joey365_000

Hello all, I would appreciate your comments on our dilemma.

We have only two and a half weeks in Spain and are planning on training ( is that a word?)between the two cities. We will spend four or five days in each city but our question is should we spend a week exploring (driving) Catalunya or a week exploring the area west of San Seb. We are going in May, older couple, love driving trips, exploring small towns and hanging out.

Would really like to hear your thoughts. Thanks. P and A

IMDonehere

They are both wonderful places, so you will not be disappointed no matter you choose. Training, is in taking the train, is new travel word for people who are too lazy to write taking the train.

Check Vueling, a reliable cheapo airline with strict requirements on the weight of luggage and fly from from Barcelona to San Sebastian/Donostia.

kja

As IMDonehere said, you don't have a bad choice! I visited both areas last May and enjoyed them both immensely. You might want to glance at my trip report in case it gives you some ideas -- just click on my screen name to find it. And FWIW, you might want to take a look at the Michelin Green Guide -- I found it extremely useful for both of those areas.

joey365_000

Thanks Kja, I will look at your trip report. We will get a guide book as soon as we figure out the area we are going to.

Robert2533

As already mentioned, it's easy to do both, and you can include time in the Pays Basque, the French Basque country.

You might be interested in reading Maribel's Guides to San Sebastián and Barcelona for a little more information.

HappyTrvlr

We found Maribel's Guides ( free online) a huge help in both areas. I wish there were similar guides for other countries.
If you go to San Sebastián, do not the miss the villages in the Pays Basque, beautiful. Maribel includes them also.

kimhe

Here are two very informative sites about the wonderful Basque Country. Plenty of options here for exploring small towns, both inland and along the beautiful coast:
http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/
http://www.euskoguide.com/

Some of my favourite small towns in the area.
Getaria (fantastic fish and seafood down in the small harbour): http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...aria-tourism/:
Tolosa (the old capital): http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...olosa-tourism/
Hondarribia (a food scene comparable to that of San Sebastian): http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...ribia-tourism/
Gernika (the 1937 bombings and Picasso's painting): http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...rnica-tourism/
Oñati (the old university town): http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...tzazu-tourism/

kimhe

... and here's the correct link to Getaria: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...taria-tourism/

Had a memory for life lunch here first time in 1996, something like this, and this is the way it's still done here: http://www.thepauperedchef.com/2007/...-in-getar.html

Great presentation of fish and seafood in Getaria from 7 mins 45 secs in this video. A visit here is a must: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqdjeGqnVKc

joey365_000

Thank you all for your comments. Yes we could explore both regions but we like to move slowly so will just pick one.
Kja, your report is amazing.

Pat

kja

@ joey365_000 -- thanks, Pat!