Parma Hotel

The Parma Hotel is housed on the first two floors of a building in the center of the Old Town action. For travelers who prize location over style, the hotel will be a fine (and exceptionally clean) bet, but there's little in the way of ambience. The lobby is big and has plenty of seating, with a small separate lounge area that the hotel is happy to offer as an event space. It may be suitable for a simple meeting, but the decor is worn and a bit dated, which describes many of the communal spaces in the hotel. The breakfast room is cheerful and casual, with one wall that opens to the lobby and another covered in framed art. There aren’t any balconies or terraces for enjoying the view to the beach and the sea right outside, but most guests who come to stay at the Parma Hotel are here to sleep and spend the rest of their time enjoying San Sebastian. The hotel attracts couples of all ages as well as some solo travelers, since it has a few single rooms. 

Parma Hotel is situated in one of the best spots in San Sebastian, and its location is its best feature. In the northeast corner of the Old Town, the hotel sits on the bank of the Urumea River, where its mouth reaches the sea at Playa la Zurriola, a beach popular with young people (particularly surfers). While the views from the hotel make you feel like you’re right on the beach, the walk to Zurriola takes about 10 minutes because of crossing a bridge across the river. The other famous beach in San Sebastian is La Concha, which is less than 15 minutes by foot in the other direction. In between is the bustling center of the city, the Old Town, where a cluster of San Sebastian’s famous, Michelin-starred restaurants are within a five-minute walk from the hotel. Getting to and from the hotel is generally easy, with Donostia's train and bus station just 10 minutes away by car. San Sebastian, the city’s closest airport that for domestic flights, is a 30-minute drive, while Bilbao’s international airport can be reached in about one hour and 10 minutes by car. 

Rooms at the Parma Hotel are clean, but most need updating and have little to no character. The furnishings -- which include a desk, wardrobe, and sometimes an armchair -- are drab and dated in many of the lower category rooms. Everything looks worn, with the exception of the bed linens, which are crisp and white. Walls are painted muted green or orange, and overall the look is basic. The hotel has both single and double rooms, with room for no more than two guests (keep in mind that doubles are often two twins pushed together). Double Sea View Rooms have a slightly more polished look and are filled with light through the large windows. By contrast, interior rooms have a window into a courtyard or on the street level, and are darker and feel less private. As far as amenities, all rooms have air-conditioning, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, but there are no mini-fridges or safes. Bathrooms are simple and clean, and look newer than the rest of the rooms. All have shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. 

There are few features or amenities to speak of at Parma Hotel, as is typical for a budget hotel in this region. A breakfast buffet is served in a small, cute, cafeteria-style room, and offerings are typical -- bread, fruit, cold cuts, pastries, juice, coffee and tea. Unfortunately, it's not free and guests often choose to start their meal elsewhere. A lounge area in the lobby doubles as a meeting or event space suitable for a small group, and the lobby also has a large flat-screen TV. There is no business center, but there is a desk with a communal computer on which guests can use the internet for free for 30 minutes (Wi-Fi on your own device is free throughout the hotel). There are private parking spots available, but they’re located in a public parking garage that’s a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. The hotel takes up just two floors, but there is no elevator so carrying luggage can be a drag. There are vending machines, and laundry and ironing services are available for a fee.