Justretired

You will like the skin of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, but will probably be disappointed with the collection.

Although no one can assure your safety, you should not be concerned with the ETA.

Regarding where to stay, I would very much recommend you to stay in San Sebastián itself. If yoy are a light sleeper you should definitely stay out of the old town/Parte vieja and the music bar area just behind the Cathedral.

Most of the apartments on offer from friendlyrentals would be just fine. My wife and I have very much enjoyed staying in the quiet residential Ondarreta area, 20 mins walking along the La Concha promenade to the city center and the Parte vieja.

These should all be excellent for four persons:
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ment-169-5.htm
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ment-508-5.htm
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-3231-5.htm
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-3073-5.htm
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...ent-2998-5.htm

OK- our friends are interested in San Sabastian (I'm thrilled) and we're in the process of figuring out dates and transportation. We will be renting for 2 weeks in early Septemebr. My husband and I plan on using some estra time on either side of the rental, so the whole trip will be about 2 1/2 weeks.

We are coming from Boston and can get a plane on Iberia non-stop to Madrid pretty cheaply. We can then stay a few days in Madrid, which we like and have visited before. Or, we can go to Barcelona (never been there and would love to go). The question then becomes of how to get north from either place- I gather that there are trains, we could fly to Bilbao, or drive. Another totally different idea is to get to either Biarritz or Toulouse through Paris and get to San Sabastian from there, again by plane, train, or car. So, what would you recommend? It's tough when you don't know the geography.

The other question is about rentals in the city itself. I like the idea of staying in the quiet residential neighborhood- Ondarreta sounds perfect. What should we expect to pay weekly for a 2 bedroom? Our friends are not interested or perhaps not able to spend huge weekly rental fees. We've never traveled with another couple before, so that is something new as well. Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks in advance, as usual,

Margie

There are direct flights from Barcelona to San Sebastian which are expensive but Vueling and Spanair fly from Barcelona to Bilbao and then it is a little more than an hour bus ride to San Sebastian.

Direct bus and train to San Sebastián from both Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps better fly to Bilbao in little more than one hour from both cities + bus 1h 15min. Cheap flights with Vueling and Spanair. Vueling also flies directly from London/Heathrow to Bilbao for about 80€.
http://www.vueling.com/booking/booki...ciona-tu-vuelo

The Ondarreta apartment would be 1770€/week for four persons in the beginning of September:
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...#an_calculator

The Verri apartment would be 1315€/week for four persons in the beginning of September:
http://www.friendlyrentals.com/en/ap...#an_calculator

Hotel Chomín, 50 mtrs from Ondaretta beach, double room 630€/week. Have stayed there many times and like it very much although it's relatively basic. Brilliant restaurant on the ground floor.
http://www.booking.com/hotels/hotel/...r_month=2010-9

Txita Txirrindak offers a funny and ecological way of moving through San Sebastian thanks to the taxi-bike service. The offer is adapted to each client’s needs and also includes a series of options and routes for those who want to know the city in a different and silent way. The main stops are located near the Town Hall and at the Kursaal, although there are also available personalised pick-ups for clients.
http://data.paseosvirtuales.com/uplo...1-980-16_h.jpg

Has anyone mentioned San Sebastian? My favorite summertime city in the world. No worries about ETA violence. If you are worried don't walk near the Guardia Civil buildings (what we call police stations). It may be easier to get there from Madrid. We have taken the train from Barcelona, a pleasant 5 hr. trip for $85 and we have flown BCN to Bilbao a 45 min. flight for $35 and an $18 bus ride to SS. You will have an amazing time in SS. The Basque country is expensive.

All about going for pintxos/basque tapas in San Sebastián. http://www.todopintxos.com/home/home.php?lang=en

These are among my favourites in the Parte vieja/Old town: La Cepa (traditional; fantastic ham and grilled green peppers), Cuchara de San Telmo (gourmet), Astelehena (traditional and innovative in the corner of the main square, Plaza de la Constitución), Goiz Argi (perhaps the best grilled shrimp skewers in town), Txepetxa (anchovies from heaven). Next door Zeruko is also said to be outstanding.

Many of the best places are in the Gros area on the other side of the river: Patio de Ramuntxo, Bar Bergara (Patxi Bergara started the Basque food revolution back in the early eighties together with Juan Mari Arzak of three star Restaurante Arzak) and Aloña Berri are all fabolous.

I always come back to Restaurante Urola:
http://www.restauranteurola.com/english/index.html

hello again,

OK- I just spoke with our friends in England. They are hoping to spend around $800/week, and we will be there about 12 days. It looks like that will be difficult to do in San Sebastian itself- at least accordomg to the few sites you have all so kindly suggested. Since my husband speaks Spanish, he will check on some Spanish sites. In the past, we have found that this can result in cheaper rentals and accomodations. I truly hope we can find somehing- I love the ideas of San Sebastian, so any suugestions are appreciated.

I did think that perhaps we should look for something in a neighboring village- or perhaps in the countryside nearby. I have looked at a map and am trying to understand the region from books and on-line, but I certainly can use some help in suugestions for these vilaages. We certainly want to be near enough to San Sebastian to eat the fabulous cuisine.

Thanks, Fodorites for your continued interest and help.

-M

I found these at cheaper prices. Any thoughts? Good locations?

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/80152.htm

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/63452.htm

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/69355.htm

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/26665.htm

All these would be great!

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/80152.htm
Two blocks away from the Zurriola beach on the other side of the river in the Gros district, five minutes walk to the Old town and city center. Some of the city's most popular pintxos/tapas bars on your doorstep (Patio de Ramuntxo, Bodega Donostiarra and Garbola). You should just check if there will be held any concerts on the beach during your stay, or if there will take place any other noisy events. The Zurriola beach is popular for different kinds of sports events etc.

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/63452.htm
This is just by the nice Plaza Easo, close to the center of town and 10-15 mins walk to La Concha beach and the Old town/Parte vieja.

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/69355.htm
This is also in the Gros district, but on the far end of the Zurriola beach. Would be a 10-15 mins walk into the center and Old town. Here also, check if there will be held any noisy events on the beach during your stay.

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/26665.htm
This is ideally located on Calle San Martín in the city center, just by the La Concha beach and five minutes from the Parte vieja/Old town. Could be some traffic noise in the morning.

have you tried www.nekatur.net?

Kimhe, you are a jewel. I sent your response to our friends. Quick question. On the last apartment (26665), do you think that there would be evening noise as well. I am a light sleeper, but tend to get up early, particualrly on vacation.

Mikelg, thanks for hte link. I'll check it out.

We have had good like with niumba.com.

http://www.niumba.com/

http://www.niumba.com/apartamento-gu...an-186664.html

http://www.niumba.com/index.php/?cod..._alojamiento=2

Sorry- I meant to write " We have had good luck with niumba.com"

Mary

I have to interject! San Sebastian is VERY noisy! I would suggest lovely quiet little Hondarribia.Just a short bus ride to San Sebastian or the French border.It's a beautiful fishing pueblo with a great but small historic center-a unique parador up on the hill overlooking the sea!

Regarding apartment (26665), I don't think you will have any problem with evening noise. It's way out of the bar/restaurant area in the center and some 400 mtrs from the Old town.

Not much traffic in Calle San Martín out of work hours, besides my guess is that the bedrooms would be interior.

I mentioned the regatta in an earlier posting, but I think you should read this one about the "Euskal Jaiak" festival in San Sebastián. Revulgo posted this on another thread:

"Sagardo Eguna, or cider day --free samples of cider are given in the plaza-- will be celebrated on the first Saturday of September marking the start of a week dedicated to Basque culture known as Euskal Jaiak. Throughout the week there will be various activities organized to showcase the traditions this ancient civilization. There will be local sport exhibitions such as the row boat races, stone lifting and tree trunk cutting. Open air concerts featuring Basque music, traditional dance troupes, local craftsmen demonstrating their time tested techniques and the famous "bersolaris" (oral poets who improvise) are all part of the week long festivities".
http://www.donostia.org/info/sanseba...=Fiestas&doc=D

Thanks, Kimhe and all. I've added that along with all the other information to my word file.

I passed along all the suggestions for apartments in San Sebastian to our British friends since they seeemd to have more requirements than we did. They chose:

http://www.rentalia.com/houses/file.php/ref/69355.htm

It looks quite nice. It has been difficult to send the owners a deposit. They don't take credit cards (we expected that), and we decided to not send a check from our French bank account. This was because of the volcano-caused flight delays and because it would be costly to the owner of the apartment to deposit the French check, even though it would be in euros. In the end, our British friends sent a money order. We'll see how that works.

We're excited about the trip, but we've been dealing with the aftermath of 3 weeks of flooding in our basement. This has has lead us to arrange for waterproofing of the entire area. We've been emptying the basement to do this and this has been an enormous job. In all this, we've lost track a bit on our trip planning.

Thanks for your help. I'll be writing to ask some follow up questions when things settle down a bit.

-Margret