wondering if this trip too ambitious
 

Hello all! We are planning to travel to Barcelona and San sebastian for 13 nights during Easter time. March 26- April 8. We have 2 adults and 4 kids ages 9, 7, 41/2 and almost 2. We travel often with our kids but this is our most ambitious trip yet and perhaps I am overthinking it. We plan on slower travel with the kids in a spacious apartment and as much as possible and thinking 4 nights in Barcelona ( I studied abroad there so know the city). We found cheap tickets in and out of barcelona and already purchased them. Yes I know an open jaw was the way to go here. We have never been to San sebastian but heard its amazing. First trip to Europe with the kids. Renting a van and driving to San sebastian.

Finding prices quite high for 2 or 3 bedroom apartments in San sebastian and La Rioja. Want to spend less then 150 a night in most locations. We are ok with spending up to 200 in barcelona though. Thinking of now staying outside of San sebastian in coastal scenic town that is easy to park in and navigate with some really good and affordable restaurants. We plan on morning trips to small towns outside of San sebastian as the baby naps mid day. Wondering if we should just stay outside of San since we have daytrips anyhow to cut cost and avoid parking large van. Considering San Jean de luz in France, maybe Pamplona, San juan de Gazelugatxe, Guggenheim for day trips. Have found some places for as little as 125 a night for 3 bedrooms. Anyone recommend towns outside of San sebastian that are an easy drive to san sebastian? thinking of staying 4 nights barcelona, 3 nights outside of Bilboa, 3 nights east of san sebastian, 3 nights around elciego. Perhaps we should just stay 6 nights somewhere in the middle between Bilboa and San sebastian to cut down on movement?

Trip becoming more complicated and so many things to see and concerned that we wont get automatic car in Barcelona even though we reserved one already. We considered a train one way but cant find automatic rentals in San Sebastian to drive back. Don't really feel like flying with carseats etc.

I don't expect the trip to be perfect but want it to be enjoyable for all. We plan on eating dinner and breakfast in and eating out for lunch. Concerned with Barcelona with all the separatist stuff going on and don't want to go to Barcelona if this all continues and insist on separating from Spain. Feeling confused. Is there anyone who has done this itinerary? Should we just stick to Valencia and take trains or is this really not as complicated as it looks right now to me?

Thank you!

Hondarribia fits your requirements. It is on the sea and the river that divides Spain and France. There a little ferry boat that crosses this river too. Easy to explore both Spanish and French Basque towns. Lots of great restaurants too.

When I see a topic that asks, "Are we doing too much?"

My answer is, "Yes," and then I read the posting.

A van will be a PITA in Spain. The center of towns were not constructed to accommodate large vehicles. As for moving from town to town, just think of how many times you will have to pack and unpack. It is easier to fly from BCN to San Sebastian/Donostia and then rent a car for a day trip. Public transport, while highly reliable and cost effective, will be hard with a family of six.

Use a home base or two and simplify things.

laughed at when I see topic that asks are we doing too much my answer is yes:)

If we rented we would find an apartment that has parking in an open space and then take buses and trains perhaps?

Yes I need to simplify somehow. looking into train option but then rioja isnt an option. Thank you !

and good to know about hondaarribia. I saw a rick steves segment and this area looks beautiful.

Trains are great for day trips in Barcelona area and limited use in San Sebastian - rent van when leaving Barcelona and keep it for the rest. But info on trains: www.renfe.com - Spanish Railways official site; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. In Donostia (as Basque locals prefer over Spanish San Sebastian) a nice easy train trek is via narrow-gauge commuter train, taking about a half-hour to Hendaye, France and going thru - right down streets of nmerous Basque village:

http://www.euskotren.eus/es/presentacioneuskotren

With van can go same route -taste of wee bit of France.

While it really depends on what YOU want to see and experience, I think you may not be giving enough time to Barcelona. Even without jet lag and as a solo traveler who spent every possible moment exploring the city, I wanted 5 full days there.

San Sebastian and Bilbao are so close to one another that switching locations is only necessary if that’s your preference. And while San Sebastian was not my favorite place in Spain, I think it has a lot of advantages for families. Parking there can be expensive, though -- you might consider flying to / from Barcelona and relying on local transportation while there. FWIW, I was not impressed with Hondarribia, although I’ve read any number of people saying that they enjoyed it.

You might find some useful information in my long, but searchable, trip report.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm

Hope that helps!

Americans are not used to having intercity buses that are reliable and comfortable, but in Spain they are.

I have been this area in summer. I am a typical one-nighter, however, it took me a week to just cover the coast from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Llanes. I have a good impression on small villages between Donostia and Bilbao rather than the eastern parts of Donostia. I rate Hondarribia as so-so. Bilbao is just an industrial city. I enjoyed Gernika-Lumo, but not at Bilbao. Bilbao was far different from Donostia. I remember two meals in Donostia and one in Gernika-Lumo were marvelous. All the three were in the city. I dropped in them on foot.

I took a route from Madrid to Donostia. The road from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Donostia was a fun to me. It was a long downhill. This was the only one high-speed road I took in this area. Once I reached Donostia, I followed local roads. Donostia was hidden from the high-speed road. All the roads were not so wide. I went there with a small SEAT car, 1.7 liters or so.

I do have good memories at Ordesa, Zaragoza, Burgos, Santander, and others, have visited in summer on other occasions. There are so many good sites in this region.

I was said that you should have used an intercity bus when I went to Granada by car. But at that time I needed to visit other sites between Madrid and Granada.

www.toprural.com has an array of nice country homes that will be great for the kids . sometimes animals nearby. small towns. check it out for that region.

wow great recommendations thank you all!

I highly doubt you will find accommodations in San Sebastián for 8 people for 150 euros or less. Our trip last May cost about 275 euros a night for an apartment for 4 people (2 bedrooms) that was centrally located but hardly posh. We couldn't find (and I highly doubt there are any) central apartments that had a parking space, and parking in one of the main lots (street parking is sparse) was expensive. You wouldn't want a vehicle in SS anyway. A van (and you'd have to have one of those huge 9-person vans, which are terribly trying when navigating small city streets), would be a huge liability, IMO.

Saint Jean-de-Luz would pose the same problems, perhaps worse as you can't drive into the center but rather have to navigate narrow streets around the perimeter, and parking is even harder.

Carseats can be an issue, too. You can reserve them, but like reserving an automatic, there are never any guarantees.

The bus and train systems in this part of Spain are easy and cheap. I would forget the van, which is going to become an albatross, and figure out other means of transportation. Of course, that means herding 8 people on and off public transportation, which can't be easy. Or choose a different destination.

With that many people I would cut down the number of places and pick 2 or 3 bases from which you can do day trips.

Thank you for your feedback! Yes stcirq and these are the concerns I have been having. I agree and the cheapest we have found was around 175 a night and its near the university. We prefer quieter more residential areas with little kids anyhow. Which is why we are looking into smaller more off the beaten towns. Going to look into a place like Zarautz and Lekeitio.
And we would just take public transportation into San sebastian and to other towns. The 7 person van is more to get from Barcelona to San sebastian without having to haul 4 kids through train station etc.

Of course I looked into Valencia last night and in 30 min had a 3 bedroom apartment with good cancellation policy in center city. And then we could take train from Barcelona. was quite excited about San sebastian area and the country. Rioja has also things to do for kids including dinosaur prints.

But now unsure about even going to Barcelona with the recent separation movement.

And I agree 2-3 places as well little movement

Sorry, I miscounted. I see you have a party of 6, not 8. Still, my concerns would be the same.

So I wanted to write about how the trip went to help anyone who travels with 3 or more kids to Barcelona and San sebastian area from far away. We got back and had a great trip really glad we went. While it was a very busy trip we all had a great time and learned a lot. We ended up doing 4 nights in Barcelona city, 4 nights San Sebastian, 3 nights Logrono in Rioja -we went to Muga and Marques de Riscal , and then back to Barcelona suburb (Gava Marriot ) for 2 nights before flying back to US. We went to Monserrat and Freixenet while staying in Gava, Spain. My husband and I felt like we spent the right amount of time in each place glad we didn't do more in Logrono. We could of easily spent one more night in Barcelona but we really wanted to see new places this trip. We never made it to Bilbao or small Basque French towns but that was ok with us.

All areas had plenty to do with the kids almost too much so you have to pick and choose. San sebastian had a ton of parks and carosels for kids. I recommend Bar Nestor as the kids played on the swing sets after they ate dinner and we could relax a bit.

We rented an automatic van through Orbitz and it worked out very well for us. Driving was great and my husband used Waze app to navigate. Roads were well cared for and we brought carseat on for my 21 month old and used in car. Al campo and Im sure many more places sell booster seats for 10E for 4 year old. I wish I didn't worry so much before hand because it all worked out well. Used credit card for tolls there were many along the way.

We spent more money then desired as we upped budget to 250 for hotels/apartments for 2 locations. We stayed in Gros, San sebastian and loved it! No problems with parking the 7 seater van although San sebastian Txofre parking was a bit tight and Logrono NH Herencia as well. Had to be very careful.

If I can help anyone with kids please don't hesitate to contact me.

Road trip San Sebastian and Barcelona with kids
 

So I wanted to write about how the trip went to help anyone who travels with 3 or more kids to Barcelona and San sebastian area from far away. We got back and had a great trip really glad we went. our kids are 8,7,4 and almost 2. While it was a very busy trip we all had a great time and learned a lot. We ended up doing 4 nights in Barcelona city, 4 nights San Sebastian, 3 nights Logrono in Rioja -we went to Muga and Marques de Riscal , and then back to Barcelona suburb (Gava Marriot ) for 2 nights before flying back to US. We went to Monserrat and Freixenet while staying in Gava, Spain. My husband and I felt like we spent the right amount of time in each place glad we didn't do more in Logrono. We could of easily spent one more night in Barcelona but we really wanted to see new places this trip. We never made it to Bilbao or small Basque French towns but that was ok with us.

All areas had plenty to do with the kids almost too much so you have to pick and choose. San sebastian had a ton of parks and carosels for kids. I recommend Bar Nestor as the kids played on the swing sets after they ate dinner and we could relax a bit.

We rented an automatic van through Orbitz and it worked out very well for us. Driving was great and my husband used Waze app to navigate. Roads were well cared for and we brought carseat on for my 21 month old and used in car. Al campo and Im sure many more places sell booster seats for 10E for 4 year old. I wish I didn't worry so much before hand because it all worked out well. Used credit card for tolls there were many along the way.

We spent more money then desired as we upped budget to 250 for hotels/apartments for 2 locations. We stayed in Gros, San sebastian and loved it! No problems with parking the 7 seater van although San sebastian Txofre parking was a bit tight and Logrono NH Herencia as well. Had to be very careful.

If I can help anyone with kids please don't hesitate to contact me.