Baiolei

The shared kitchen was well equipped, and we made some nice dinners there. There was complimentary coffee and tea, too. Ana welcomed us so warmly that we felt at home right away, and her day trip suggestions were really helpful. Our room was tidy and had everything we needed. We had a wonderful stay at Baiolei and would happily recommend it.

The village is a little downhill, so this spot feels much greener and more peaceful. We loved the shared kitchen, and everything was lovely and clean. The host was so friendly. Perfect!

The best part of Baiolei for us was the fully equipped kitchen and veranda. We could sort out breakfast, lunch, and dinner ourselves, and tourist information is right by the entrance. Ana welcomed us in a warm, low-key way. She speaks Basque, Spanish, and English. We stayed twice, once in June and again in September, and tried two different bedrooms, one downstairs and one upstairs. Both visits were a pleasure: comfortable beds, modern bathrooms, and practical furnishings. The house sits above Azpeitia, surrounded by fields, with lovely views of town and the mountains. It feels like countryside right beside the city. Azpeitia has a charming old quarter and pedestrian paths along the River Urola Ibaia. The Loiola sanctuary and its park are worth seeing, and there's a long-distance trail starting there. If you look around, you can also find an old tunnel and a former railway cutting that's now a garden. The station is a museum of Basque railway history, with a particularly good exhibition design. It's about 20 minutes from the coast, so Azpeitia offers a lively shopping town as a summer option away from the crowds. One thing to keep in mind: the road between Baiolei and town is narrow and winding, so drive carefully.

The hosts were friendly and took good care of me, answering all my questions. It was easy enough to get down to town to look around or find something to eat. I spent two nights in the room with the spa bath. It was spacious, the bed was comfortable, and the mountain views around the property were fantastic. I'd love to come back to this beautiful spot.