Hotel Artetxe

After a long 8.5hr drive, we arrived at the Hotel Artetex. We felt jaded & cranky, but were immediately impressed by it & its location. The swift check in & old fashioned proper metal key! When we entered our room the SPECTACULAR view of Bilbao City & Athletico Bilbao stadium below us from a proper Spanish window, we were ginning from ear to ear. Lovely room, comfy bed & great pillows, modern bathroom with a super shower & lashings of hot water. This hotel is on atop a mountain. We awoke to a chorus of a menagerie of animals. Cockerels , many different birds, dogs & even a donkey & a few hens chattering away. Although we were not at all bothered by this, some people may not appreciate a dawn chorus! It's very traditional lots of polished wood & immaculately clean. Loved the family history, which you can read on the dining room walls. After a delicious buffet continental breakfast (€10 per person) supervised by pleasant smiling staff we headed off to the port to catch the Ferry. We would stay here again without hesitation. Thank you, gracias, merci 😘

The hotel offers magnificent views from the hilltop where it is located. It’s very quiet and one gets much more fresh air than staying downtown. Plenty of free parking space. Rooms are small but clean and have comfortable mattresses. A kettle for hot water is provided but no coffee sachets, only camomile tea. To reach town center, take the funicular (4,30€ return trip) which is approx. 4 km away (free parking possible at the station)

We arrived here after a terrible day - too much driving, a minor traffic accident (not our fault), and about 4 hours looking for somewhere to stay in a terrifyingly busy Bilbao due to a massive music festival which seemed to have wiped out all the mobile phone signal for miles around, and also meant out alternative site for our night in the motorhome was not available. At 8pm, having driven out of the city I finally got a phone signal and some diesel (running on fumes by that stage). By 9pm we made it to the hotel which mercifully had a car park easily large enough for all the cars and now our motorhome. Coline, the receptionist gave us a lovely smile, a 5 star check in, and our very ruffled feathers settled a little. The decor is nothing special - think Premier Inn - but it’s clean, comfortable and well situated for getting into the city. And views from the hotel over the city the next morning we’re spectacular - not that we now have any fondness left for Bilbao. Next morning Coline’s colleague was equally smiley and helpful. We got two lovely coffees for 4 euros, the breakfast looked as good as anybody could want but unfortunately we already had food in the motorhome! In summary, a perfectly adequate hotel at a reasonable rate (we paid about 100 euros) for Bilbao, great car parking, and THE BEST staff.

We stayed here off the ferry, as it allowed easy route onwards North, easy access to central Bilbao (catch the bus up to the funicular railway), safe bike parking, and an excuse to use the transporter bridge from the ferry terminal! Excellent value, fantastic breakfast, super friendly. Recommended.