The City of San Sebastian, Spain is in the north of the country, close to France, in Basque Country. It’s known by the Basques as Donosti, thus the name of one of the top places to stay in town: Catalonia Donosti Hotel.
The brand name Catalonia is not very well-known in North America and there are only a few international members of the chain, but in Spain the chain is a household name in travel, with more than 40 properties scattered across the country. So you get the advantages of a well-run hospitality organization when you stay here, yet in a place that doesn’t make you feel like you never left home.
The location of Catalonia Donosti will depend a lot on what you’re planning to do and see, as well as how in shape you are. There’s no Uber in San Sebastian and you can’t flag down a taxi either, so almost everyone who visits the city ends up walking everywhere they need to go. With an umbrella in hand many months of the year.
The location is a few blocks from a lot of attractions, such as the middle beach of three, the main cathedral, and places to go shopping. Then if you walk about 15 minutes you get to Old Town, a touristy but attractive area filled with places serving the Basque version of tapas: pintxos. A little further on in each direction are the two other beaches and a funicular going up to the top of a mountain.
The first impression at this Donosti hotel is a good one, with an attractive lobby to settle into if you need to wait, a nice library and business center one level up, and a restaurant and bar combo of ample size right off the lobby. The centerpiece is a big glass elevator surrounded by stairs leading up and down.
Catalonia Donosti Amenities
The restaurant and bar combo here is inviting, with a mood that changes throughout the day. At breakfast time it’s buzzing with guests serving themselves at the excellent buffet, which has a variety of tasty food to please most any palate, including some local meats and cheeses, an array of healthy items, and baked goods. There are hot and cold items, juices, and individual coffees from two machines.
Some bookings will include breakfast in the rates, otherwise it’s about €22.50 per person, so make this the big meal of the day if paying extra.
The area is flooded with natural light from two sides and since this building is on a hilltop instead of wedged between others, even on a rainy day it never gets gloomy. Into the afternoon and evening you can order drinks and small bites and eventually this becomes a dinner spot. With so many great restaurants in the city though, including more Michelin-recognized spots than any other city in the world per capita, the evening crowds are much smaller than the morning ones.
One level down from the lobby is an area with a spa, full gym, and beauty salon. There are also some meeting rooms on this level as well as an elevator taking you down to the commercial street below, saving a zig-zagging walk and some stairs to get there.
The big advantage of this San Sebastian hotel over most others is that it has a large swimming pool with a view (see the photo at the top). It’s a great place to relax and look over the rooftops to the sea. There are several sections of cushioned lounge chairs and it’s an inviting spot with trees, lavender plants, and rosemary bushes.
Strangely though, there’s no bar on the whole roof, even though the other side has a huge outdoor lounge area with even better views of the city and the sea, looking out toward the main beach. In a city that indulges in so much day drinking, it seems like a wasted opportunity.
Donosti Hotel Rooms
You head down a wide and attractive hallway to get to guest rooms here that are upscale and inviting, with full floor-to-ceiling windows, nice leather headboards, and laminate hardwood floors. Apart from the European hotel quirk of having two doubles shoved together to make a king, the continental sacrifices are minimal here. There’s a spacious bathroom with a great shower and plenty of counter space.
The controls for the climate control actually works here and there are ample places to charge up the gadgets. There are two reading lights on each side over the bed, one hanging from the ceiling and one focused one on the wall for reading.
My double room had two armchairs, a cushioned desk chair, and a leather bench that can double as a place to set the suitcase. Amenities include an espresso machine, mini fridge, tea kettle, wall-mounted TV, and ample toiletries in the bathroom.
The do have smaller single rooms available here, but they seem to be the same price as a double. Or you can go up in room class to get a sea view or upgrade to a suite. The top option is a junior suite with a terrace and sea view, so you can have your own private party outside and have room to spread out. These also come with a one-hour spa treatment.
Room rates at Catalonia Donosti Hotel vary greatly by season. They start as low as $110 in the winter, including a big buffet breakfast without breakfast, but can start at more than $350 many summer nights. You can book directly with the hotel chain and get a 7% discount if you’re in their loyalty program, or check rates online at Expedia. Garage parking is available for a fee and they have charging stations for electric vehicles.
Tim Leffel was hosted at Catalonia Donosti by the Basque Country Tourism Board while attending the Travel Bloggers Exchange Europe conference (TBEX) as a VIP guest.
