Onai Hostel — Hotel in Pinto

We made week long reservations for Chilean National Ski Races at Onai Hostel. Reservations were made 2 weeks in advance and we paid 50% as reservation deposit. No official confirmation of reservation was provided. We called the reservationist to reconfirm, she seemed perpetual confused (acted perpetually stoned really) she made random changes to our dates and rooms. Therefore we called back and re-confirmed everything.||Arriving at 9:30 PM, there was no receptionist / staff / owner present. A guest indicated that the owner was at a party, and this guest informed owner of our arrival. Owner called my wife and instantly began to berate her and insult her, “we don’t need you, we have a waiting list and you don’t have a room and we don’t need or want people like your family” For the record; we have never met owner, have no dealing or interaction with him, beyond reserving this room via his receptionist and wiring him several hundred dollars.||At 10:00PM on one of the busiest nights of the year, we were left without lodging. (We found lodging in the clean, professional “Borde Andino” and later “ Las Bravas”). ||After my family was settled, I called owner to understand the situation. He was at a loud party. He first accused me of making the reservation incorrectly. This was a blatant lie. We triple confirmed it. He then said, I was not allowed to stay at his place, and he did not like me or my wife. I repeat that we have had zero interaction with him. I suggested that he could -at a minimum- let us know he was cancelling our reservation before taking our money and before we arrived late at night, especially for a national competition in a remote area the next day.||This last point – suggesting he be responsible for his business and his actions– was evidently a grave insult and he began to scream at me, insulting, swearing, yelling. So I hung up. ||Clarifications: |I ran a tourism company in Chile for 17 years. I understand there can be problems. But this is unacceptable service, even for Chile. My company never had a problem like this, or handled in this way.|The owner is a somewhat famous Chilean snowboarder, if you have experience with the 3rd world Latin mentality you will understand the overarching primary importance of ego, in every interaction. On the positive side, I do appreciate that he did return our deposit.||There are many fine lodging alternatives. Get your reservation in writing, directly from hotel not a (likely false) booking agent. Get a front dest number and call the place the day before, getting the name of the receptionist / owner. The area is beautiful, make sure...

We made week long reservations for Chilean National Ski Races at Onai Hostel. Reservations were made 2 weeks in advance and we paid 50% as reservation deposit. No official confirmation of reservation was provided. We called the reservationist to reconfirm, she seemed perpetual confused (acted perpetually stoned really) she made random changes to our dates and rooms. Therefore we called back and re-confirmed everything.

Arriving at 9:30 PM, there was no receptionist / staff / owner present. A guest indicated that the owner was at a party, and this guest informed owner of our arrival. Owner called my wife and instantly began to berate her and insult her, “we don’t need you, we have a waiting list and you don’t have a room and we don’t need or want people like your family” For the record; we have never met owner, have no dealing or interaction with him, beyond reserving this room via his receptionist and wiring him several hundred dollars.

At 10:00PM on one of the busiest nights of the year, we were left without lodging. (We found lodging in the clean, professional “Borde Andino” and later “ Las Bravas”).

After my family was settled, I called owner to understand the situation. He was at a loud party. He first accused me of making the reservation incorrectly. This was a blatant lie. We triple confirmed it. He then said, I was not allowed to stay at his place, and he did not like me or my wife. I repeat that we have had zero interaction with him. I suggested that he could -at a minimum- let us know he was cancelling our reservation before taking our money and before we arrived late at night, especially for a national competition in a remote area the next day.

This last point – suggesting he be responsible for his business and his actions– was evidently a grave insult and he began to scream at me, insulting, swearing, yelling. So I hung up.

Clarifications: *I ran a tourism company in Chile for 17 years. I understand there can be problems. But this is unacceptable service, even for Chile. My company never had a problem like this, or handled in this way. *The owner is a somewhat famous Chilean snowboarder, if you have experience with the 3rd world Latin mentality you will understand the overarching primary importance of ego, in every interaction. On the positive side, I do appreciate that he did return our deposit.

There are many fine lodging alternatives. Get your reservation in writing, directly from hotel not a (likely false) booking agent. Get a front dest number and call the place the day before, getting the name of the receptionist / owner. The area is beautiful, make sure...

I stayed at Onai for two weeks and staying there in itself was a really good experience. The hostel is in an amazing natural area, sorrounded by mountains and trees. From the terrace you can even hear a nearby small river and you can only see green.||The room was very clean and the beds are more than comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped and clean as well. The shared "living room" looks really beautiful with wooden furniture and comfortable sofas.||There is also wifi, which is quite surprising in such a rural area. There's also parking space in front of the hostel.||Chopo, the owner and his girlfriend are two of the nicest persons I met in Chile. Danny, who also works for the hostel is also very helpful and nice. More than recommended if you plan a trip to...