Need Base for week in Basque Spain
 

Maribel -- your website is wonderful! It has led me to wonder if it might be most economical to base ourselves somewhere that we might be able to daytrip to San Sebastian, Bilbao, Vitoria and possibly even into the Aragon? We would love to find a small house or just a place with kitchen priviledges so we can have the option of our own cooking a couple of times during the week.

Should we try for a week in Rioja, and then another week in or near Barcelona? Has anyone got suggestions? (We will have a car.)

Hi LadyOLeisure,
Glad you like it! Now, I need to finish my guide on Navarra, Catalunya and Extremadura, but I lack time!!

If you want a base that will allow you to hit S.S., Bilbao and Vitoria, that's no problem, but to journey into Aragón from that very same base wouldn't be so easy, unless you chose something in Navarra.

We've based ourselves in Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa province of the Basque Country many times, and we've rented a farmhouse for 2 weeks there this July.
We've chosen Hondarribia so that we can also explore the Basque Country on the French side, which is quite beautiful, very pastoral.

We've also based on the west side of S.S. in Zumai and closer to Bilbao (Vizcaya province) in the Urdaibai Nature Reserve and been able to hit all 3 of these cities.

When choosing a rental farmhouse for our stays in the Basque Country, we always go to
www.nekatur.net
These "rural homes" are carefully inspected, they have modern baths, some do rent as a whole house, others simply as a B&B, but some B&B type rentals do give guests kitchen privileges. And they are extremely reasonably priced.
We've chosen the Artizarra for our 2 weeks.
www.nekatur.net/catalogo.asp?idal=283

There are also some lovely rural homes in the Pyrenees of Navarra as well, that would bring you closer to Aragón. We have several friends staying in the ones outside of Pamplona during the San Fermín festival. Some are really quite beautiful, such as the Palacio de Orísoain and El Pajar.
See them here:
www.casasruralesnavarra.com
also www.casasruralesdenavarra.com

Also check to see if any house that you find above has been reviewed on www.toprural.com This is also a great source for whole house rentals. I have a Fodors friend who found her 1 week vacation rental near Banyoles, Catalunya (1 1/2 hrs. from Barcelona) through TopRural.

But these homes do book very, very quickly for the summer season. (I don't know when you plan to travel.)

So, I would decide on my two bases, then look at the above rural home sites to find the perfect place for your budget.

LadyOLeisure,
On www.nekatur.net
the icon designating kitchen privileges is the man next to large kettle. I see that the "Txenduneabe Azpi" (opened in '03)in Hondarribia has an apt. (2 doubles, 1 single, 2 baths) with kitchen for exclusive use of guests.
Same with the "Urresti" in the Urdaibai. www.toprural.com/urresti

Thanks so much! I am thinking we might ideally want to do 3-4 nights in Basque country, 2 (?) in Aragon (haven't started researching that area, it may grow!) and probably 3 nights to a week for Barcelona. By that time we may want to stay in the city, so I've asked Totally Spain for some suggestions.

We'll be there from 20 September for probably 10 days to 2 weeks.

I love the nekatur.net website. (BTW, it seems to work fine from my Mac, but that may be due to updated Mac software!)

Hi LadyOLeisure,
It now works fine from my new Mac too.
We trust Totally Spain to do our own bookings at the "casas rurales", Basque rural homes. They can do your other city and countryside bookings as well.

With that much ground to cover, I would urge you stay for two weeks, if at all possible. There is truly gorgeous scenery (and many fascinating sites) to behold in the Pyrenees of Catalunya, Aragón, Navarra and the Basque Country!

Hola Maribel,

Lovely home you have rented! You can even play Jai alai!

I would love to do something like that rather than moving from hotel to hotel! If only I had the gumption to rent a car but I have a mental "block" to driving in Europe.

Hola cruiseluv,
Now we'll just need to get some pelotaris to teach us! We'll probably use the court for something else!

I'll let you know how we like the place. It will be our first time at this property, although we sent friends there last summer.

I understand your reluctance about the driving, particularly in the mountains. I'm lucky I can depend on a fearless and very skilled driver. Alone, I'd just take the bus.

We love the freedom of driving in Europe. So much so that we even "risked it" at the end of our trip to South Africa in 2004 (where they drive on the "wrong" side of the road). It was at the end of the trip and we did adjust. (Although I felt as apprehensive as I had when teaching our kids to drive...you just have to get through those anxious moments.)

The advantage of being able to go on your own time-table is SO worth it.

Hi Ladyof Leisure,

Interesting that you mention SA as I have been there twice (many years ago). Both times I drove there,one time from Capetown to Stellenbosch. If you did that drive you know it is very picturesque but a little scary! I have also driven in Australia.
I think it has to do with being older. Years ago I didn't use to be concerned about driving in strange places, but now I am!

And you're absolutely right, it does give you a lot of flexibility.