Catalonia Donosti

Five star experience. Friendly staff. Beautiful interior. Hilltop views over old town, yet only two blocks from La concha beach. Epic rooftop pool, and peaceful rooftop terrace bar. Fantastic breakfast spread. Beautiful bedrooms with giant queen beds, attractive decor, heavy blackout curtains. Nice basement spa with jacuzzi, jets, sauna and cold plunge pool, and also a small gymnasium.

This was a lovely hotel that felt well worth the price. The room wasn’t overly spacious, but it was large enough to comfortably open our suitcases, and the service throughout our stay was excellent. While the location is a bit removed from the town center, that also means you can enjoy a peaceful escape from the crowds. Perched on a hilltop, the hotel offers stunning views. The main street sits down below a cliff, but there’s a private lift for hotel guests, so getting around is no trouble at all. We included breakfast in our stay, and it was delicious—we never got tired of it during our three-night stay. The fitness room had only the basics: three treadmills (or possibly two—I might be misremembering), a set of dumbbells, and a cable machine. There was just one elliptical, which felt a bit lacking, but honestly, we barely saw anyone else using the gym. The only real downside was spotting a cockroach in our room, which was unfortunate.

We visited Catalonia Donostia during our honeymoon, coming off an incredible trip in Greece where hotel staff greeted us warmly, celebrated our occasion with a handwritten note, wine, and specialty treats, and made us feel truly welcome. Unfortunately, our experience here was starkly different. Upon arrival, the front desk had two staff members. One ignored us entirely, focused on his computer despite no other guests waiting. The other—a woman with shoulder-length wavy hair—finished assisting another group, gestured us over, and avoided eye contact. We were excited and said in Spanish, “It’s our honeymoon!”—no reaction. Thinking she hadn’t heard, we repeated it in English and Spanish. She finally looked up, made eye contact, and simply said, “OK.” That was it. We almost laughed because it felt so dismissive. The hotel itself is attractive, clean in most areas, and the rooftop pool offers a beautiful view. Breakfast service staff were warm and attentive. However, our shower had black mold, which was disappointing for a four-star property. This hotel may be a good fit for families—most guests seemed to have children—but it didn’t feel welcoming or celebratory for a couple on a special trip. By checkout, we noticed another couple visibly upset with the front desk, which made us feel less alone in our frustration. That said, the younger receptionist with darker hair and skin was lovely and helpful whenever we interacted with her. San Sebastián itself was absolutely wonderful, and we’re glad we visited, but based on principle, we wouldn’t choose this hotel again. My only regret is not voicing our concerns during the stay—it bothered me the entire time.