Excellent hotel. Great staff. Great room. Well soundproofed, black out curtains and air-con that actually gets cool and hot enough, which is rare in hotels these days. The cosy room was bigger than expected and plenty big enough for a couple.
The location is very convenient, within walking distance of the beach and various restaurants and shops, and close to the central train/bus. The cleanliness is good. The facilities are a bit too basic; there's no kettle, you have to use the front desk; there's not even a trash can in the room, only a small trash can in the bathroom, and no shelves or anything like that, so there's nowhere to put toiletries. The service is very good; the front desk staff are all very friendly and welcoming.
Overall, a positive stay, fitting for a 4-star hotel. The hotel boasts a modern image, good organization, and a comfortable level suitable for both leisure and business trips.
Pros:
• Strategic location next to San Mamés Stadium, with good access and efficient connections to the city's main attractions.
• A new hotel with modern and well-maintained facilities.
• Comfortable, quiet, and functionally well-equipped rooms, with good air conditioning and comfortable beds.
• Professional and friendly service from the staff.
• Good value for money for its category, especially considering the hotel's overall standard.
Areas for Improvement:
• The breakfast could be more comprehensive and balanced, with a greater variety of healthy options (fresh fruit, whole-grain products, sugar-free/lactose-free alternatives).
• Room cleanliness, while acceptable, should be more meticulous in micro-details, consistent with the expected level of a 4-star hotel.
• Lack of common areas for socializing, such as a bar, lounge, game room, or other communal spaces that invite guests to spend time outside their rooms.
• The hotel parking is functional, but the price is high. Furthermore, there's no free or affordable parking nearby, which is a drawback for those traveling by car.
Conclusion:
A good 4-star hotel, modern, comfortable, and well-located, with room for improvement in some complementary services and operational details. Recommended for those seeking quality, tranquility, and good overall stay conditions in Bilbao.
The hotel was well known and its strengths remained the location, comfort of beds, quality of towels and the bathroom in case it was in the room. I haven't enjoyed the meal in any of your options so I can't comment on it.
As regards deficiencies, the structure of the rooms makes the conversations of neighbouring rooms heard and clearly perceived (a good tape solves it) The spa is obsolete and it would be good to update it. The hotel is very comfortable and would repeat it, but as I suggested earlier, a 4-star hotel is defined by detail attention.
We had such a great time this year for Semana Grande. And the Axel Hotel was in the perfect location for us. Right on the river next to a great spot for drinks and food. The rooftop pool is also a great spot to watch the fireworks! The staff was so helpful and friendly. And although we didn't need housekeeping while we were staying there they offered every day to clean our room or swap out towels or necessities for us. What a great experience. We will definitely be back!
Hotel location is very convenient, 5 minutes away there are buses to Victoria and Bilbao Airport. The room is also relatively spacious, suitable for 2 chairs for 2 workers. The only fly in the ointment is that the sound insulation is not very good.
Stayed at this hotel for the third time, close to the customer, the room is large, there are large shopping malls, parking lots, gas stations nearby. The price is still cheap, and it is a rare hotel in Europe that will provide toothbrush and toothpaste, that is, the water still has to be charged and there are no slippers.
The hotel is located just a few minutes by bus from the bar area.
The exterior looks old, but the interior is very nice and clean.
The bed was fluffy and I slept well.
There's a supermarket nearby, so you can easily stock up if you need something.
The breakfast selection isn't that extensive, but it was more than adequate. And it was very delicious.
I'd love to stay here again the next time I visit San Sebastian.
Great
131 reviews
9.1/10
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GGuest UserThe lady at the front desk was very friendly and enthusiastic when we checked in, asking if we needed a map and briefly explaining the surrounding routes.
The water pressure in the bathroom was a bit low, and switching between the showerhead settings required some guesswork.
Breakfast had a decent variety of choices.
It's only about a ten-minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum and the airport bus stop. It would have been better if they had provided information about the airport bus service being suspended on May 1st, as we checked out on Labor Day and waited at the bus stop for over half an hour for nothing.
GGuest UserThe hotel is located just a few minutes by bus from the bar area.
The exterior looks old, but the interior is very nice and clean.
The bed was fluffy and I slept well.
There's a supermarket nearby, so you can easily stock up if you need something.
The breakfast selection isn't that extensive, but it was more than adequate. And it was very delicious.
I'd love to stay here again the next time I visit San Sebastian.
GGuest UserThe food at the hotel restaurant was delicious, and there's a great terrace outside perfect for watching the sunset 😋. The hotel is about 5 km from the city center, and there's a bus stop right in front of the hotel, which is super convenient.
BbaraoGuild**”BAD: Beware of the 'Upgrade'”**
Our priority when booking was the room size and budget, so we reserved a 32m² City View room.
At check-in, the hotel staff offered us an ”upgrade.” He said that for an additional €25 per day, we could ”upgrade,” so we agreed.
However, while the room did have a Sea View, the size was downgraded to just 21m². I told them that paying €25 to have a smaller room was a downgrade, but they insisted that the view had been upgraded.
I asked to be moved back to the room we originally booked, but the staff ignored my request for an entire day.
Let me ask you this: if you went to see a new landscape, and the view changed, how would you describe it? You wouldn’t say the landscape itself was ”upgraded,” would you? You’d say the view was different or better.
The following day, I finally got a response from the staff. They told me I’d need to pay an additional €70 per day if I wanted a 32m² Sea View room.
While the hotel facilities and scenery are excellent, the staff are focused entirely on business and seem to aim to squeeze every extra euro from their guests.
In the end, we ended up paying the €25.
**Beware of the 'Upgrade.'”**
JJiangnanxiaochongThe room was spacious, the hotel environment was excellent, and the breakfast was varied and plentiful. It's a great place for business travelers.
HHosanChoose the hotel for its proximity to the Intermodal bus interchange. We walked to all the main tourist attractions from the hotel. Bilbao is a very walkable city.
What sets this hotel apart is the friendliness of the staff. The front counter team is genuinely friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Noemi who went out of her way to help us and gave advice on airline lost luggage.
The room is spacious for our needs. The king bed is super comfortable, with just the right firmness. Linen is plush and pillows are fluffy. It has a simple yet functional tea-making facility in the room. The room came with USB charger by bedside, which is essential for today's travellers.
We love the bathroom. Well-lit, full-size shower with strong water pressure. You will find the basic amenities (Toothbrush etc) in the bathroom.
The cleaner did a good job with the room. The hall and public areas are all spotless. Judging based on the interior, the hotel might have been refurbished not that long ago.
SShiow ChinLocation is a bit out of the city centre, but located in a peaceful area (contrastingly) next to a forest and a biotech hub. However, a bus stop a couple of minutes' walk from the hotel has a service that goes directly to the Boulevard located between the Old Town and the City Centre (85sen per trip or cheaper with the San Sebastian Card - available at the hotel) within 25 mins (or slightly longer with traffic).
My room was comfortable and clean, although it might be a bit tight for space with 2 people. Bed was comfortable with pillows of various firmness.
Bathroom was big and well-designed, although the shower and bath might be a bit tight for larger people. Shower pressure was excellent.
Tip: Open the drawer under the sink to dispose your garbage and recyclables.
Staff were all friendly, polite and helpful.
My only complaint is that my water was never refilled throughout my stay, but I admit I did not ask about it at the time.
GGuest UserIt's a little far from the old town, but you can walk or take a bus. The Basque train station is nearby, so it's convenient for going to the French Basque Country. There are shops and bakeries where you can buy fruit and drinks within a few minutes' walk.
The room was compact, but the bathroom was clean and comfortable.
GGuest UserWe came here without a car having got busses from Bilbao. Not easy finding a hotel with a pool and within LaGuardia so worked perfectly. Arguably not a four star but was comfortable and and pool was lovely.
Would recommend for the price
GGuest UserNice hotel close to the city center. Friendly staff. Parking is an issue, if you don’t get to book your space then you have to park outside in a public parking and both are expensive.
The rooms are modern and the swimming pool at the rooftop is useful. Also the spa.
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