desertchick

We are going to be in San Sebastian in a few weeks with our almost 14 and 12 year olds. We thought it might be fun to drive over the border into France for a day with a rental car. My question is: apart from saying we are NOW IN FRANCE, would this be especially different or fun for the kids or more of the same that we left? Driving distances may be farther than I think and is the appeal just smaller towns to explore? Also, should we be concerned with renting a car and heading over the border, is this a bother? Thanks!

kimhe

A quick and easy drive from San Sebastián into France. I've even walked from San Sebastián to France in five hours. San Sebastián is my favourite city on the planet, but I also very much like the French Basque Country. Saint Jean de Luz and Biarritz are especially wonderful coastal towns to visit, and the atmosphere would be quite different from San Sebastián, not least because these are so much smaller towns.

No problem going back and forth over the border with a rented car, just make sure you pick it up and leave it in the same country, otherwise huge extras.

Rastaguytoday

Make sure you have some change for the tolls to cross countries.

HappyTrvlr

Visit the small French Basque villages in the foothills above St-Jean de Luz. The only way we knew we were in France was by the change in license plats from E to F.

HappyTrvlr

You can also drive to the small city of Hondarribia( worth a visit too)and take a tiny ferry boat across the river to France.

Robert2533

There is far more than" the change in license plates from E to F". The Pays Basque is very pastoral and the villages colorful, much more so than in the País Vasco. The food is different, as are the dining times, so be aware.

desertchick

Thank you for your replies. I am now wondering if there is a town more inland that is worth a visit, or how far up the coast it is suggested we go that might be interesting? Or should we stick to the suggestions above? I ask only because the more I read, the more I read "high tourist season" and those quaint towns may be tough to wander about the end of July?

HappyTrvlr

French villages inland are Ainhoa, Ascain, Sare, Espellete..... We will return. We loved this area.

chapla

I don't think Saint Jean de Luz or Biarritz are worth a special drive to just be in France!Crowded,crowded, and parking is just about impossible!
By the way license plate in the EU countries are nowadays all the same!
There is so much to do in SS-take the little train from one end to the other or the on/off bus.The bus will climb to the top of the mountain and there is an amusement park at the very top!You can also get off at the bottom and go out to the sculpture by Chillida the Comb and then take a funicular to the top of that same mountain. At the other end there is another mountain with Chillida sculpture. You can walk around that mountain and even walk up to the top passing a British cemetery.
You can also drive or take a lovely bus ride to Hondarribia-lovely fishing town with ahistoic center up a hill.I've tried to stay at that Parador-no luck,it's so small but they will let you peek inside!A fun trip to take is the ferry ride from Hondarribia to Hendaye,France.Walk around and then head back to SS on the ferry!

Robert2533

Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz are both worth a day-trip from Donostia. I've never found them too crowded to find a parking place or to have lunch. You simply have to plan ahead. Market day is one of the best times to visit both.

As far as visiting the interior villages, you can check out Maribel's Guide to the Pays Basque (http://maribelsguides.com/mg_pays_basque.pdf).