Impulsive Christmas Trip

[amaroo]

Based on the car rental timeline you must be close to dropping it back (today?), be interested to know if Europcar try and pull one over you (they've tried it on me twice, so I've never rented with them since!).

The car had some superficial damage, the agent noted all the damaged panels on the documents - pretty decent as that’s not the norm in my experience with Hertz.

Although it was a last minute action on his part as I already the key and paperwork and he did say this will be helpful.

Returning the car in Madrid was fast and incident free .... if you don’t take into account the mayhem that is Atocha. The emailed invoice was on the phone within minutes, and was all in accordance to what I was expecting.

Without that paperwork...... ?

 

[amaroo]

Segovia > San Sebastián, 4hr drive with nice scenery.





Everything changed the other side of this tunnel... weather, language, architecture, food, and people ..... all for a toll of €14 - what a bargain!

 

[amaroo]

Our hotel in San Sebastián - Hotel Maria Christina. It’s a SPG (can you still say that) luxury collection property. Very nice hotel in a great location .... quite surprised by the high quality of the rooms and hotel in general.

For some reason I didn’t take photos of our bathroom ..... pity it was nice and well above my expectations.

Our room - Premium River View King





The kids rooms - Premium River View Twin



Our bathroom was the same, however not accessible like kids





The view was the same from both rooms

 

[amaroo]

Some general photos of the hotel ..... looks like I didn’t take many I’m thinking the tintos were starting to take a toll

 

[amaroo]

By the time we checked in and sorted ourselves out it was around 5pm ..... about the same time the Spanish are finishing lunch

So we headed out for a look around the old town and a snack .... the hotel is a very easy 5-7 min walk to the old town.



Pintxos .... as delicious as they look!

 

[VPS]

Oh my we need a jealous button. I loved SS

 

[OZDUCK]

I did wonder what the inside of the Hotel Maria Christina was like - thanks. I was surprised how nice those baby eels on the pinxtos are.
You certainly did have a good, and jealousy inducing, time.

 

[rock86]

This is an amazing trip report, the weather looked to be absolutely amazing the whole time your were in Europe!

 

[amaroo]

Oh my we need a jealous button. I loved SS

Totally agree - we’ve been to Spain before, but didn’t venture into the North. We spent 9 days all up in the region and loved it

This is an amazing trip report, the weather looked to be absolutely amazing the whole time your were in Europe!

We’re still here and it’s still amazingly sunny. You can get lucky. Read the other day about Greece suffering-23 degrees and Athens covered in snow

 

[drron]

You are now officially known around this house as you lucky b****** amaroo.

 

[amaroo]

New Year’s Day and most restaurants were shut.

Concierge recommendation - La Vina, famous for baked cheesecake.

Absolutely packed to the rafters at 9.30pm .... we ended up being seated at 10.00






Pick of the menu - delicious chops



The cheesecake



Lovely walk back to the hotel

 

[JohnM]

You are now officially known around this house as you lucky b****** amaroo.

AKA being hit in the @rse by a rainbow - half your luck ya mongrel!... .

 

[Jacques Vert]

Some general photos of the hotel ..... looks like I didn’t take many I’m thinking the tintos were starting to take a toll

So did you have to pay for the tintos, or do they have an exec lounge?

 

[LadyC]

Those pintxos looked amazing!

 

[amaroo]

So did you have to pay for the tintos, or do they have an exec lounge?

More of an accumulation effect I’m a Plat Elite with Marriot, no lounge at this hotel, and quite honestly we wouldn’t have bothered using one with all the fabulous Pintxos bars and restaurants just around the corner.

 

[amaroo]

Hotel Maria Christina’s Pintxos guide.

Might be helpful for the next AFFier visiting San Sebastián

 

[amaroo]

San Sebastián - it felt more French than Spanish.... but it’s neither. They are definitely Basque! Their language is unrelated to any other in Europe and is isolate to any other known living language.

It has a terrific vibe - food, beaches, people, and the general style and feel of the place is intoxicating. We loved it!

 

[amaroo]

It’s hard to say no....

 

[amaroo]

Why would anyone say no - yummy!

 

[craven morehead]

View attachment 150257 View attachment 150258 View attachment 150259 View attachment 150260 View attachment 150261

Why would anyone say no - yummy!

View attachment 150262 View attachment 150264

I really shouldn't be looking at all these delicious food photos right on dinner time I'm on a hiding to nothing!