If you want to feel like royalty this is the place to stay...in fave it was even built by Queen…read moreMaria Cristina. We had the most lovely stay here in my new favorite place, San Sebastián. The hotel itself couldn't be more beautiful and we truly felt like we were living in a palace. The staff couldn't have been more friendly. And it's in the most perfect location - just minutes away from the best pintxo spots in town. I didn't get to check out any other hotels in San Sebastián, but find it hard to believe we would find anything better than the Maria Cristina.

A part of San Sebastian History…read more Hotel Maria Cristina first open its doors on July 9, 1912. The first celebrity to visit was the Regent Queen Maria Cristina after whom the Hotel was named. The building was and is a magnificent piece of architecture designed by French architect Charles Mewes, who is also credited for designing the Ritz hotels in Paris and Madrid. During the Spanish Civil War that started in 1936 the hotel was temporarily occupied by troops sympathetic to the revolution, but after a few days they surrendered to the local militia men. Fortunately the building was not damaged much in the process, but if you carefully look, you may still see a couple of the bullet holes on the walls outside. The hotel is an exclusive five-star hotel with a price tag that is too rich for my blood, but one can walk in and sit at one of the available tables in the lobby, order a coffee or drink and admire their surroundings.

Stay here and pay for a room with a water view. A friend and I stayed in a Junior Suite with one of…read moreus on the sofa bed and the other in the bedroom. It was a perfect set up! We both had closets and we could shut the door between the two areas when we needed privacy. We stayed in Room 111 which had a balcony with chairs and a fantastic view of the water and the promenade. The windows were also fantastic. When they were open, we could hear the lively noise of the promenade but when they were closed we couldn't hear a thing. The bathroom was also very nice with a bidet attachment to the toilet. The toilet even had a motion-activated night light. The shower was a little difficult to use without flooding the bathroom. The breakfast buffet was outstanding with lots of pinxtos, fruit, hot food, cold food, and pastries. My friend is a vegetarian and she found plenty to eat. One night we ordered room service and the food arrived within 20 minutes and was very good. The front desk people were also very helpful answering questions we had. The only negative was that we couldn't get the coffee maker in our room to work.

Awful. Rooms on non-seaside, street side noisy with construction going on across the street. If…read moreyou wish to use pools or workout room they charge extra. Avoid.

One of my favorite hotel stays in a long time, and a luxury home away from home for my weekend trip…read moreto San Sebastián. I reserved one adult double historical room a few months in advance through my travel agent. You pay in advance and there's a strict no refunds/cancellation policy, so they are very clear up front what to expect. That said, it was a really dreamy experience. I arrived on a Saturday of a busy weekend around 11:30 am and they let me check in early and get to my room immediately, which was a huge plus after a few exhausting days of travel. The hotel is less than 300 meters from the main Old Town pintxos drag, but also removed enough that it's very quiet at night AND attaches to a main road that allows taxis through (clutch if you have heavy luggage like I did.) I ended up being able to walk to 95% of what I wanted to do (primarily eat pintxos across the city) and took a short taxi for the one bit of sightseeing I wanted to do (Comb of the Wind was absolutely worth it.) When I got sick, the farmacia was literally less than a block away. The convenience of this hotel is genuinely unbelievable. Hotel staff are available around the clock to help you with what you need but rooms are also well stocked with amenities to help you really relax during your stay. The shower water pressure was strong, the water steamy and got really hot how I like it, and the room temp was very easily adjustable to my preferred cold temp, which isn't always easy to find. The bed was very comfortable. I got sick right before coming here and spent a lot of the weekend napping, reading, and otherwise relaxing in the awesome bed. The room came with a hot water kettle which I used liberally for hot water and tea to recover from the cold I had acquired. It was a rainy weekend but the hotel offered umbrella rental for these who needed it. The hotel is also adults only, which was a huge plus. On my last day, they arranged a taxi (fixed flat fee of 61 euros, which is a bit steep but the airport is a hike and it was very early) for me to the airport, which was great because taxis are a bit annoying to order at odd times. My one small bummer of the weekend was it was cold and rainy the majority of the weekend so the rooftop pool and bar was closed. I would not hesitate to stay here again if given the opportunity to come back to San Sebastián!

We had a 14-night trip planned across Spain that we had to cancel after our dog was diagnosed with…read morecancer. She will be in treatment for the next year, and travel is not possible. We provided veterinary documentation and explained the situation clearly. Every other property, including five-star hotels, refunded their non-refundable rates immediately once they saw the documentation. This hotel was the only exception. We have received multiple email responses from the hotel, essentially repeating the same explanation over and over again. What I understand from their stance is this: even with a non-refundable rate, they are unwilling to show compassion for a unique and serious circumstance. This is not a case of choosing to stay at another hotel. This is the cancellation of an entire trip because our dog has cancer. The hotel insisted on charging us for the first night unless we returned within three months, which is impossible given the year-long treatment our dog is facing. Our booking overlapped with the film festival, when nearly every hotel in the city was sold out. They could have easily rebooked the room and avoided any loss. Instead, they enforced the charge without regard for the situation. This experience shows a lack of empathy and professionalism. While every other hotel we dealt with demonstrated understanding and fairness, this property chose to prioritize policy over humanity.

Came by as I was walking towards the beach. Had a glass of moscato along with the lobster empanada…read morewhich was so delicious, it was hot and flavourful. Perfect for a hot summer day. Over looking the beach, this was a perfect snack! Definitely recommend :)

Best hotel in San Sebastián. Attention to detail, great location, food and drink delicious. The…read morescramble eggs were so good. Had the terrace room and did not need to leave much. The technology is new and again too service. Definitely staying here again.

One of the best hotels we've ever had the pleasure of staying. As united airline crew members to…read moretraveling the world with Apple, Google and Sodexho! The service of this staff is as the bar manager Marco stated our team has "emotional intelligence" this is so very true! The rooms, location and restaurants is all so impressive! Thank you hotel Maria Cristina!!

Given that we decided to allocate our entire budget to food in San Sebastian, there wasn't quite…read moreenough left in the coffers to stay here. It's pricey. Really pricey. But we couldn't resist stopping by the lobby bar for a cocktail just to get a taste of what it would be like to be rich and famous and staying at the Maria Christina. Dry bar is like a scene from the great gatsby (at the beginning of the night before Daisy is throwing up all over everyone and it's still classy). Art Deco abounds and all the cocktails are fantastic, with a price that won't let you forget what a swanky place you're in. A drink here throws you back in another era... one in which your great grandma was young and flapper dresses were the thing. It's certainly worth a peek if you've got the dough, just realize a that a few dollars of your steeply priced Vieux Carre is going towards your experience, which is truly one of a kind.

I stayed here for 3 nights…read more Our original hotel reservation got messed up and we booked here last minute. The location is fantastic. You are a minute's walk into old town and have easy access to anywhere you want to walk. It is a step or two up from a hotel. The rooms are basic. There is a pump on the shower wall with a soap/shampoo combo mix. There is someone on call, but not someone at the front desk in the off hours. There is a Jazz club that plays incredibly loud music that will boom through your walls until late in the evening. So when you book, ask for a room not adjoining the jazz club.

This review is long overdue. All I can say this place is a 5 star hotel for a 3 star price! But you…read moreknow what's even better is the service! How about leaving your camera bag with your DSLR camera inside and for them to send it back to you Stateside with everything intact? PRICELESS! Kudos to Roberto for the top notch service! If you need to talk to some one fluent in English, they have that covered to! Look for Inigo, he's from the east Coast and such a welcome surprise especially if you need recos and directions. All his pintxos places were spot on! We highly recommend this place!

I am very surprised by the low rating ... and think it's not fair to the hotel that one of the…read morereviews 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.

I completely enjoyed my stay at this fabulous hotel. First, I cant say enough about this place…read more The staff are AMAZING. Professional, kind, helpful and they go out of their way to assist with anything. I can't send enough praise. The lobby has a real wood-burning fireplace that we sat at and enjoyed a bottle of wine two different evenings during our stay. It was very pleasant and comfortable. The rooms are very updated and the bed was super comfortable. Everything in the room was clean. They have a Marshall brand Bluetooth speaker in the room which is a very nice touch. The Bathroom and shower are incredible. A rain drop style shower head with a hand wand that made showering fun! Now for the star of the show....the bidet toilet seat was a sweet surprise and such a nice touch. A Coffee maker, small fridge, hairdryer, and safe round out the amenities. They have a nice gym, fully appointed in the basement with a steam room, dry sauna and shower area. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they include free parking with a stay there. WOW! what a nice option. I would return here in a minute and if you are looking for a place to stay in San Sebastián, you wont go wrong staying here. I can give it my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

Great pensione. Wonderful owner. Reasonable. Right in the heart of old town but on a quiet street'…read moresteps away from la concha Our host (Ibon sp?) was really gracious and helped us find amazing Pinxto pubs that satisfied our foodie needs. THe rooms were modern, well kept. The rooms had nature themes (fire, water, air, etc) and for the most part the rooms were all the same. 8 of us shared 4 rooms and out of the 4, Fuego was by far the largest. Note that the two rooms facing the front of the street have a balcony but no AC. Would definitely recommend to anyone staying in San Sebastian. It's literally 5 minutes away from the beach and all the Pinxto pub goodness

Pensión Iturriza is a fantastic little gem in San Sebastián. It is located on a quiet street that…read moreis within walking distance of the vibrant old town square . The owners (Ibon and his wife) are a super nice couple who are attentive to the needs of their guests and can steer you in the right direction if you're in need of restaurant recommendations. The rooms are tidy and sufficiently spacious and comfortable. My recent stay at Pensión Iturriza made my San Sebastián visit a relaxing and memorable experience and I will return to Pensión Iturriza on my next visit to San Sebastián.

I've stayed here twice now and had a great stay both times. The woman at the front desk was…read moreincredibly kind and friendly and allowed me to check in early which was great because it rained the first day I arrived. The room is nothing special or fancy, but it's clean and has all the things you need. The best thing about the place is the location, right in old town, close to the train station, and the coastline, as well as the hike up the hill to the old fort. If you love San Sebastián like I do, you'll love staying here.

Parma Hotel provides all the benefits of staying in Parte Vieja (Old Town) San Sebastian, with none…read moreof the hassles. Located on the far edge of Parte Vieja, a few blocks away from all of the into-the-early-morning noise of the pintxo bars and drunk revelers, you can count on a good nights sleep. After trying to spend one disastrous, miserable, hot, noise-filled night in a pension in Parte Vieja, we switched to Parma Hotel and couldn't have been happier. The 24 hour front desk is extraordinarily polite, knowledgeable and helpful. The rooms, while small in a typical crowded European city standard, are very clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. Unloading and loading luggage is very easy, using the 2 spaces provided immediately in front of the door for such purposes. Private parking is very conveniently located nearby in an underground parking lot. It is significantly discounted from the public lots and comes with unlimited in and out privileges. If you want to experience the best of San Sebastian--lounging at Playa de la Concha and playing in the waves at Gros, shopping and pintxo-ing in Parte Vieja, touring the harbor, visiting Museo San Telmo, walking the promenade at night, then Parma Hotel is in one of the best locations for all of this. At 130 Euros/night, it was a bit expensive for us, but San Sebastian is the most expensive city in all of the Basque Country as well as all of Spain. If we wanted a comfortable stay in one of the best, most convenient locations available in San Sebastian, we would return to Parma Hotel.