Axel Hotel Bilbao – Adults Only

The rooftop pool is excellent, though it’s only open in summer. There’s also a smaller pool on the lower floors with six loungers and hot tub fountain features, plus a great gym and massage service. The hotel is suitable for older people and people with disabilities. This is a top LGBTQi plus hotel, with a diverse team of workers. It’s a must stay for seasoned boys or girls, and great for LGBTQi plus couples. Breakfast is excellent at 17 euros, and the bar is excellent too. The beds are really comfy and the room amenities are good. Bring your own slippers or robe if you booked a standard room. The washroom has a bidet attached, and it works perfectly with adjustable temperature. I slept perfectly without hallway noise. There’s a kettle and fridge in the room, and the air conditioning works perfectly. I was also able to order food from outside, and it arrived within 15 min.

We only stayed one night when we first got to Bilbao, and it worked well for that. The location is good, a stone’s throw from the Old Town and the market. The pool looks better in the pictures, but we were there in the off season, so perhaps they spruce it up in summer. Our room was dark, at the back with no natural light. The bathroom is all glass, which could be awkward on a longer stay if you’re sharing with family, as I was. Still, a good hotel for one night.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the hotel felt peaceful. It’s adults-only, which was a bonus, and even though it overlooks a busy stretch of the old town, the rooms are very quiet. We loved the facilities, especially the gym and spa. We just wished the weather had been better for the rooftop pool. The rooms are chic, comfortable and well designed, and it’s a lovely hotel as well as a perfect base for exploring Bilbao.

I really enjoyed my six nights here. The room was spacious, had an opening window and was cleaned well every day. It’s easy to walk to the casco viejo, or catch a bus or tram to other parts of town. I also regularly walked to the train/subway station at San Nikolas without any trouble. The one thing that bothered me was the elevators. There are two, but they don’t communicate with each other, and you can’t see where either one is, so waiting can take a while. A special shout out to the bartender on the roof, who regularly handled a bunch of people ordering drinks right before closing. He was great!