Trip Option — San Sebastián (Donostia), Spain
Sat Aug 29 – Sun Sep 6, 2026 (8 nights) · two couples · walkable single base, car-free (a few optional car days) · anchor stay: Hotel de Londres on La Concha + a 1-night María Cristina splurge. Timing note: Semana Grande ends mid-August, so late Aug/early Sep is calm.
Getting there (car-free)
DEN → Newark (EWR) → Bilbao (BIO) on United — the only EWR–BIO nonstop (~7h30, seasonal). Fly DEN→EWR Fri Aug 28 PM, connect to the overnight, land Sat Aug 29. BIO → San Sebastián: direct PESA coach, ~75 min, ~hourly, ~€17/person. (EAS is closer but thin — BIO is better.) Return Sun Sep 6.
The anchor stay (Amanda's unique building)
| Option | Why | Rate (summer) | Config |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra ⭐ base | grand 19th-c. building directly on La Concha, balconies, La Perla spa discount | ~$460/night | 2 sea-view rooms |
| Hotel María Cristina (splurge night) | the 1912 belle-époque grande dame on the river | ~$700–1,100/night ⚠️ | 2 deluxe, 1 night |
| Marqués de Riscal (Gehry, Rioja) | titanium-ribbon architectural icon | ~$700–900/night ⚠️ ~2h car each way | optional day-trip, not a base |
Recommended blend: 7 nights at Hotel de Londres (on the bay, car-free, in-budget) + 1 splurge night at María Cristina for Amanda's belle-époque "wow." Riscal stays an optional car day, not a base.
Day by day
- Sat Aug 29 — Arrive. BIO → PESA coach → Hotel de Londres on La Concha. Slow bay-promenade stroll, light pintxos dinner. Early night.
- Sun Aug 30 — Old town + Aquarium. Parte Vieja, then the Aquarium Donostia on the harbor (flat, shaded, €15, the 360° oceanarium tunnel — the easy animal win for Amanda + Maria). Afternoon La Concha lounging for Kieran.
- Mon Aug 31 — Surf / culture / calm. Davis: Zurriola surf lesson. Maria + Amanda: San Telmo Museum. Kieran: calm La Concha swim.
- Tue Sep 1 — Monte Igeldo + zipline. Historic funicular to the clifftop park (gentle for all at the top); Davis adds Canopy Donosti Aventura (17 ziplines). Maria + Amanda: clifftop café + gardens.
- Wed Sep 2 — Spa + María Cristina splurge night. Move bags for the one belle-époque night. Kieran + Maria: La Perla thalasso (seawater pools — confirm pregnancy-safe treatments). Amanda: Miramar Palace gardens + a cooked-pintxos crawl.
- Thu Sep 3 — Caserío farm animal day (no bees). Short pre-arranged transfer (<40 min) to a Basque farmhouse — sheep (Latxa), cheese-making, calm rural day. Back to Hotel de Londres for the remaining nights.
- Fri Sep 4 — Davis's big day. Karting Irun (~25 min by train) or a guided Pyrenees via ferrata (needs a car/guide — flagged). Kieran: beach club + La Perla. Maria + Amanda: gentle Monte Urgull walk + harbor lunch.
- Sat Sep 5 — Optional Gehry day OR slow finale. Option A: ~2h transfer to Marqués de Riscal for a vineyard lunch under the Gehry ribbons (long day — skip if Maria prefers calm). Option B (recommended): relaxed final La Concha day + farewell pintxos.
- Sun Sep 6 — Depart. PESA coach to BIO, fly BIO→EWR→DEN.
Per-traveler wins
- Davis: Zurriola surf, the Igeldo canopy zipline, karting or a via-ferrata day, optional Gehry pilgrimage.
- Amanda: the belle-époque hotels, Parte Vieja + San Telmo + Miramar gardens, the Aquarium and the caserío farm, Europe's best walkable dining.
- Kieran: the calm La Concha bay, La Perla thalasso, beach clubs, lounging.
- Maria: flat walkable old town and promenade, calm pace, mild Atlantic weather, animals without the risky bits.
Healthcare
Policlínica Gipuzkoa (private, international office) + Hospital Universitario Donostia (public), ~10 min from the bay. Save both addresses + EU emergency 112.
Budget (per couple, all-in, USD)
| Item | Lower | Upper |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (DEN–BIO via EWR, 2) | $1,700 | $2,800 |
| Lodging (7 nt Londres + 1 nt M. Cristina, ÷2) | $1,900 | $2,400 |
| Pintxos/dining (~9 days) | $720 | $1,170 |
| Activities (surf, zipline, funicular, spa, aquarium, farm) | $350 | $700 |
| Transfers (PESA + farm/optional car day) | $120 | $500 |
| Per couple | ~$4,790 | ~$7,570 |
Inside band on the low/mid end; drop the María Cristina night to stay comfortably under $5k. The Gehry car day is the other swing.
Book / verify
- United DEN→EWR (Fri Aug 28) + EWR→BIO overnight; return Sun Sep 6 — confirm 2026 schedule.
- Hotel de Londres — 2 sea-view rooms Aug 29–Sep 6 (release the Sep 2 night).
- Hotel María Cristina — 2 deluxe rooms, night of Sep 2 (book early).
- PESA coach BIO↔SS for Aug 29 & Sep 6.
- Zurriola surf (Aug 31), Canopy Donosti (Sep 1), Aquarium (Sep 1).
- La Perla — confirm pregnancy-safe treatments (Sep 2).
- Caserío farm + transfer (Sep 3); optional karting/via-ferrata or Riscal (Sep 4–5).
- Save Policlínica Gipuzkoa + Hospital Donostia + 112.
Verdict: the most balanced (every traveler ≥7), most walkable-dining, in-budget option — a calm bay for the relaxation camp and a real belle-époque "wow," with the Gehry icon as an optional splurge. Adventure for Davis is good-not-spectacular.