Basque Country Travel Forum

Thanks. Question is too short - maybe it will post now.

Does anyone know what is the celebration in Hondarribia during the first and/or second week of December?

Given the haunted post below I had written another hotel but they mentioned they would be open for the festivities the first week, then closed after the festivities.

Are these any particular festivities? I've thought they were holiday related, but was wondering if it's another basque type thing. I've looked at some of the official tourist sites but do not see a post.

When I saw the photos of the Parador at Hondarribia
http://www.parador.es/en/tratarFichaParadorCabecera.do?parador=033
I made a stop here for the night, as it is on the way and a good stopping point for our trip the first week of December. thought we could also run down to San Sebastian for a while, get back to Hondarribia, rest, and go on

If you click the "play" button on the main photo, or look at the photos you will see the place looks beautiful. Yesterday, however, I clicked on the "More Information" link below the photo, where it says in green "Hondarribia and its parador", and then I had a real "Oh Sh#t" moment. This is what it said:

--- copied
Modernization has respected the numerous memories of a turbulent
and splendid past filled with ghosts and legends. Not in vain has
Hondarribia been known for centuries as the cradle of witches and
akelarres.
Should the visitor desire, in Reception you can find out more about
the numerous passages beneath the castle, which some have entered, never to
be seen again..." "The walls here creak at night." Among those who can bear witness to this fact are the Parador's many famous guests: Sophia Loren, Paco Camino, Natalia Figueroa, Camilo José Cela, and even Pompidou.
--- end of copy

How do you feel about staying here?

I am planning a trip starting in Bilbao. After a couple of days at the museum, I'd like to hike along the north coast, west of Bilbao. I've already hike the camino a few times and would like to experience the north coast.

Are there any trails (routes) similar to the Camino trail that follow the north coast?

Please could anyone give me directions on how to get from Paseo Campo de Volantin to Muelle de la Merced and back using public transport? Plan to attend a tango lesson and would prefer to walk as little as possible after a whole day of sightseeing!

Hello,

What is the best method of public transportation to Galdakao, Bizkaia from Bilbao? Bus, train, or taxi?

Thanks!

Hello,

Has anyone ever eaten at Tedone? If so, please tell me a little bit about your experience, the food, service, price, location, atmosphere, etc.


How would I get there from the city centre, bus, or taxi and approx. cost?
Address: Corta, 10, San Sebastian - Donostia 20001

Thanks!

We will go around late September in Guetaria and Vitoria for the first time and would like to know about good hotels, 55 to 85 Euros, with parking & internet and no dogs. I would appreciate any recommendations? Thank you.

Hello!

Does anyone have any recommendations for afforable places to eat regional food in San Sebastian? My budget will allow me to eat at perhaps one Michelin rates restaurant while there for several days. So, what and where else do I eat?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Are thee any self catering villas as such around Northern Spain?? My wife and I are thinking of taking the ferry to and Bilbao, taking the car with us.
We have looked in all the brochures but there seems nothing at all in the self catering area!!. A villa with a pool would be great. Thanks for anyone who could point us in the right direction. Any help would be great

Hi Basque Country experts:
I'll be rolling into Irun (from Paris) early in the evening---say 6:45 or so-- on a Saturday in mid-July. Will I be screwed for finding accoms for the night on short notice? I'm hoping for a bed in the pilgrim's refugio as Irun is the starting point for my Santiago walk, but barring that a cheapo hotel room would serve. The place doesn't look like a major tourist magnet, but I've been buggered by trade fairs and academic conferences elsewhere on past occaisions.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Douglas

Hi VT folk

I am coming to Bilbao in July for a week to attend the music festival and check out the sights. I really don't want to stay in a hotel room for a week as i and my girlfriend normally rent apartments when we go anywhere for more than a couple of days. I have been searching the Web but am really struggling to find any apartments or rental sites. Anyone got any advice or tips? Hotels rooms are so cramped so defo want self catering for the week.

Thanks

Nick

My second time to visit the Basque Country and loved San Sebastian & Lekeitio dining experience. My question is, any feedback on Getaria and Elantxobe? We go for culinary travel. Thank you for any input.

I have a reservation at Arzak for 2, but my travel partner can no longer make it. Is it worth going there, even if alone?

hello
i am flying to madrid in june and after a 2-days stay i am planning to go north to visit the basque country. I will have 7 days for the north. Normally it should be enough for the basque country but i'd like to squeeze in Oviedo. i'd like to do santiago de Compostella too, but seems unfeasible. my question is if oviedo is worth sacrificing 2 days, and what the highlihts of the basque country are. And is a daytrip to france recommended? i heard there is a very beautiful place very close to san sebastian.. What about vittoria gasteiz and pamplona?? Is gernica worth visiitng or theres nothing else there than the memories of the war?
thank you

Hi

I'm going to be in Barcelona for a week or so in May and want to visit a friend living in San Sebastian on the weekend of 16 & 17 May. Has to be the weekend because he works during the week and wants to show me around. I've looked at the Spanish trains website www.renfe.es and although (with the help of lovely Isa) the first page can be seen in English, when you get to the next page it is in Spanish and I become totally lost. I can figure some things out like that you can save a euro or two by purchasing on internet rather than station but that's about all. Don't understand about the period section etc.

I would just like a bit of help or advice in getting from Barcelona to San Seb and back by train if possible. Want to have as much of Saturday and Sunday in San Seb as possible so I figure an overnight train would be good. i would definitely want a sleeping compartment where I could lie down, sleeping sitting up is not an option for me due to bad back.

If anyone has done this trip or can offer advice I would be very grateful. Maybe there is an easy to navegate website in English or a agent site.

Is there even an overnight train? I'll be in Barcelona from Wednesday 13 or Thursday 14 so if it's likely that there will be plenty of space I am happy to buy tickets at the station a day or two ahead instead of pruchasing them now, to save the hassle of going through the renfe.es confusion.

Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you
Anita

Does anyone know of a good tour company that vill visit the top and down and dirty restaurants in the Basque country, I do not want to travel and eat alone.

I will be visiting Bilbao in the summer with my family and we would like to take a day trip into Lourdes. I was wondering what the easiest/fastest way to get there would be. Is there and train or bus that goes there and where can I catch it from? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi

My partner and I are arriving in San Seb on the 5th July and wish to attend the Running of the bulls opening ceremony and the bull run on the 7th July.

We were wondering if we should book ourselves on a tour or book accommodation and organise our own transport to pampalona. If we should organise our own transport who can we pre book with.

Thanks

Leah

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Spain in April or May of this year. We plan on flying into Madrid and staying one night...then renting a car and driving to Barcelona..not sure how many nights to stay or which luxury hotel to book? Then we planned on driving on to San Sebastian but not sure how long to stay or which luxury hotel to book? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, as our itinerary is very flexible. Thank you!

Debbie

I'd like to study abroad in Spain for Spring 2010. I've narrowed it down to Bilbao or Sevilla. What are your opinions for pros and cons on both? Weather? Culture? Transportation? Student/night life? Food?

I like Bilbao because it's a smaller city/program, has great public transportation, and a better university.

I like Sevilla because it feels more romantic and "Spanish". There's also the famous Spring festivals.

Thanks for your input!

I'm planning a trip that will start in Barcelona and end in San Sebastian this May. I've got about 2 weeks. I want this to be a real "food" event. I'd like some suggestions about restaurants, inns and off the beaten path treasures between these two cities. My budget is moderate but not miserly. Any thoughts?

My husband and I will be traveling to San Sebastian early April to meet up with our son (who is studying there). We have never been to Europe and would like to see as much as possible (without making ourselves nuts). What would be reasonable since will be there about 12 days?

Hello,

We are planning to go to Vitoria with X mas. Do you have any tips and can somebody tell us if there are any restaurants open?

Tanks, Nienke

can anyone help...........i want to call my daughter Naia and am told it means "wanted or desired" in basque.........does anyone know this name or if the meaning is correct?
thanks very much!

I'm trying to find a restaurant I went to last year in San Sebastian. It was out near the university, near to a Citroen garage. In an Industrial area. It was run by a husband & wife. The husband was the chef and the wife worked front of house. The chef had worked at Arzak.

It was very good and I would like to go back.

If anyone can work out which restaurant I mean please contact me.

Regards

Martin

Hi guys I was just wondering if anyone has done the drive from San sebastian by car and if they could give me any advise like how long it takes and routes to take. Any tips would be great thanks guys

Hi my name is Owen from Australia and I will be in San Sebastian with my girl friend from the 4th of October and we plan to travel to Barcelona after a week or so.

We would like to know if there is a train that travels there which passes through Zaragoza as we would like to stop there for a night or two

I am planning a vacation with my wife,taking the ferry from Plymouth to Santander, a bus or train almost immediately to Bilbao then after two days or so in Bilbao on to France and an interruped train journey to Paris. I would like to know if anybody has had experiences with the Plymouth - Santander ferry and sugestions as to how best enjoy Bilbao in terms of food, music, historical appreciation etc.

Hello,

I have got flight from Bilbao airport but I would like to avoid paying for parking space near the airport. That is why I am looking for a free parking space (maybe near the beach or anywhere, where I could leave my car for a one week. I do not the city so if you give me any addresses, names of the streets where I could leave the car without fees etc)
Also if is it possible and can you give me some tips how to get the airport after living a car I will be grateful
I will be grateful for any advices