Hôtel Donibane

Hotel Donibane’s large property -- complete with sprawling lawns, flower beds, vegetable patches, and Pyrenees views -- provides a bubble of tranquility in an otherwise conventional commercial neighborhood. A dining patio and pretty lounger-lined pool let guests maximize their fresh-air time; but even the interior common areas feel sunny and bright. The sky-lighted lobby, for example, features a cherry-red reception desk and walls adorned with colorful contemporary art, while the adjacent bar and small fitness room have glass doors that seem to bring the outside in. That said, there's nothing particularly memorable about the decor at the Donibane. Instead, the appeal is more in the hotel's features, its calm atmosphere, and its competitive rates.

Hotel Donibane sits northeast of the city center, in a commercial area that's close to the highway. Sightseers might get frustrated that there are no attractions in walking distance. However, Place Louis-XIV -- the historical center of Saint-Jean-de-Luz -- is only six minutes away by car. (You can reach it via a direct bus, too, if you don’t mind a few extra minutes of travel time.) The key tourist attractions are located within a short drive as is the sandy sweep of the aptly named Grande Plage. Better yet, when you’re in the mood for a day trip, popular Basque destinations like Anglet, Biarritz, Bayonne, and even San Sebastian in Spain can be accessed by car in 35-minutes or less. 

• Five-minute drive to the Saint-Jean-de-Luz-Ciboure Train Station
• Six-minute drive to Place Louis-XIV
• Seven-minute drive to Maison de l'Infante
• Seven-minute drive to Casino JOA
• Seven-minute drive to Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste
• Eight-minute drive to the Grand Plage
• Nine-minute drive to Maison Louis-XIV
• 14-minute drive to Biarritz Pays Basque Airport 
• 16-minute drive to Anglet 
• 19-minute drive to Biarritz 
• 20-minute drive to Bayonne 
• 35-minute drive to San Sebastian, Spain

Available in a variety of sizes -- from wee singles to family-friendly quadruples -- the 63 rooms here share a common decorating scheme. Red, gray, and black striped carpeting dominates, with complementary curtains and gray accent walls creating a unified look. The clean-lined furniture is kept to a minimum (aside from beds, each contains only nightstands, a small desk, and a chair). The same goes for the in-room amenities: LED TVs with satellite channels, free bottled water, and free Wi-Fi are found in all categories, but air-conditioning, minibars and tea/coffee-making equipment are noticeably absent. On the upside, the cute matching bathrooms boast rectangular vessel sinks and attractive glass-doored showers with tile details (the largest of the lot include a separate tub, too); towel warmers, basic toiletries, and hairdryers are also provided. Note that some second-floor options have low ceilings, and hence may not be the best choice for tall guests.

While its location and its rooms are a mixed bag, Hotel Donibane's features are a highlight, and the property packs in a lot for a three-and-a-half-pearl place. Outdoor amenities lead the list, the most notable being a pretty heated pool and surrounding deck dotted with sunbeds and umbrellas. The restaurant’s attractive plant-edged, mountain-view patio scores points, too. Three meals a day (all at extra charge) can be enjoyed either there or inside the dining room (which isn't quite as attractive). Both buffet and à la carte items -- regional Basque dishes among them -- are offered. Guests who wish to lounge afterwards can install themselves in the adjacent bar, relax with a book in the comfortable lounge, or simply retreat to garden. Those seeking a little exercise can make use of a bocce ball court or a small but bright fitness room equipped with a treadmill, stationary bike, and bench press. Two meeting rooms with a combined capacity of 75 people can be requested for events of every category, and basic business services (such as faxing and photocopying) are available as well. Other on-site features include a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, room service, free newspapers in the lobby, free parking outdoors, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi.