Pensión Ab Domini

We had the private room, which suited our needs perfectly. The pension is semi-automated, so you don’t need staff involvement unless you’re not keen on checking the details before you arrive. Make sure you have the security PINs for both the main door and your assigned room in advance, especially if you won’t have mobile internet. You’re right in the heart of the old town, with pintxo bars, the main market and restaurants only metres away. Locals and tourists celebrate life late into the night, so it can get very noisy. Still, give it a try!

The location gets five stars, bars and the beach are within walking distance. Service gets three: the receptionist was rarely around, but friendly when she was, and there were free apples at reception. The room gets two stars. There was no blanket on the bed; I found one stuffed in a plastic bag in the wardrobe. It smelled a bit and looked like a towel.

The price was tremendously competitive, and the location near the Breitxe market in the parte vieja was perfect. The room had complimentary soft drinks in the minibar, a lovely shower with strong pressure, and fresh, top-quality bath towels every day. The beds were comfortable, with firm foam pillows and softer down ones for different preferences. Best of all was the service. I mentioned that the WiFi signal wasn’t reaching my room properly, and the owner came over and installed a personal router right there for the strongest possible reception. Highly recommended.

Betty made me feel right at home when I was nervous about everything. My room has a little balcony and a private bathroom, and I’m glad I chose that option. It’s a simple, cute little place, very, very clean, with thoughtful touches that make it feel homey. The key worked perfectly, I felt secure, and the WiFi was great.