TheBevitts

We will be visiting San Sebastian for 4 nights early june and will have a 7 month old baby with us and a family sedan car. Our primary plan is to enjoy san Sebastian in a slow pace but also likely spend a day or 2 driving around other areas like Bilbao etc. We would love people opinions on if we are better to stay near (walking distance) of the old town with a hotel that can arrange parking (we currently have a free cancellation booking on Hostal Alemana with a 20 euro per day parking charge in an apparently difficult to negotiate garage and with no place to unload car infront of hotel- but the hotel otherwise has great reviews) OR if we should base ourselves just outside the town (like maybe Hotel Leku Eder) that has free parking more spacious rooms good views but requires a bus or driving into san Sebastian to visit. With a 7 month old baby- im not sure what would be more convenient? I know staying outside a town can be a plus or a minus at times.

thank you in advance. Any other hotel recommendations from people that had cars will be appreciated.

Robert2533

If you want to enjoy the city, then, by all means, stay in town. As long as you have a place to park the car, you can easily take a drive along the coast, or drive over to Bilbao for the day. It's a little over an hours drive.

You'll also want to consider visiting Hondarribia, 20 minutes by bus from San Sebastián-Donostia (http://tinyurl.com/phl4aej).

Michael

I did not find San Sebastian that interesting as a town. The old town is relatively small and not that old, as it was burned down during the Napoleonic wars, if I remember my reading correctly. But the food was fantastic. I would stay out of town and plan for a one day visit.

chapla

I am not a fan of Hostal Alemana,IMO overrated! -loads of stairs! Not great when you have luggage and then a baby!
I have stayed in so many different places in SS that I don't know which one to recommend to you except do make sure there's an elevator.
I'm pretty sure you can do better than this hostal.
I suggest you go to booking.com and consider an apartment

sandralist

I don't think you can really appreciate the food unless you stay in town -- or unless you don't drink at all Much of the excitement of the food takes place in the early-ish evening, between 7-10, when everybody comes out to stroll and eat. I suppose you could join them and then drive back to wherever you are staying. But you will still need to pay for parking whenever you are in town.

If you also plan to enjoy the beaches, it is much easier if you stay in town. There is a limit to how much time an infant can spend on a sunny beach. But you and your partner can take turns having swims while the baby is napping or playing inside or in the shade. And with a place in town you won't be toting large of amounts of baby stuff to the car, to the parking lot, to the beach....

I think what I would do is find the cheapest (+ safe) parking available, and then on the few days you will want to go gallivanting, take a taxi to the car. For the return, the driver can drop off baby + parent, and then go park the car.

But quite frankly, I doubt you will want to leave San Sebastian. Bilbao is interesting up to a point (I happen to think the museum is ... well, I don't think it is the end of the world if you miss it). Might be nice to take a drive along the beautiful coast. But honestly, with a 7-month-old, having 4 days in a beautiful beach town with fabulous food to nibble, where you can either stroll or snooze or swim -- just spontaneously whatever you feel like doing, no stress, you might not want to go sightseeing. Have a vacation.

mikelg

Well, you have to take into account that rainy days are very normal in the Basque Country and you may not be able to use the beach everyday. Also, it´s not the typical beach town, I mean, it´s a town with three beaches but not a summer resort.

Bilbao is much worth a visit...the city is beautiful and its Old Town does deserve a visit...the Guggenheim is just a small part of what to see there.

When in SS, I love to stay at Hotel Nicol´s in Igeldo, www.hotelnicols.com, not too far from town, well communicated by bus, and nice prices.

kimhe

I would highly recommend to stay in wonderful Belle Epoque San Sebastian itself, and Hostal Alemana is in a very good location. 50 meters from the beautiful La Concha Beach promenade (an early evening stroll along this promenade is a local favourite) and 5 minutes walk to the Parte vieja/Old town.

My mother and her husband stayed in Alemana some years ago while visiting me, and they were very happy. A couple of stairs, ok, but no problem for people in their early 70's, so I think you should be fine

And you have excellent breakfast place Bar Ostarte next door to Alemana - on the corner of C/San Martín and C/Marina. They specializes in breakfast pintxos: http://www.foodspotting.com/places/7...-san-sebastian

You are also very close to San Marcial/Aluztiza, an institution in town and outside the most beaten tourist track: http://www.todopintxos.com/bares/bar...9&do=vista_bar

chapla

kimhe-it's NOT a couple of stairs-be careful!

kimhe

chapla,

been there several times, and when it's not a problem for normal healthy people in their 70's, I don't think this is an issue for a young couple with a baby...

chapla

It just depends what floor your room is on!

Egbert

I can't imagine staying outside of San Sebastian. Maybe after 40 or 50 visits or so. 4 nights is not enough time to discover out of the way places public transportation will not get you to.