We're starting plans for a Spain/France trip for next year. We will fly into Barcelona, spend a couple of days, and then would like to rent a car to spend about 4 days in the Rioja and Basque areas. Knowing that the cost to return the car in France would be high, we'd like to return the car somewhere near the border, perhaps St Jean-de-Luz???? Then pick up a train to Bordeaux. What would be the best location?
Thanks for your advice, in advance.

St. Jean de Luz is in France. Assuming that you cannot return the car in Irun, return the car in San Sebastian, take the local train to Hendaye and from Hendaye the train to Bordeaux.

duhhh! thanks, I'm looking at a Michelin map, and the border is not obvious.

The Basque country (Pays Basque and País Vasco) straddles both sides of the border. If you're renting from Europcar (AutoEurope), you can drop the car off at the Amara train station in Donostia-San Sebastian and take the Euskotren from there to Hendaye, where you can catch the train to Bordeaux. The trip takes about 40 minutes. The price should be about €2,20/one-way.

http://www.metrodonostialdea.com/pub.../ctrl_home.php

Or drippmin Hondaribbia eight across the river from Hendaye, France.

And what, take a taxi or the bus from the Hondarribia airport to Irun or Hendaye to catch the train. Doesn't make much sense.