San Sebastian Guide/Driver?
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:11 AM
#1
San Sebastian Guide/Driver?
Hello, Has anyone used a private guide or driver for San Sebastian? I'm really more interested in one that would pick us up at Bilbao Airport and transfer to San Sebastian….then provide a half day tour…perhaps a pintxos tour. The alternative is for us to stay one night in Bilbao then take the bus the next morning, but I'd rather have that night in SS. We will be renting a car after SS, but I don't want one right away upon landing since we'd have to deal with parking costs and not needing it in SS. The companies that provide transfer service charge too much money…about $200 US for the transfer. Thank you for your recommendations.
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:38 AM
#2
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What were you expecting to pay for someone to meet you at the airport, drive you to San Sebastian-Donostia and take you a half-day guided city tour, including a pintxos tour?
The typical private transfer will cost you at least 140€ for up to three people with luggage. A private pintxos tour will be at least 95€/person, more on a weekend, and would include a tour of the old quarter, but not the city itself.
Having the guide provide the transportation, do the driving and take you on the pintxos tour, would be a little more, but not too much.
The typical private transfer will cost you at least 140€ for up to three people with luggage. A private pintxos tour will be at least 95€/person, more on a weekend, and would include a tour of the old quarter, but not the city itself.
Having the guide provide the transportation, do the driving and take you on the pintxos tour, would be a little more, but not too much.
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:41 AM
#3
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Have you contacted your hotel to see what suggestion they have?
And are you aware that the trip from the airport to SS is more than an hour and a half?
IMHO that trip and a half day private tour for $200 doesn't seem expensive.
And are you aware that the trip from the airport to SS is more than an hour and a half?
IMHO that trip and a half day private tour for $200 doesn't seem expensive.
Dec 20th, 2015, 09:27 AM
#4
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We faced this type of transportation issue on a trip in early October. We were heading to Biarritz to pick up a car at the airport, then we would use it for a week, and double back to San Sebastian with the car. (We were avoiding the $1000+ drop off fee since we were heading to Toulouse.) We stayed in Bilbao 2 nights and really liked the city. If you haven't visited the Guggenheim museum there, it is a must. We took the bus from the Bilbao downtown terminal to San Sebastian, then transferred to one to Biarritz airport, It's only a 45 minute trip to San Sebastian. The ticket was about 10 euros each for seniors. Then you can do a pintos tour in SS. (We didn't though.)
Dec 20th, 2015, 12:56 PM
#5
The $200 did not include a tour…that's just the transfer price which seems high to me. I understand that a tour would be an additional cost.
I think we may do the Bilbao bus option and then we can at least see the exterior of the Guggenheim. I'll check out Pintxos tour options later.
I think we may do the Bilbao bus option and then we can at least see the exterior of the Guggenheim. I'll check out Pintxos tour options later.
Dec 20th, 2015, 02:32 PM
#6
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I've never taken the bus out of Bilbao to San Sebastiàn so can't guarantee you will see the museum from the bus, others might know.
I question the need for a pintxos tour, there are great bars all over the old town, all easy walking, some good ones are also further afield across the river. Ask for local recs and do a search on this site for the member named kimhe for a wealth of info on restaurants and bars in S.S.
I question the need for a pintxos tour, there are great bars all over the old town, all easy walking, some good ones are also further afield across the river. Ask for local recs and do a search on this site for the member named kimhe for a wealth of info on restaurants and bars in S.S.
Dec 20th, 2015, 04:13 PM
#7
kimhe has already been a great source of information! I'm planning to stay at Hotel Miro across the street from the Guggenheim so we can walk around it from there. You're right, we can manage the pintxos experience without a guide.
Dec 20th, 2015, 07:08 PM
#8
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FWIW, I really enjoyed Bilbao, so you might give some thought to taking advantage a night in that fascinating city.
For a pintxos tour in San Sebastian / Donostia, I was pleased with San Sebastian Food's "Pintxo Hunting" tour:
http://www.sansebastianfood.com/en/f...pintxo-hunting
For a pintxos tour in San Sebastian / Donostia, I was pleased with San Sebastian Food's "Pintxo Hunting" tour:
http://www.sansebastianfood.com/en/f...pintxo-hunting
Dec 21st, 2015, 05:19 AM
#10
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You should hear with native bilbaino Mikel on this forum, he knows all there is to know about the Basque country. http://www.fodors.com/community/profile/mikelg/
Dec 21st, 2015, 06:11 AM
#11
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And the direct Pesa bus from Bilbao to San Sebastian runs every half hour and takes 70 mins. The direct bus from Bilbao airport to San Sebastian leaves every hour (a quarter to every hour), costs 16€ and takes 75 mins. http://www.pesa.net/pesa/en/horarios
