Leonardo Boutique Hotel San Sebastián

James and Edi at reception were always on hand to help, and I want to give them a special thanks. The staff couldn't have been more helpful. The Leonardo Boutique hotel is ideally placed, just a 10minute walk from the Old town and five minutes from the beach. Don't hesitate to book for a San Sebastian stay.

The room was clean and a good size, and with the windows shut you barely hear anything from outside. It's a very good central location. I'm giving four stars because one of the two rooms we booked smelled strongly of cigarettes. The hotel was full, so we couldn't move rooms, and there was no compensation.

The property itself was nice, but the customer service was awful. I booked a room advertised with a balcony and triple checked that it was the right one because I planned to propose to my now fiance. Instead, I was put several floors down in a different room with no balcony or view. Staff were no help in fixing it. They told me verbally and later by email that it was my fault, for reasons I still don't understand. There was no partial discount or effort to make things right, just verbal abuse and a flippant disregard. I'd recommend finding somewhere else in San Sebastián.

The location worked well for us, with Zurriola beach just minutes away and the heart of the old town about a 10-minute walk. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, and Gros seemed to offer a more local experience than many places in the old town. I wouldn't mind staying again, though I might skip breakfast next time since it wasn't that impressive. We got an early check-in and room 510. It was a decent size, with a large bed, a small sofa, desk and chair, plus a little table and chair. The open wardrobe had no safe. There was no iron or ironing board in the room, but reception could provide one on request. The small bathroom was functional, with a good-sized shower and what seemed like good quality shampoo and soap. We barely used the TV, and the Wi-Fi worked fine. The website describes breakfast as a buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. What we were offered was a choice of sandwiches, fruit or yogurt, and coffee, rather than a buffet. It was decent enough, and sitting outside at the small café/restaurant on the ground floor next to the hotel was lovely.