NH Collection San Sebastian Aranzazu

NH Collection San Sebastian was most recently renovated in May 2015 and overall the hotel feels fresh and modern, even if it doesn't have a ton of character (a pretty common flaw with the NH chain). The lobby is decorated with neutral colors and metallics, and has a large lounge area with upscale furniture and a huge spherical chandelier. Other public areas of the hotel -- like the meeting rooms, business center and bar restaurant -- are mostly gray and don’t have any decor or art on the walls. One exception is the small dining area near the bar, within the restaurant, which has high tables and chairs, gold light fixtures, and a really elegant feel. The bar and restaurant are popular enough to attract locals to the mix, giving them a livelier vibe. Given the overall ambiance it’s unsurprising that the hotel attracts a lot of business travelers, though it also appeals to families and couples who value proximity to the beach. 

NH Collection Aranzazu is located in a sleepy, residential part of San Sebastian, to the southwest of the beaches and the Old Town. While the general vicinity is quiet, the street just outside the hotel is busy with cars whizzing by, and the hotel is surrounded by other hotels as well as both commercial and residential buildings, including grocery stores and other shops. While these conveniences are easily accessible to guests staying at the hotel, some of the main attractions of the city are not. Famous La Concha Beach and its lovely promenade are the closest destination, a 10-minute walk to the closest point. But the Old Town, which is ground zero for tourists visiting San Sebastian, is 10 to 15 minutes away by car. About 10 minutes farther are the most family-friendly sites like Mount Urgull, Castillo de la Monta, and the city’s aquarium. In terms of getting out of town, the closest airport (with domestic flights only) is about 30 minutes away by car, and the nearest major city, Bilbao, is a 70-minute drive (it's also home to an international airport).

Rooms at the NH Collection Aranzazu are modern, clean, and of average size compared with other hotels in this part of Europe. Due to renovations at different times, room decor varies depending on the floor. Higher floor rooms have lime green patterns on the walls and the rest are mostly white and gray, with quilted, ceiling-high headboards accented by yellow-tinted lighting. Flat-screen TVs are large in all of the rooms and suites, and all have air-conditioning -- which some report as being spotty. Other standard features include stocked minibars, coffee-and tea-making facilities, word desks, safes, slippers and bathrobes. Bathrooms are stocked with toiletries and hairdryers and are sleek-looking, with dark blue and gray walls and rainfall showers. Heated towel racks add a dose of comfort. The Junior Suite is the only type of room with a bathtub. Junior Suites also have good-sized separate sitting rooms. All other rooms sleep two people either in queen size beds or two twins. Wi-Fi is free in all rooms, though isn't always reliable. 

At NH Collection San Sebastian Aranzazu, there aren’t a ton of extras, but what's on offer does generally please the hotel's guests. The restaurant and bar, Kukuarri, serves traditional Basque cuisine, and some say the pintxos are nearly as good as what one might find at restaurants in the Old Town. The breakfast buffet if a big spread of pastries, cold cuts, cereals and more, and is popular with guests but comes with an additional fee. A fitness center with several treadmills and a full selection of free weights is open 24 hours a day, but there's no pool or spa. For business travelers, meeting rooms of different sizes are available and can hold up to three hundred guests. Other notable features include indoor parking, laundry service, a small business center, and noticeable effort to make the hotel generally wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators. The hotel also adjusts their schedule on Sundays to acknowledge a day of rest by offering late breakfast and free late checkout. Wi-Fi is also free throughout the hotel’s common areas and rooms.