Take the bus! It will drop you off near the hotel. The train takes far too long.

You can have breakfast at the hotel, but there are several good café/bars near by where you can have a decent breakfast at very little cost.

<there are several good café/bars near by where you can have a decent breakfast at very little cost.>

In general I also recommend everybody to have breakfast in a local bar all around Spain, ten times more interesting and much more affordable than most hotel breakfasts. The smell of newspapers, coffee and fresh bakery, and the sounds in a typical busy Spanish breakfast place ... no better way to start the day.

Ok thank you both..will take the bus from SS to Bilbao.

Now looking for flights from Bilbao to Lisbon and it looks like TAP is the carrier with the direct flights….I am about ready to book for my date in November….any reason not to go this carrier????? (Vueling is much less $$$ but has connections in BCN; we are willing to pay more to go direct, I think…)

Once I get all this settled wil turn my attention to eating in Bilbao, and also in SS. Unfortunately it looks as if Akelarre is closed during second part of October. So what to substitute for that..Muagaritz?? I actually met Martin Berasategui in a bar (!!) in Barcelona and he was quite lovely but must read the reports of his main place in Pais Vasco..have been to his low priced place in SS a few years back….but still looking for one big-ticket restaurant near SS and was hoping for Akelarre but looks like now have to switch that idea out…wish I had my usual time to read and ponder!!

In Bilbao I have noted Extanobe and Vina del Ensanche……any and all opinions are most welcome and again, I apologize for my brevity here as I have some household matters to attend to so a bit stressed right now….

We've flown TAP on several occasions over the years without any problems. The discount carriers charge extra for just about everything.

When booking a Vueling flight, we do it through Iberia.

Following this thread and making note of all the good advice since Spain and Portugal will be our next trip.

Back to the original draft of your itinerary...I highly recommend that you also visit the villages of the Pays Basque; they are so charming. Shops sell tne Basque linens, towels.

Martin Berasategui in the beginning of this great little video about the food culture in San Sebastian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwmBAvqa_0U

Would definitely have gone for Arzak if you can get a table. Consistently up there among the ten-twenty best restaurants in the world for some 25 years. Laid-back and unique. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Country.html

Have had two sensational meals here (1996 and 2006), and it seems now to be as good as ever. http://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/Arzak

Thank you to all who responded here...partner does not seem likely to go on this planned trip but have just about convinced another friend to go with me so things are looking up..not yet booked Roa or Burgos but all else is done except for air from JFK-MAD and then from Bilbao to Lisbon and home...

That's good news, eck.

hope it all comes together for you.

Hi Ekscrunchy!

Related to breakfast not included at the Carlton in Bilbao, may be you prefer to have breakfast outside the hotel, but if you prefer to take it at the hotel, I remember they serve a good and expensive buffet, and a very simple continental type breakfast in a small bar, may be at the lobby level .

Good that you can arrange everything ! Enjoy your trip, we will enjoy your report!

I hope this trip goes forward for you. The itinerary sounds wonderful! We stayed at the Londres in San Sebastian and loved it. The sea views are truly stunning. I highly recommend Bar Nestor for the tortilla, tomato salad and steak. It was one of my favorite meals of our trip.

Hope you are off and away in Spain! Enjoy. Look forward to a TR!

Have you thought about eating at Azurmendi, near Bilbao? Truly, one of the best 3 Michelin star restaurants I´ve ever visited. And Etxanobe is also a very good option...Viña del Ensanche has recently opened as an extension of the bar nearby, good food, nice atmosphere. Not my kind of place, but you´ll love it.

Azurmedi was a highlight on my list. Unfortuately, this past summer brought a host of medical problems for partner and myself, the latest of which is a broken shoulder which happened a few weeks ago; funny as it sounds, the humerus (!!) broke after a fall as I climbed the steps to exit a swimming pool and the rotator had been torn for a few months!! So the entire trip is off now.

I will certainly hope to replicate the same trip next fall…..

I actually had tears in my eyes when I wrote to cancel various hotels this week. I am a sad camper right now but there is always the future and doctor says I am progressing very well and thank goodness do not need surgery!!!

Thanks to everyone who was so helpful and I will reopen this thread next year for certain….at least itinerary is all set!!

Eck - I'm so sorry about your latest mishap. that's rotten luck.

i hope that you make a full recovery soon and can get back to your travels.

I'll be thinking about you the next time I sit down at one of my favorite tables :)

So sorry to hear that, ekscrunchy! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a lots of great meals until then.

Speedy recovery!

So sorry to hear about this. I hope you recover quickly and that your recovery is not too painful. ( I broke my shoulder in Italy a year ago so know a little about broken shoulders.) I always love your TR's and appreciate your great recommendations. I will look forward to reading another one soon. Take care.

Oh dear. I am glad to read, however, that you are recovering well.