eliza17

Hello all,

My husband and I are traveling to Spain for the first time this June. Flying into Barcelona. 3 nights in Barcelona, then driving to San Sebastian. We want to spend 2 nights on the road through the Pyrenees so that we can take the most scenic route. Then 2 nights in San Sebastian. Finally, 1 night in Bilbao before flying out.

I have spent a lot of time reading through posts in this forum about driving itineraries in the Pyrenees. Many of you have provided such wonderful advice! Now I am hoping to receive some thoughts on our specific itinerary.

1 - Based on previous posts, we are very interested in visiting Salardu and staying at Hotel Mauberme. This will be our first stop. What is the most scenic route from Barcelona to Salardu? Via Michelin "Discovery Route" recommends: heading NW to Manresa, C-55 to Solsona, C-26 to C-14, C-14 to N-260, north on C-13 at Sort, then finally NW on C-28 to Salardu. 5hr55min driving time. Google Maps says 4hr30min for this same route??

2 - After reading replies on the following thread, we are interested in taking this route through the Atlantic Pyrenees and Baztan Valley: Jaca - Ochagavia - Espinal - Zubiri - Elizondo - Lesaka - San Sebastian-Donostia.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...with-route.cfm
I've read that this route, Jaca - San Sebastian is 5 hrs without stops. Jaca seems to be about 3 hrs from Salardu. So my question is...thinking about this route, where should our next overnight be inbetween Salardu and San Sebastian? Perhaps somewhere between Jaca and Ochagavia? (I have seen Anso and Isaba mentioned many times, although slightly off-route.)

3 - Is this driving route too ambitious for only 2 nights on the road? I also read the recommendation to drive from Salardu north to Pau, France, then west to San Sebastian. We are open to going through France, however I like the descriptions I've read of the Atlantic Pyrenees and Baztan Valley drive.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice!

kimhe

Isaba is not a bad idea. You would not want the boring direct route from Jaca to San Sebastian through Pamplona. So very Navarrean small village Isaba would be down in the valley on your way up in the Mountains again at Arrete and then on to St Jean Pied-de-Port before you go down to San Sebastian. Beautiful route, and not that many hours driving. I think we used some 3-4 hours from San Sebastian to Isaba with a stop for lunch. Isaba at night, with all the stars and the surrounding mountains was magical, at least down by the small river and with a good local cheese and a bottle or two.

eliza17

Thanks, kimhe! Sounds lovely. Do you have any personal recommendations for accommodations in Isaba?

eliza17

Nevermind, kimehe. I see that you answered that question on a thread that I printed out. You recommended Metsola. Let me know if you think of any other place.

Robert2533

You should check with the Hotel Mauberme to see if they have rooms available for your dates in June. With only 11 rooms it can be difficult at times, especially during biking season.

eliza17

Thanks Robert. I had the same worry, especially since I had submitted a reservation request on their website (2wks ago) and sent an e-mail (1wk ago) with no response. The owner finally got back to me this morning to let me know that they do have availability. Looks like a great little hotel. Thanks for recommending on a previous thread.

kimhe

Metsola gets great reviews, haven't steyed there myself, we slept in the car by the small Eska river back then ;-)
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...a_Navarra.html

eliza17

Potentially a silly question...Is Isaba a big enough town where we would have several restaurants to choose from?

Robert2533

The Venta de Juan Pito Restaurante is listed in the Repsol guide:
"Rustic mountain inn with matching cuisine at the highest point of the Puerto de Belagua mountain pass. Red beans, lamb ribs and lamb chops, Roncal cheese or curd. Set menu €11. Average price €25"

eliza17

Okay, so it seems as though Isaba is a good overnight spot in-between Salardu and San Sebastian. Please let me know if you have any recommendations for other towns to look at. Thanks again.

Robert2533

You've got my list of places in the Navarran Pyrenees. All are worth a stop. If you like chocolates, you may want to make a stop in Pamplona for a taste of Subiza chocolates (http://www.chocolatesubiza.com).

Robert2533

We stopped for lunch at Venta de Juan Pito Restaurante a couple of years ago while exploring the Iratti Forest. It's good and hardy Navarran cuisine.

eliza17

Thanks for the tips, Robert. Despite my absolute love of chocolate, I sadly do not think we will be able to squeeze in Pamplona. I just checked out Venta de Juan Pito's website. We will plan on trying to have a meal there - - looks great.

FYI...we ended up booking Hostal Onki Xin in Isaba for lodging. We were really impressed with Metsola (especially the attic apartments), however the rustic charm of Onki Xin won us over.

I am grateful that we are traveling at the end of June when the days will be long. There is so much that we want to see and only 8 days to do it in!

We've confirmed accommodations in Barcelona, Salardu, Isaba, and Bilbao. Now we need to tackle San Sebastian, which is proving to be tricky given our budget of around $140/night (hopefully less).

kimhe

Think you've found Your Isaba place in Onki Xin.

In San Sebastian, take a look at great value and basic hotel standard Hostal Alemena (private bath, AC, TV, safe, 24h desk etc). 50 meters from the beautiful La Concha Beach promenade and about as central as it gets. http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/host...ana.en-gb.html

eliza17

kimhe - Hostal Alemena's website shows no availability, but I will contact them directly to double-check. Thanks for the suggestion.

I've only just started to search the boards to educate myself on SS parking. Sounds like street parking is almost nonexistent. Kimhe - on a thread from a couple of years ago, you said that there used to be free parking out at the university in Avenida de Tolosa. Do you know if this is still the case?

Robert2533

The free parking existed last summer, but it was limited. The University area is busy. I would park as close to where you are staying as possible, and forget about "free parking".

kimhe

My wife and I have also often stayed in very charming Pension Chomin in the fashionable Ondarreta area, in a typical Basque house at the end of La Concha promenade, and 50 meters from the excellent Ondarreta beach: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/chom...=0&type=total&

From Chomin, it's a 25 minutes walk along the beautiful beach promenade into the center of town and the Parte vieja/Old town. Also buses all the time and taxi max 5€. We've liked it very much out here, and next door to the very local atmosphere and bustling Antiguo district. Should be easier to find parking here than in the very center, and you are also fairly close to the university.

eliza17

Thanks again, kimhe and Robert2533!!

eliza17

Any recommendations on a good town to stop for lunch on the drive from Barcelona to Salardu? We will leave Barcelona around 10am.