How to Find Cheap Hotels In San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, officially known as Donostia-San Sebastian, is located in the Basque region of Spain near the French border at the northern end of Spain. San Sebastian is situated on the Cantabrian Sea, and the Urumea River runs through it.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Get to Know San Sebastian

1. Pack your swimsuit. San Sebastian is best known as a beach resort because of its prime location on the Bay of Biscay.

2. Go there anytime. San Sebastian has one of the mildest climates in Spain. Summer temperatures average around 76 to 79 degrees F, with winter temperatures being about 20 to 25 degrees cooler. Summer is the most popular season for tourists.

Get to and Around San Sebastian

1. Fly into San Sebastian Airport, which is located about 20 kilometers from the city. There are regular flights from Madrid, Barcelona and several other airports in Spain. A bus from the airport costs a couple of Euros.

2. Fly into Bilbao Airport as an alternative. Located approximately 96 kilometers from San Sebastian, the airport in Bilbao serves international flights from several major European cities. You can take a taxi to the city, although the fare is not cheap.

Secure Accommodations in San Sebastian

1. To book accommodations, contact San Sebastián Turismo at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Consider staying in a pension (guest house) for cheap shared accommodations. Though some bedrooms are private, you will almost always have to share a bathroom in a pension--but room rates can dip far below 50 Euros per night.

3. Stay in a hostel for very cheap accommodations in some of the most desirable locations. Hostel dorm rooms represent some of the cheapest accommodations in San Sebastian.

4. Consider staying in one of the few mid-range hotels in San Sebatian to enjoy a view of the Bay of Biscay. Although rooms with a view can cost as much as five times more than the cheapest accommodations, the ambience may be worth it.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't pass up the historic attractions of the city, such as gothic and baroque churches in the old quarter. San Sebastian history dates back more than 1,000 years.

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• If you visit on January 20, you will find the city in the middle of the Tamborrada Festival celebrating the feast of San Sebastian. Adults parade in soldier and cook costumes while drums beat for a full 24 hours.

• You can get around San Sebastian on foot or by taxi. Don't rent a car, though, as parking is very challenging in the city and can be expensive too.