Itinerary and hotel help-Barcelona and San Sebastian

I realized I have 2 other questions. How dressy are the nicer restaurants-such as Arzak? I plan to do a lot of eating out and am not sure what sort of clothes to bring.

Also what is the best way to get laundry done-will sending it out at hotels be very expensive?

Instead of heading south for a beach, head to west to Santander, not as crowded or nearby at Santallana Del Mar. That town even though Mar is in the name is not on the water but is interesting and you have Altamira.

STAYED AT THE HOTEL ROAYL ON THE MAIN WALKING STREET NICE CLEAN AND GREAT LOCATION

One of the nicest meals we had was at a little tapas place in Barcelona called Cal Pep. It's very tiny and usually crowded, but the food was wonderful and we had a great time sitting at the bar eating. Our concierge told us that usually there's a line out the door at night, so we went for lunch. Got there at 2:45pm, had to wait 15 minutes for a seat, and they close at 4pm. We had plenty of time.

Enjoy!

Cal Pep looks great-that might be my first Barcelona meal!

Be sure to print out the relevant guides from Maribel (a frequent poster here). They are free and available on her website http://maribelsguides.com/. I find her information and suggestions right on the money.

San Sebastián is excellent food, great beaches, beautiful landscape and a living culture that people take great pride in. Nevertheless, I thought you should be aware that the town is turned somewhat on its head between the 8. and 15. of August when the city's Semana Grande is celebrated. Should be great fun, but doesn't necessarily go well with relaxation.
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=182281

Hotel Niza is a good choice. The Basque Country is generally quite laid-back and casual, and so is top restaurants as Arzak. About dining, I would recommend that you also go bar-hopping for pintxos (Basque tapas). One of the world's most renowned chefs, Ferran Adriá at El Bulli in Girona, has suggested that San Sebastián is no less than the best place to eat in the world "in terms of the average quality of the food, in terms of what you can get at any place you happen to walk into.": http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/mar/13/foodanddrink.shopping2

I could strongly recommend these ones in the Parte vieja (Old town): Goiz-Argi (famous for their prawn-skewers), Txepetxa (anchovies in all varieties and an institution in the city), Cuchara de San Telmo (Gourmet pintxos), La Cepa (traditional) and Astelehena (a fabulous place just on the main square). In the Gros district across the river: Patio de Ramuntxo (regularly among the winners in the annual pintxo competition), Bar Bergara (Patxi Bergara started the "food revolution" back in the eighties together with people as Juan Marí Arzak), and Aloña Berri (all their pintxos are small works of art).

All about going for pintxos in San Sebastián, suggestions for routes, and more details on the places I mentioned above (and a lot of other excellent places) can be found here: http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

The best meal I have had in my life was in 1996 in one of the the small restaurants in the harbour in the nearby fishing village of Getaria. This should give you an idea:
http://www.thepauperedchef.com/2007/12/elkano-in-getar.html

Cal Pep in Barcelona is great!

I stayed in the Niza and while I enjoyed the atmosphere of the little bar downstairs, I thought the rest of the hotel was overrated (and, being tall, the beds were uncomfortable). Since they don't guarantee a sea view room, I think you might as well track down a less expensive but well-regarded place. Check out tripadvisor, etc.

My favorite beach town in the Costa Brava is Calella da Palafrugell, but I would think it's quite packed in August, and perhaps not big enough for you.

If not Niza in San Sebastián:
Hostal Chomín is a very nice place with an excellent restaurant on the ground floor. Located in a tranquil area just by the beautiful Ondarreta beach and a 15-20 minute stroll along the La Concha beach promenade to the city center and the Parte vieja/Old town.
http://www.booking.com/hotels/hotel/es/chomin.en.html?sid=c327ebb828a2135d8e870b8ee3f15ea3

These hostales are more central (close to Niza) and also good value:
http://www.hostalalemana.com/
http://www.hostalbahia.com/

Thanks for all of the help. I printed out Maribel's guides as well as they are great- especially for Barcelona restaurants and shopping.

My remaining questions are:
I have picked out casual restaurants, and have made plans to go to Moo and Espai Sucre in Barcelona. I want to do one Michelin starred splurge lunch in both BCN and SS. What would you pick? I am leaning toward Akelare but need some help choosing a place in Barcelona.
I won't have a car so it seems place like Extebarri are out.

I still can't decide where to go for my last 3 days. How is Sitges?
I have looked at Castella da Palafrugell and some of the surrounding towns and that looks really beautiful. Can I get there relatively easily on public transport? Can anyone recommend a nice place to stay?

I am sure you will have a lunch to remember in Akelare; just the views from Monte Igueldo...

Why not try cutting edge Comerç 24 in the Born district in Barcelona?
http://www.barcelonayellow.com/component/option,com_mtree/task,viewlink/link_id,1294/Itemid,26/
http://www.comerc24.com/english/index.html

Great information here - bookmarking for my trip in August! Enjoy your trip cakegal!

Hotels in Bilbao will have very good offers before the Semana Grande (the fiestas that take place this year from 17 to 25 August). BArceló NErvión, Jardines de Albia or Miró may be well prices and are excellently located.

While we were last in Barcelona (Jan. 2009) we had lunch at El Raco Can Fabes in St. Celoni (easy train ride--approx. 45 min) but either a fairly long walk or a cab ride to the restaurant. It has had 3 Michelin Stars in years past--not sure of current status--and it's a lovely, relaxing dining experience.

For sure have tapas one evening at Paco Meralgo in BCN. It's fun, it's good, and it's light and airy for a tapas place. Another great BCN tapas place is Tapac 24 just off Passeig de Gracia and owned by the folks of Comerc 24. If you try to go to Cal Pep and find a long line and decide against the wait, a nice place just around the corner from it is Bossborn. For 62 euros the tasting menu at Comerc 24 is very cutting edge and exciting--what BCN food scene is all about.

Enjoy your time in BCN and SSB. And enjoy your dining there as well. It is some of the best dining anywhere.

I am leaving in a week and still have the last days of my trip open. I will not be renting a car, so public transport is important.

My current itinerary:
I arrive in Barcelona, and will spend 5 nights there.
Then fly to Bilbao, and spend one night.
Bus to San Sebastian, 3 nights.
I have 3 remaining days to plan and will fly out from BCN early on the last day (so I need to spend my last night in BCN.)

Some options for my last days:
return to Barcelona and spend additional days there, maybe taking day trips
2 night Sitges/ 1 night BCN
2 night Santander/ 1 night BCN
2 nights Costa Brava town/ 1night BCN
spend 2 night in a charming wine/cava region town (??) possibly with a spa- this option sounds nice, but i won't have a car and am not sure which town would be interesting, accessible, and good for a solo traveler

I have information overload right now-Please help! I am open to any suggestions as well.

Recommended hotel in Bilbao: Conde Duque

http://www.bestwesternhotelcondeduque.com/eng/index.htm

You could round it up with this Frank Gehry (Guggenheim) designed wine and spa hotel near Vitoria/Gasteiz. Not far from San Sebastián:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1539

http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/travel/24transgehry.html
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-gehry4mar04