Trying to plan a further 11 nights after our 2 week boating trip in France. We finish off near Toulouse in the latter half of September. I think after 2 weeks of being on a boat we will be ready for something a little busier.

The firsti idea is to drive to San Sebastián with stops around Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz. We have been to San Seb before and enjoyed it, but never had a chance to explore the small towns along the coast.

From there we we could train to Barcelona and stay for 4 nights before flying to London to return home.

Or or we could fly Toulouse to Lisbon and spend our time in Portugal.

A few things are confusing my decision. First we have been looking for an opportunity to return to San Sebastián, but the rental car logistics are driving me crazy. I’d like to have a car to drive to towns along the Basque coast, but to take a car from France to Spain, well, you know.

it would be easier to fly direct to Lisbon, but I’ve read here it’s becoming very busy with tourism, and so is September end going to still be crowded?

And the other consideration is weather in San Seb could be wonderful like our first visit, or it could not be...

Any perspectives from Fodorites? I would really appreciate it.

For historic climate data, you can check timeanddate.com, wunderground.com, or a good guidebook.

IMO, 4 nights is very little for Barcelona and surrounds. San Sebastian and the Basque coast have excellent bus options, so no need to have a car there unless you really want one. And if you did, you wouldn't have to drive from France -- you could rent a car once you get to Spain.

High season corresponds with school vacations, so I would think the number of tourists would drop off by late September.

No problem taking French car rental to Spain - real problem is if not returning car in France you could have steep drop-off charges for doing so. That said all those coastal towns you mention in France have great train service and no need for a car - trains run right along the coast.

And from Hendaye, French border station you have the Tren Eskro (sp?) a little commuter train that runs from the French Hendaye train station right to downtown Donostia - as Basque locals prefer their town to be called - going right thru a string of Basque villages - sometimes running right down their main streets - a joy to take IMO and cheap. The mainline route to Donostia from Hendaye has much less frequent trains and costs more and serves a station in Donostia farther from town center.

It's a long train ride S.B. to Barcelona - book for discounted tickets at Renfe - Spanish Railways. There is a night train too - though you first go to nearby Burgos to pick it up. Quicker to fly to Lisbon or Barcelona if not into overnight trains (which are the ultimate daytime travel time saver.

For lots on trains check www.oui.sncf (French Railways) -www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

We were in San Sebastian and surounds for a week at the end of last September and the weather was mostly glorious, plenty of people still on the beach and out sailing and parasurfing. The parks were still overflowing with flowers. We used the very efficient and inexpensive buses to get around while there, and to return home to the Dordogne we took the train to Hendaye and then Jean-de-Luz and then Agen (we could have added stops in Biarritz and Bayonne and Dax and headed home through Bordeaux as well).

We also just last week came home from a 10-day trip to the Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrenées (Narbonne, Perpignan, Amélie-les-Bains, Collioure, and Toulouse), all by train and bus. All very easy and inexpensive.

So you have a wealth of territory to discover between Toulouse and whichever part(s) of Spain you want to visit or re-visit, and lots of transportation options. But I do agree that 4 days in Barcelona would probably be the minimum I'd want.

We haven't yet made it to Portugal

There is an overnight train Hendaye/San Sebastian to Lisbon - if doing S S and Portugal could work well. www.oui.sncf

Thanks everyone. After researching a bit more and trying to lay out a timeline, we decided to leave Portugal until we have a full 2 weeks. Also, I will abandon the plan to go to Barcelona because I don’t want to spend so much time travelling. Barcelona is surprisingly far from San Seb.

So now we should have 7 to 8 days in and around San Sebastián. We’ve been to Bilbao but wouldn’t mind going back for pinxos? Sp? Can anyone make recommendations of good day trips in San Sebastián area? Getaria is already on the list...

Sounds like a good choice!

If you haven't already seen it, you might get some ideas from my trip report -- it's long, but searchable:
Four Awesome Weeks in the North of Spain and Catalunya

Kja I have read your excellent and inspiring report before, but will have another read, thanks for the link.

Again good day trips could be to France via car or train and St Jean de Luz and Biarrritz or even better stay there for a few days.

Burgos is a nice old town not far away.

Thanks for your kind words about my trip report! Let me know if you have any questions I can answer.

If you want to drive from Toulouse to San Sebastian but avoid the multi-country rental surcharge, you could drive SB to Biarritz (one hour), drop the car and fly to London from there on Ryanair.

Thanks for the tip Jean. I’ve looked at flights out of Biarritz and the only direct flights go to Stanstedt. We are flying out of LHR so I’d prefer to take BA from Bilbao to LHR, drop our cases at a hotel and make the most of a day and a half in London.

That has worked for us before in London.

So I’m thinking we could bypass Biarritz etc and drive straight to San Sebastián. Then we could take a day trip to Biarritz after we’re finished exploring on the Spanish side, and drop the car on the France side and take the train back to San Sebastián. Does this make sense?

Yes!