Please advise a good home base in the Basque region. We will be in the area for about five days next May. Also, advise on good lodging would be most apprecited. We prefer small properties, B&B's, historic buildings, etc., to large hotels.

Hotel Pyrennes in St. Jean Pied du Port. Have fun !

I will be going for the first time to San Sebastian and Hondarribia so I'm no expert but I really like the agroutourist farmhomes ( Iketxe in Hondarribia and Maddiola in San Sebastian were the ones I liked) but if you can afford them, the paradors sound like ideal historical properties. see maribelsguides.com if you haven't looked already...

Bob, perfect recommendation! Thank you so much!!

Les Pyrénées in St. Jean Pied-de-Port is undoubtedly the best hotel in the village and a member of the Relais & Chateaux. It also has one of the best restaurants in the area, but there are a few other notables in the Pays Basque to consider.

(http://www.hotel-les-pyrenees.com/)

One is La Table des Freres Ibarboure in Guéthary, a little closer to Biarritz. The rooms are large and the cuisine offered by Philippe and Martin Ibarboure isn't too bad either.

(http://www.freresibarboure.com/)

There are also a few nice B&B's in Biarritz if you want to spend a little more time in and around the beach. Maribel’s Guides covers accommodations in both the País Vasco and Pays Basque quite well, and you may find it useful in planning your trip.

We loved our stay in the beautiful village of Ainoha. The hotel has a wonderful restaurant.
"The Ithurria."

http://www.ithurria.com/

try www.nekatur.net, rural accomodation with a high level of confort (they have almost the same facilities of a hotel), in beautiful old basque traditional houses (most of them), for about 50 to 80 euros per room, depending on the category. I love the quietness and relax of these places.

In France, try www.logis-de-france.com.

And the base depends on your means of transport and itinerary. Can you please provide more info about your plans?

We plan to fly into Madrid, spend three full days, rent a car and spend about 12 days in the Basque region. We would like to visit Bilboa, the wine region and spend some time on the coast. We will then drive to Barcelona, spend a couple of nights in a village on the coast nearby and about four nights in Barcelona. We are in the early stages of planning our trip so your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.