Holiday in Basque Country

[simonb]

Hi everyone

After holidaying in Cornwall for the last 8 or more summers we are thinking of going to northern Spain instead. I have listened to the San Sebastian podcast and would like to give it a go in the Basque Country.

However, I'm not sure I would like to stay in San Sebastian itself. Any recommendations were we can find:

1. Good beach(es).
2. Good food with lots of choice.
3. Self catering accommodation.

We normally go in the last week of August/first week in September.

Also thinking of Galicia as an option.

Thanks

Simon

[Marina]

If you usually have your holidays in Cormwall I imagine you appreciate tranquility and a countryside environment. If I'm right I would not stay in San Sebastian as it would be more expensive and it's a city after all. I'd try to head to a countryside village nearby and find a casa rural (http://en.toprural.com/) there, some of them offer self catering facilities.
Next to San Sebastian there are some pretty villages like Fuenterrabia or Zarautz.

Having said that I think San Sebastian is a great city that is worth visiting, also it has the best city beaches I've ever seen. Zarautz one is also really long, sandy and beautiful. I can't tell you much about west Vasque Country as I've never been there, but I would also recommend the beaches near Llanes in Asturias. Check this area as it tends to be cheaper than the vasque country and the food is great, in fact it is great in all the North Coast.

For more information on Galicia check NFS (http://www.notesfromspain.com/notes-from-spain/) podcasts no 24 (http://www.notesfromspain.com/177/), 25 (http://www.notesfromspain.com/181/) and 26. (http://www.notesfromspain.com/190/)

[simonb]

Thanks Marina

Is self-catering a common option in Spain? Is there a similar expression is Spanish that I should be looking for on web sites?

Simon

[Marina]

Self catering is available when you rent an apartment or a whole casa rural, but if you hire a room it is not very common to get the option to use a common kitchen.
So what you are looking for is "con cocina" or "con derecho a cocina"

[Mark]

Hi Simon,

I recommend you have a look at http://www.totallyspain.com/

I booked a few nights accommodation with Totallyspain a couple of years ago and highly recommend them to you, the service really was excellent. I received a lot of up-front help and advice when choosing where to stay and they even called the house I was staying at on the first night to check I'd managed to find the place ok. Nothing was too much trouble for these people and the prices were excellent too. I can't fault them.

I'll just tell you about my trip in case any of this appeals....

For the first stop I wanted somewhere within easy reach of Bilbao airport but in the countryside, so I stayed at http://www.totallyspain.com/aloja.asp?id=41&vuelta=spain_travel_information

This was a great choice. The owners are really nice and one was learning English, so although I was ok with the Spanish I know, the people in the party who didn't know any were OK too.

Next I moved on to http://www.totallyspain.com/aloja.asp?id=43&vuelta=spain_travel_information

This is an interesting building and is a short drive (no more than 3 mins) from Laguardia, which is worth a visit. I actually wouldn't go back to this place but only because of the food; the owners succeeded in what my friends thought was impossible... they managed to create dishes i couldn't eat! I really do eat just about anything but chef has nouvelle cuisine pretensions and apparently that means raw offal is OK! Although it's in Rioja they do claim the food is Basque, but i'm not sure.. one of my fave dishes is Merluza a la vasca - pity it wasn't on the menu.

Finally, I stayed in San Sebastian at the hotel Londres right on the seafront, expensive but well worth it.

The basque country is great. The people we met were all very nice and welcoming. In Sojo (the first stop) we happened to arrive on the night of the local fiesta which is held right across the road from the house we stayed in, and we were promptly invited. Apparently we're the only non-locals to have attended in years. Line dancing with Basque farmers! things like that make a trip.

I want to go back now that i've written this!