Bilbao Travel Forum

Hi We are going to Portsmouth (with P & O Ferries)from Bilbao. We arrive the day before and need to know where we should look to stay (not too expensive). It should be somewhere which has parking and is close enough to get to the ferry terminal the next morning. Any ideas greatly recieved!

Hi,
About the cheapest I could find is the Ibis at Barakaldo, about 3 km from the terminal. 59 euros the night.
There is also the Pension Don Claudio at 37 euros but is 5 km from terminal closer to the centre of Bilbao.
Hope this helps

I would try to find a place in Portugalete, is very close to the ferry terminal and you can walk around to see a few things like the hanging bridge.
Check this:
http://www.hostal-santamaria.com/

Novotel (www.accorhotels.com) Barakaldo is probably the best option, good standards 3*-4*, and right off the motorway from Bilbao to Santurce, where you get the ferry. If you book a "Hot Deal" through the website, thats the best price (usually with breakfast). Parking the car is no problem. There is also Ibis and the very cheap Formule 1 from the same group. You can't get cheaper, and it is very standard and clean. Novotel and Formule 1 also allow children under 15 (2 and 1 respectively) absolutely free, which is great for families.

A very nice small hotel is Hotel Artaza (www.hotelartaza.com), but it is in Getxo, on the opposite bank from where you want to be, although the area is very nice; right on the Getxo beach you can find the Hotel Igeretxe (www.hoteligeretxe.com), more expensive (about 85 euros) but it is right On The Beach, used to be a spa. Opposite is Hotel Los Tamarises, but I believe it is more expensive. In all these places there is no problem in Parking, as besides the hotel car park, there is plenty of street parking. These will of course mean that next day you will have to drive round to the other side. If one uses the hanging bridge, the journey is short and nice, but peak hours there maybe queues. At all other times it is an interesting way to cross the river.

Portugalete has the finely restored Gran Hotel Portugalete from 75/Euros onwards for doubles, but you will have to ask about the parking availability. Location is unbeatable, right on the Nervion estuary next to the "Hanging Bridge".

Santurce has the beautiful Palacio de Oriol with its own grounds but it is expensive unless you get a good internet deal.

Hope you have a good stay.

Another nice place is Hotel Neguri in Getxo. A small hotel with free parking for guests, rooms start from 60 Euros + 7% VAT in low season.