Hondarribia: Hotel Obispo or Iketze?
 

Can I get your opinion on accomodations in Hondarribia? There's the very cute agrotourist house Iketxe, for only 47 E that Maribel recommends but I'd also be happy to pay 119 E for the Hotel Obispo if the hotel has much more character and/or other qualities that I don't know about.

We have a very short time on the coast, only one night (2 days), we're driving up from Pamplona. Looking for something that feels unique and charming -- I'm even considering the Parador but the cheaper rooms with a square view($180) don't seem to warrant the price -- or are all the rooms just so great that there's no way we'd be disappointed? It's my boyfriend's birthday that week so I want it to feel like a unique experience, which is what initially drew me to to rural houses. Robert, I think you've stayed at both of the hotels... What do you think?

http://www.nekatur.net/catalogo.asp?idal=88#ficha

Patxi's house, Iketxe, is very popular and may not be available, depending on the date. There are a few other houses in Hondarribia that you may want to check out if Iketxe isn't available; Artizarra (we've booked all three rooms for the second half of July), Postigu is close by, as is Maidanea (haven't stayed here but have driven by several times). Arotzenea is where we first stayed in Hondarribia. It's a nice, comfortable house and the owners are great.

The Obispo is a comfortable hotel within the walls of the old city, just down the street from the Parador, which is now one of the most expensive in the system.

Thanks for responding Robert. I was able to reserve a room with Fatima at Iketze for the one night I need, but I was also looking into these other hotels (they have vacancies) and also the agroturist house called Maddiola in San Sebastion. Are you familiar with this property -- it's up on the cliff overlooking the water, it looks great on-line. When I called, the girl who answered said they were all booked but we were having communication problems.

Do you think we'd have a nicer experience in the hotels vs. Fatima's place? I think the surrounding area looks nice but I'm just going on what I can see in the picture. I tried to initially book a different property where there were large herds of sheep roaming around but they seem to be booked --I love the idea of actually being on a working farm.. Will Iketze make my boyfriend "feel like" he's in Spain? (I'm sorry for these lame questions...)

Patxi and Fatima are Basque, so he will feel very much like he's in northern Spain, the Basque country, which is a little different than the rest of Spain.

The house is about 2 kms from Hondarribia itself. It sits inside a green area along with several other country homes and Agroturismo houses below the Jaizkibe Mountain. You can walk into town down one of two roads, or drive in and park near the harbor or on the street, if you can find a parking place.

You can see the satellite image on the following page. The house sits above a collection of greenhouses west of the airport and southwest of the old city. You will see from another picture on this web site that there are sheep on top of Jaizkibe.

http://www.hondarribia.com/caste.htm

I'm not familiar with Maddiola. Haven't had the time to check it our as yet. Maybe this summer.

Thanks so much Robert. I'll stay with Iketze -- sounds like what we're looking for. I also like the satellite photos -- gives me a better sense of scale/distance.

For future reference, here's the link to the agrotourist home in San Sebastian -- Maddiola.

http://www.nekatur.net/catalogo.asp?idal=275#ficha

You'll like staying there. Tell Patxi and Fatima that their American friends from Pamplona said Kaixo, which is Basque for hello. We will drop by to say hello ourselves after the fiesta this summer.

Robert:

I have been following your tips. We are going to N. Spain in June. Visiting cousins in Lleida then to Pamplona to see the rest of the family. My grandparents were Basque and came from small towns N. of Pamplona(Loitzu & Linzoain?) May need to pick your brain later.

MY