jft

My husband and I are planning to spend a few days in the San Sebastian area flying into San Sebastian from Barcelona on an Wednesday morning in June and then flying out of Bilbao to Canada early Saturday morning. I can't decide whether having a car for this short period would be beneficial.
We will be booking a hotel for 2 nights in San Sebastian and then checking into to a hotel in Bilbao on the Friday. Where we stay in SS will depend on whether we have a car or not (looking at Villa Soro which has parking included or Hotel Astoria 7 closer to the bus- open to suggestions). Without one our plan would be to take a taxi into SS and a bus to Bilbao.
The advantage of the car would be to allow us a little chance of seeing some of the neighbouring areas although we are open to hopping on public transit. Our time is quite limited so not sure of the necessity or whether a car will be helpful or a hindrance
We have not looked into hotels in Bilbao yet.
Any help is appreciated!

yorkshire

It depends on what you want to see/do. You really only have one full day, so couldn't you just do a one-day rental if you decide you want to leave the city?
Despite what I had heard, I found the public transport quite adequate. I spent three days in SS and could have spent a week.
There is a nice hike you can do to the next town, and take a bus back. You can also take the bus or train in the opposite direction, to Getaria for example.
Just walking through the town is so pleasant and relaxing, you may find you don't have any desire to leave.
If you can do a one-way rental, I'd consider doing your exploring the day you leave for Bilbao, making stops along the way and arriving in Bilbao in the evening.

ira

Hi J,

If you want to see the hills, seashore and small towns, get a car.

We didn't need it in SS and Bilbao.

Have you considered lunch at http://www.asadoretxebarri.com/ on your drive from SS to B?

We followed the A1 through Beasain to the N636 on to Durango and then on to Bilbao. About 2 hr. Very scenic.

Enjoy your visit.

kikiv

Parking in San Sebastian is a nightmare and expensive. You don't need a car for it is a pedestrian city. You only have 2 days and I would say you will not run out of things to do in that time.

However, if you feel like getting out of the city, you can take a train from SS and either visit Biarritz or Saint Jean de Luz, a beautiful Basque seaside town. Check the train schedules on www.renfe.es

Enjoy your trip!

jft

Thanks for alll your suggestions! We are very comfortable with taking public transit and I like the idea of a one way day rental on the Friday en route to Bilbao. I am sure we will keep pretty busy in San Sebastian- I will look into the hike to the next town ( do you remember the name of it), the lunch en route to Bilbao and the one way rental which sounds like a great idea.

Now I need to look into a convenient hotel in Bilbao for our last night in Spain before we fly back to Toronto.

yorkshire

Sure, it was Pasaia. From there you may also want to continue to Hondarribia (I didn't get a chance).
I only had one night in Bilbao as well, and I got a great internet rate from the Barcelo Nervion.
I usually choose character hotels, but for a one-night stay, cost and convenience take precedence, and it was perfect in that regard.

BiarritzTaxi

I drive around San Sebastian a lot and it is a difficult city to navigate. There is a video of the drive from Biarritz to San Sebastian here. http://www.biarritzairporttransfers....Sebastian.html The last 10 seconds gives you a brief idea of what to expect if you hire a car.

The parking as mentioned above is expensive and not readily available. More info on parking here (long link unfortunately): http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/i...32&cat=C&doc=D

The Euskotren goes to both Getaria and Bilbao but it takes a while as it stops at every station. So it will be nice for a trip to Getaria but get the bus to Bilbao. Euskotren information (only in Spanish and Basque): http://www.euskotren.es

jft

An advantage of a car is that we could see Hondarribia shortly after landing ( we land at 8 am on a wednesday)before we arrive at the hotel. Then on the Friday we can leisurely drive on the scenic route approaching Bilbao ( area around Gernika/Getxo). Also if the weather is quite rainy we could always go for a drive.....
Although very pricey we could stay at villa Soro which includes parking instead of Astoria 7 ( both a bit out of the centre).
a car rental for the 3 days is not much more than a one day rental...
I'm still undecided. A taxi from the SS airport and but to Bilbao is quite simple- just lose out on the surrounding scenery a bit off the beaten track.....

weber6560

After years of being a renter, I have turned the corner.

You can catch a city bus every 30 minutes to Hondarribia from SS for about 1 euro. It's about a 30 minute ride. You can catch an inter city bus from SS to Bilbao daily that goes along the coast.

There is no question that a car gets you to places you can't do otherwise. The question is the aggravation worth it? Not so much the money, but the aggravation. Pickup, turn-in, parking, get a dent, etc.

I have about reached the point that I only rent in very rural areas where public options are not available. For me, there is something liberating about not having to worry about a car..

jft

thanks for the info. we enjoy public transit, mingling with locals. I will look into the inter city bus from ss to Bilbao that goes along the coast...If anyone knows the number and the line, that would be helpful.
We will not be in a rush but will have our luggage with us. I will try to travel light! I think I will book the Astoria 7 as it is close to buses and train. I will be sure to pack a good rain coat and an umbrella.
Any ideas re: convenient hotel in Bilbao- The Sercotel Colesco is around $100 if I pay in advance......

HappyTrvlr

Visit Hondarribia when you land as the airport is located there, on the rivrside. Up the hill you'll find the Medieval Quarter, down the hill the Fisherman's Quarter with it's painted buildings.

kimhe

yorkshire,
I think you meant that the next town is pictoresque Pasai Donibane (Pasajes San Juan in Spanish).

The bay of Pasaia is divided into four parts: Pasai San Pedro, Pasai San Juan (or Donibane in Basque), Antxo and Trintxerpe.

And by far Donibane/San Juan is the most interesting, have walked here over the hill from San Sebastián many times. You'll have to take a 50 meters boatride from San Pedro across to San Juan/Donibane to get there. The boat leaves all the time. Here you'll find several excellent waterfront restaurants, some of them with great value lunch menus.
http://www.euroresidentes.com/eurore...s/san-juan.htm

ira

Hi j,

>... a convenient hotel in Bilbao ...<

We stayed at the http://en.hotelcoliseobilbao.com/

It is modern, convenient to the sites and restos.

Check rates at www.booking.com

I can highly recommend dinner at http://zortziko.es/

Enjoy your visit.

jft

Ira, I was actually looking to book that hotel as the rate is very good- nice to hear first hand.....I will see about the restaurants you frequent- I want to fit into my clothes on my return trip.....I have a feeling our food bill may be as much as our hotel bills!
Do you think it's better to book via booking.com or directly with a hotel? Booking.com is quite convenient and easy to cancel if needed.
Thanks Kimhe for the details re San Juan/donibane.
Happy traveller I don't see how we can visit Hondorabbia as we won't have a car and will have a suitcase each unless there is a luggage storage in town and a bus from there to San Sebastián. It seems a shame since we are right in the town when at the airport. If we took the bus would we get a sense of the town- often buses go through the least attractive areas.
Biarritz taxi, I couldn't figure out the euskotren website. Is the long route to Bilbao that scenic to warrant the long route...
Probably we can spend time in and around San Sebastián and leave later with direct bus to Bilbao.
Thank you all. I usually use tripadvisor but this site seems so much more helpful.
I wish we had more time in the Basque region. I just bought a lightweight WATERPROOF jacket today so I can make the most of this trip rain or shine!

andres636

First of all the insurance, there are some very indelicate companies that give you cars with damage and then you will be charged,(milanocar.com) rather make sure that what you deliver is in good condition and keep a copy of the contract.

jft

Booked the holiday inn express bilbao airport hotel in Bilbao to save early morning taxi to airport. Bus fram San Sebastián to airport leaves often and is fast. We can dump our luggage and take public bus into Bilbao. Hotel has shuttle (5 minutes away) and free breakfast.
I think this will be least hassle. Hotel has decent ratings, is cheap, not memorable but practical.