Can anybody recommend a moderately priced hostal or pension in San Sebastian and also in Bilbao? We're planning a trip in late February

Don't know if this is any help, but we're going to Bilbao in March and have booked in at the Arriaga. Was recommended in Rough Guide and is 66 euros a night. It's impossible to find any websites on Bilbao hostals!

Group: I just did a quick www.Google.com search and only found the following for Bilbao: Hostal Central @ www.hostalcentral.com

MM if you give us an web site like Hostel Central in Bilbao and you can't click for English, can I assume that an English site is not available? In and around Bilbao there
are a large number of farm houses where the rates are relatively low and the accomodations are great,especially if you like kitchen privileges. http://english.toprural.com/ is a great site. Select Viscaya and you will get the rural houses near Bilbao. We have stayed in two of these places. Once we took the whole house with 13 people and the other time we stayed at a rural aparthotel and both were great. Staying slightly out of Bilbao really gives you a flavor for the people that you don't get in the big cities. MM note this site is available in English!!

[ 02-07-2002: Message edited by: sabalagirl ]

Years ago I stayed at Pension La Perla in San Sebastian. It was very clean and had a full bath in the room. It is located in front of the cathedral, within walking distance of the beaches (not that you'll be enjoying the lovely beaches in Feb)!

sabalagirl, yes, it seems the site I listed above does not have an English version. Sorry!
I'm sure it won't be long before places like Bilbao AND San Sebastian and others will get themselves on the Internet - if not, they'll be left behind.

Hello sabalagirl.

I don't know about hostels in San Sebastián.

I just want to say you two things. The first one that you must know is that in the Basque Country "San Sebastián" is called "Donostia". So, if you see any market or something as "Donostia" it's the same as "San Sebastián".

The second thing is a little old bar. It's name is "Juantxo" and it's in the inner city (parte vieja). There you'll find the best "bocadillos de tortilla de patatas" of the world (almost in my opinion). If one day you just want to dinner a bocadillo and a beer you should drop by this bar. The squiz bocadillos are also very good.
This bar is located between Embeltra an Esterlines streets. It has an entry in each street. Those streets are parallel to the Boulevard. If you are in the boulevard near the city hall and come into the parte vieja, the first street on your right is Embeltra street.

Good luck!