Mendi Alai

The drive through the quiet countryside, with its spectacular views, was part of the adventure. At Mendi Alai, Mrs. Victoria welcomed us with real warmth and made the stay feel like visiting a friend or family member. She told us about her family, their traditions, and the history of the Basque Country, and served a hearty breakfast made with produce from their land. My wife and I are teachers from Texas, U.S., and this was our first trip to Spain. We stayed briefly at this small family-owned hotel as a different kind of experience. We saw many wonderful things on our journey, but the people, especially gracious Mrs. Victoria, were the real treasure. We’d recommend Mendi Alai to travelers from anywhere, and encourage people to step outside their comfort zone and visit. P.S. Thank you, Mrs. Victoria, for the books you gave us. We’ll share what you taught us about your language and community with our students.

The people are nice and sweet, and things look clean, but they really aren’t. The bed looked as if someone had been killed on it, and everything smelled really bad and old. At least you don’t have to sleep there too much: the rooster will take care of waking you, or the noise from the dining room will. It’s a little sad, as I’m sure the people do their best.

It’s a lovely, home-from-home sort of place, though a bit off the beaten track. The couple who run it are lovely and take very good care of you, and the atmosphere is very relaxed.

The couple are lovely and friendly. There’s a great choice of food, and it’s all locally sourced.