Pensión Zinkoenea

The owner was very pleasant, but that's about the only positive. The place is badly in need of renovation and is very overpriced for what you get. The walls are stained from years of neglect and damp, the old spring mattresses made the beds uncomfortable, the curtain was torn and covered in cobwebs, and the bathroom was tiny. Horrible.

I've stayed here several times and even recommended it to friends and family. This time, though, we came planning to stay several days, spent just one night, then moved elsewhere. It was very run-down and dirty, with stains on the wall. Water leaked from the shower hose, one side of the curtain was hanging loose, and a shelf bracket was coming away from the wall.

After an eight-hour walk, the bar was a treat. I had delicious grilled sardines that had just come in from the port, and a large baby eel salad. Thursdays are sardine day, and the waiter was attentive. It was the end of a stage on the inland Basque Way from Irún to Hernani. Since Covid meant no pilgrim hostels were open, I stayed here in a double room with a bathroom at a good price. The owner was very friendly and welcoming, and I'm grateful to the guesthouse and bar staff. I wanted to recommend the place in the Consumer guide to the Camino de Santiago, but it seems overwhelmed at the moment. I'll try again.

For San Sebastián prices, €55 for a double room is cheap. The sheets and towels were clean, but the damp, spiders and really dirty, disgusting walls were a problem. Someone had been smoking, and the smell was obvious in the room. The owner was very friendly, but I recommend urgent painting and renovation. Hernani is 10 miles from San Sebastián on the C1 commuter train.