Hotel Aitana

Whenever I come from Paris by train to Hendaye, I stay here before heading on to Bilbao the following morning.

The train station is only a short walk away, and there are a couple of nice restaurants nearby. Our room was clean and cozy, the shower had lovely warm water, and the staff were friendly. I’d read some of the comments here and expected less, so I was pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed our stay.

I accidentally booked a room for four, then realized I couldn’t make it to the hotel. I asked for a refund just 20 minutes after booking. The next day they replied, “I’m so sorry. In this case, a refund is not possible. Thanks.” I lost €207 over this, and feel they acted selfishly and dishonestly. I wouldn’t recommend staying somewhere run by people like that.

The coffee was good. The breakfast, though, seemed designed to leave you constipated, with no fresh vegetables at all. My small room had very little coziness, and the vibrating noise from the lights was quite something. If you’re near the restaurant, expect the chatter from its bar guests and tables being moved, sometimes with a train passing nearby. At check-in, I could smell smoke from the restaurant terrace in the hotel entry hall. The hotel sits between a gambling hall and a tobacco shop, a warm welcome indeed.