We had visited Hondarribia previously but this was the first visit to the Hotel Pampinot. Approached by a steep, cobbled street through the only archway to the old town, the entrance of the hotel opened into the ancient, stone flagged lounge at the rear of which was another, with a winding stone stairway to the first floor. All the staff were kind and more than helpful throughout our stay, going out of their way to make us feel comfortable and welcome. A bottle of red wine in our lovely room on arrival, a chilled bottle of sparkling water on our return from dinner each evening and a bottle of champagne before we went out for New Years Eve. A lovely 'Happy New Year' note and chocolates on our return followed by copious amounts of strong coffee on New Years morning. We would certainly recommend this hotel to any traveller who enjoys comfortable, historical accommodation with the friendliest of excellent service. We will certainly return.

This is a very charming place, small and unassuming yet with a great deal of character. We visited in the off-season (early May) so the place was empty; but even at the height of tourist season it's likely a quiet getaway that's ideal for a romantic night's stay. The hotel's staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome. An unexpected surprise was a bottle of local wine with two glasses in our room on arrival. We checked out early in the morning and didn't want to stop for breakfast, but they made us coffee at their espresso bar at no charge: another very nice touch. They also gave us precise driving directions to get to Akelarre in San Sebastian for dinner, which helped immensely (not the easiest restaurant to find!). We were able to park right outside the hotel on the street in a spot reserved for hotel guests, which was very convenient. The town itself has its own charms, and although small and not terribly exciting, Hondarribia was well worth seeking out. The city would benefit from offering a historical guide for visitors, but even without knowing much about what we saw as we strolled the streets, we enjoyed a brief visit here. The Pampinot itself has a rich history going back to the 16th century, and has been declared a historical monument. I'm assuming that most guests in Hondarribia go there for the parador. We stopped inside but were not allowed to see more than the front desk and bar area (the rest is restricted to guests). But it's difficult for us to imagine that the parador could have been so much nicer than Pampinot to warrant the vast difference in lodging price. All told, the Hotel Pampinot is an ideal place for couples who want a quiet and cozy stay while touring the north of Spain. There are only eight rooms, so it's probably a good idea to book early during the summer months.