Do you fancy a tasty city trip with relaxing on the beach, a dash of culture and served with a sauce of wonderful Spanish cuisine? San Sebastian is the place for you! But where to stay?
Villa Soro
Villa Soro is highly recommended. This boutique hotel is located in villa dating back to 1898, and it is part of the historical buildings list of San Sebastian. An extension was added to the rear at a later date.
Location
Villa Soro has the perfect location. Ten minutes gets you to Zurriola beach on foot, and to the Old Town by bicycle. The hotel lies just outside the busy centre of the town, which means it is lovely and quiet.
Rooms
The rooms are unbelievably stylish, especially the ones in the main part. As soon as you come in, you are transported back in time. A majestic staircase in the middle of the hall brings you up to the first floor. All rooms are decorated differently and have all mod-cons without losing any of their original charm.
Breakfast
There is a small, but delicious buffet. They prepare your eggs to order and fruit juice is freshly squeezed. You can sit outside at the back of the building if the weather permits.
In the post about the best restaurants in San Sebastian you will learn where you have to go for the best pintxos in town and where they serve Michelinstar food..
Extra
The hotel has free bicycles you can borrow. Perfect for discovering the city. Go out for dinner in the Old Town and you can drink that extra glass of wine as the bike will bring you back to the hotel in 10 minutes.
If you cycle to the beach, you can bring a beach towel courtesy of the hotel.
My stay at Villa Soro was memorable. It remains one of my all-time favourites.
Arima
Arima is a new hotel, a bit outside the centre of San Sebastian. The hotel is very modern and the building is clad in wood. Being environmentally friendly plays a big part in the philosophy of the hotel and so it uses the latest technologies in heating, energy and water treatment.
Location
Arima lies in the woods of Miramon, which means you look out onto some green at the back. The rest of the area is rather boring. There are a few hospitals and businesses nearby, but there are no restaurants within walking distance. There is however a bus stop right beside the hotel from where a bus can take you to the Old Town every 10 minutes or so. It takes about 15 minutes and costs 1.50 euro
Rooms
The rooms are bright and airy. The design uses wood, steel and stone interspersed with natural fibres which makes the rooms modern, but cosy. Additionally, the matrasses are very comfortable. The bathrooms also include all the conveniences. And everything is operated with a button (curtains open and close, lights for the full room…) It took us (read my travel companion) a few minutes every night to figure out what buttons to use. Unfortunately, there are only a few rooms with a terrace.
Breakfast
The breakfast is fantastic. A large assortment of rolls, fresh yogurt, home made jam, delicious Spanish ham, fresh fruit juice… Eggs or pancakes are a la carte but included in the price.
However
We booked Arima foremost because it has a pool (most hotels in the centre don’t), and so we were very sorry to find out it wasn’t ready yet. The spa was also not ready. And as the photos on booking.com included pictures of the pool, this was a real disappointment. We just got nervous laughter and some shrugging at the reception desk when we asked about it. So, all in all a good hotel if you don’t want to be in the centre but check if everything is ready before you book.
Read all about the best things to do in San Sebastian.
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