Adam B.
Yelp
I am very surprised by the low rating ... and think it's not fair to the hotel that one of the reviews gives them one star because they could not follow the hotel's cancellation policy. We did not know where to stay in San Sebastian ... and had it between the Marriott (fancy), this hotel (not too much known) and Hotel Favorita (does not allow kids). We are glad that this is the choice we made.
It is a 5 minute (if that) walk to La Concha Beach ... 10 minute straight walk to Old Town ... and it is located in a district with lots of cute little clothing shops. The location was perfect, though we hoped to stay on the beach. The only downside to the hotel is that they are completely ripping up the street/plaza the hotel is on ... so the noisy is unbearably loud in the morning. Imagine a jackhammer but 3 times as powerful. Not only was the noise horrible, everything in the room vibrated from around 7:00 a.m. through 2 p.m.
I would recommend getting a room on a high floor. We were on the second floor and light shined into our windows from the street lamps, which were right outside our balcony. Even though the darkening curtains, orange light seeped in at night. There is a Juliet balcony with just enough room to step out and look out on the street and the steeple.
Other than that ... our stay was so unexpectedly great! The shower and bathroom was probably the best I've had in any hotel. The shower had 2 outlets ... including an overhead shower with 2 different rainfall features and a waterfall feature. After a long day of walking around the city, it was a pleasure to return and take a shower and relax. The electric bidet toilet was equally amazing!
The room we booked (junior suite) had lots of space. The ceilings were very high and made the room very open and airy. The bedroom was separated by a door, so there was a lot of privacy for those in the living room or bathroom while others were sleeping. The bathroom was bigger than most hotel rooms in NYC.
We were pleased to see that the mini-bar was all free ... stocked once per stay. There were local beers, waters, soda and chips. I love when hotels do this because it is a small cost but makes a big impact on feeling at home.
The decor wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but regardless felt modern and open. Light woods, wood trim and dark green walls in the bedroom. It felt very Scandinavian ... sparse and modern ... IKEA-esque but all the furniture was locally made in San Sebastian. The amount of space (closet, dresser, etc.) was fantastic. When traveling with an infant, there is SO much stuff ... we felt like even after unpacking, the room was not cluttered.
There isn't really a 'hang out lobby' and the restaurant on the side is small but seemed to be packed with locals. Overall, this was a very pleasant surprise and we really enjoyed the hotel (minus the noise and lights outside) ... at half the price of the Marriott, it was a great choice and I am sure the room/bathroom and size was way better than anywhere else we would have stayed. Don't hesitate to stay here ... the upgrade to a junior suite is worth the splurge.