Basque Country Hotels

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Agroturismo: A cheaper and nicer way of touring

by bnanno

If you have your own car or are thinking of renting one, a very good and interesting option in the Basque Country or indeed, in many places in Spain, is the so-called rural toursim or "Agroturismo"...beautifully restored farmhouses or old houses in smaller villages that have generally very high standards with a few rooms, either like a small hotel or a few rooms in a private house. The rates are generally lower than most hotels.

There is an excellent site with all the information, booking and details (including lots of photos) at

http://www.nekatur.net/

Rates vary, but may start from as low as 35 euros for a double , and most are furnished very comfortably and are very modern too!

The site also gives the website links of the places themselves.

Several recommendations: Hotels around the P & O Ferry Bilbao to Portsmouth

by bnanno

If you are catching the ferry in Santurtzi (Santurce),
Novotel (www.accorhotels.com) Barakaldo is probably the best option, good standards 3*-4*, and right off the motorway from Bilbao to Santurce, where you get the ferry. If you book a "Hot Deal" through the website, thats the best price (usually with breakfast). Parking the car is no problem. There is also Ibis and the very cheap Formule 1 from the same group. You can't get cheaper, and it is very standard and clean. Novotel and Formule 1 also allow children under 15 (2 and 1 respectively) absolutely free, which is great for families.

A very nice small hotel is Hotel Artaza (www.hotelartaza.com), but it is in Getxo, on the opposite bank from where you want to be, although the area is very nice; right on the Getxo beach you can find the Hotel Igeretxe (www.hoteligeretxe.com), more expensive (about 85 euros) but it is right On The Beach, used to be a spa. Opposite is Hotel Los Tamarises, but I believe it is more expensive. In all these places there is no problem in Parking, as besides the hotel car park, there is plenty of street parking. These will of course mean that next day you will have to drive round to the other side. If one uses the hanging bridge, the journey is short and nice, but peak hours there maybe queues. At all other times it is an interesting way to cross the river.

Portugalete has the finely restored Gran Hotel Portugalete from 75/Euros onwards for doubles, but you will have to ask about the parking availability. Location is unbeatable, right on the Nervion estuary next to the "Hanging Bridge".

Santurce has the beautiful Palacio de Oriol with its own grounds but it is expensive unless you get a good internet deal.

Some nice small, interesting hotels.

“El Portal de la Rioja”: By Far the most Perigrino Friendly place we stayed

by into-thin-air

“El Portal de la Rioja” in Brinas was By Far the most Perigrino Friendly place that we stayed at during the entire trip !!
However it isn’t situated in the same place as the guidebook tells you, When the route brings you into Brinas close to the church, you need to turn right and walk about 1k, you actually leave the town and “El Portal de la Rioja” is located just by the new bypass
The people that run this place are Amazing, The offer a huge discount for Perigrino’ s and a large comfortable twin bedded en-suite room only cost 26 euro !!
The food served in the restaurant downstairs was the best of the trip, 3 courses with an excellent bottle of Rioja came to 8.40 euro per person !!

When I went to settle the bill in the morning a lens came out of my glasses, The lens was held in by a tiny screw, and although the place was very busy they still found time to repair them for me.

As I said in the introduction, my travel companion was unable to complete this Camino and the friendly people at “El Portal de la Rioja” took her All the way to Santo Domingo de el Calzada in their car and wouldn’t accept any money for doing so !! However, They weren’t aware that she wasn’t going all the way to Santiago, which I felt that she really should have been Honest and explained to them !!

So, Especially If you are walking this Camino, “El Portal de la Rioja” is a real Must !!

Pension on old N-1: Best option for La Puebla de Aranzon

by into-thin-air

When we arrived at La Puebla de Aranzon we were pleased to see that the new motorway had now by-passed the town and the old N-1 that used to be very busy according to our guidebook was now almost a ghost road !!
As you follow the route down the old N-1 into La Puebla de Aranzon you go under a now unnecessary foot bridge and to the left of this is a pension.
We thought that it was a bit over-priced as they were asking for 40 euro for a room with outside bathroom, after a bit of a discussion they offered us a small discount for Perigrino’s, so the room then worked out at 36 euro, I still thought that this was a lot but it was the best deal we could find here, so we had no other choice but to accept, The guy had phoned the Hotel and they were wanting more euros !!
The room was ok and the water in the bathroom was hot and there was a handy restaurant right next door so things could have been a lot worse ;-)
So if you are looking for accommodation in La Puebla de Aranzon, this is your best option !!

“Santuario de Ntra de Estibaliz”: This is the most interesting place that we stayed

by into-thin-air

The most interesting place that we stayed during this Camino was “Santuario de Ntra de Estibaliz”
This is a monastery administered by “The Order of San Benito” and it offers Perigrino’s free accommodation and food.
You will be made welcomed by the monks here, the accommodation is in the guest wing of the monastery, the rooms are simple, the beds comfortable. There is an evening meal provided after Mass and an early simple breakfast before you set off in the morning.
There isn’t a facility to leave a donation but there is a small gift shop attached to the monastery, so you can either buy a small gift here or leave a donation if the donations box in the attached church.

“Habitaciones” available above a local restaurant: Accommodation in Salvatierra - Worth a Try !!

by into-thin-air

As we were a bit on the tired side when we walked into Salvatierra and found the Only pension on Calle Mayor to be closed, Next we tried to locate the tourist office and we were told that this also was closed, But the good news was that we were told that there were “Habitaciones” available above a local restaurant This is actually the first restaurant on the right hand side of Calle mayor as you approach the town on the route and we had walked passed it but missed the “Habitaciones” sign
The room was fairly basic with outside bathroom but was clean and we didn’t even have to leave the building for dinner. The price of 30 euro was a bit steep but the food in the restaurant underneath was excellent !!
So, If you are looking for accommodation in Salvatierra then this place is worth a try.

“Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa”: By far the nicest accommodation of our walk

by into-thin-air

By far the nicest accommodation we had on the whole trip was in Segura, we had originally intended to stay at the Albergue that was listed in our guidebook, but on arrival in Segura we discovered that this Albergue was actually situated in the next village (Zerain) and that was 2k of route (4k return) and as we had a long enough day programmed in for the next day thought that it was just to far away !!
So the tourist office recommended us “Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa”, we initially thought that it was going to be Way Above our budget as the lady in the tourist office said she thought it was about 20 euro per person per night, however when she rang up to check for us, the lady at “Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa” said that as we were Perigrino’s she would offer us a discount and we ended up with a Beautiful en-suite room for 24euro !!
The “Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa” is an old style Spanish Farmhouse, the farm is still a working one, The Rooms are of an Exceptionally High Quality and ours overlooked Segura. There was a Massive en-suite bathroom. Also there was a kitchen upstairs that we could use if we wanted to, we actually went out for a delightful meal in Segura so didn’t, however it was there if we had wanted it !!
The Lady of the house was Very Friendly and I can give at “Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa” the Very Best of recommendations

Hostal Eizmendi: The Only choice for Legorreta

by into-thin-air

In Legorreta there was only one option of accommodation listed so we were relieved to see that it was open when we arrived, well actually it was closed for the fiesta but we just rang the bell and the lady of the house answered and the was no problem about accommodating two Perigrino’s.
The restaurant was closed however so we had to again make do with “Pincho’s” at the local bar but there was plenty of them and we were made to feel very welcome in this town !!
Hostal Eizmendi is said to be on the National Highway as it passes through Legorreta, But we were relieved to see that the town has now been by-passed, so the location was good, the rooms were slightly old-fashioned but the beds were comfortable and the water was hot and at 30 euro a night f0r an en-suite room the price was fair.
So, If you need accommodation in Legorreta then Hostal Eizmendi is the one for you !!

Pension Txoco: Inexpensive accommodation in Hernani

by into-thin-air

We had intended to stay at Pension Zinko Enea on Kale Nagusia in Hernani, But when we arrived there we found it to be closed (Just for the day we think ??) This initially caused us a bit of a problem as it was the only accommodation listed in Hernani in our guidebook !! Bit after asking around I discovered Pension Txoco, By the look of it, it was designed as student accommodation, small rooms with single beds, two rooms sharing one bathroom / toilet, Never the less it suited our purpose well and I thought that the room rate of 15 euro per room was very reasonable.
The pension is located on the road from the railway station into Hernani, but it is les than a 10 minute walk from there to Plaza Mayor.
We rang from the town centre and a guy came and picked us up in a mini bus and there was no extra charge for this.
So, All was well that ended well and I can give this pension the best of recommendations !!

Refugio de Perigrino: There is now a new Refugio de Perigrino in Irun

by into-thin-air

There is now a new Refugio de Perigrino in Irun. It has approximately 22 beds and is run by a Very Friendly and Helpful guy.
The Refugio has a good kitchen, Good Hot shower and comfortable bunk-beds.
The Guy who runs the place gave us an Irun City Map and showed us how to get onto the route (The Tunnel Route Camino in our case, Most of the Perigrino’s staying here are doing the Camino Norte)
He also told us of a good inexpensive restaurant to go for our evening meal and it turned out to be Excellent !!
Breakfast is provided by the Very Friendly and Helpful guy who runs the place.
The isn’t a fixed charge, Leave the donation that You can afford
So, If you are a Perigrino and staying in Irun This Is the Place for You !!

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Basque Country Hotels

259 Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Agroturismo: A cheaper and nicer way of touring

Several recommendations: Hotels around the P & O Ferry Bilbao to Portsmouth

“El Portal de la Rioja”: By Far the most Perigrino Friendly place we stayed

Pension on old N-1: Best option for La Puebla de Aranzon

“Santuario de Ntra de Estibaliz”: This is the most interesting place that we stayed

“Habitaciones” available above a local restaurant: Accommodation in Salvatierra - Worth a Try !!

“Ondarre Nekazal Torismoa”: By far the nicest accommodation of our walk

Hostal Eizmendi: The Only choice for Legorreta

Pension Txoco: Inexpensive accommodation in Hernani

Refugio de Perigrino: There is now a new Refugio de Perigrino in Irun

Explore the World

Questions and Answers