, but only when the demand for beds starts being high.

 

[Kathar1na]

During this year 2018, you can book beds at the Roncesvalles albergue through their web reservation system for any day during the period from 17 March 2018 until 6 November 2018.

 

[JabbaPapa]

My last few times through Roncesvalles I've ended up sleeping outside in my sleeping bag (once in the rain), and once had even to force my way into the bathroom simply to go to the toilet.

NOT my favourite refugio, though many of the Hospitaleros there are fine people just "following orders".