Hotel Niza San Sebastián - Donostia

After doing a lot of research on where to stay in San Sebastian I decided to go with Hotel Niza. It was a great place to stay. The rooms were clean and seemed to be remodeled in the last year or two. We went with another couple and I had requested oceanview rooms and we got them. Granted, it's the off-season in May so I'm not sure how full the hotel was...anyway, the rooms were great and the views spectacular. Also, the restaurant in the basement was packed on Saturday night within 5 minutes after opening. Really good food at a good price. My one complaint was that two of the female front desk clerks were somewhat rude and condescending. There was a man who was wonderful. So, if you can get by the front desk, the rest of your stay at Hotel Niza will be wonderful. NO REGRETS!!!

Our son, who was living in Spain, made the reservations for us. Staying there at the Niza, with the Promenade, the ocean view from the bar, the street view from our room, the food, drinks, people, everything made it the perfect dream come true vacation. We hope to stay there again in the near future.

Beautiful room, stunning view . If you are looking for a romantic holidays with you love one. this is the place.

I spent a couple of days at the Niza over Easter and was very pleased with the accomodation and the central location. The Hotel is very quaint (with the cutest elevator) and nicely decorated and our room was simple, fairly spacious, with clean lines and a fresh look. I found the staff very helpful and friendly despite reports to the contrary.

Another bonus is Bar Biarritz at the front of the hotel - which is an excellent spot to read the papers and watch the people on the promenade. I thought the Niza was great and would definitely recommend it - especially if you manage to secure a sea-view.

Stayed at the Hotel Niza for, thank goodness, only one night and found it a total dissapointment. The unfriendly staff had to be asked three times for a roll away bed which we had requested at the time we made our reservation. The room itself was less than fresh reeking of a chocking air freshener. Under the bed the wood floor was thick with dust and various spots on the walls and wood work needed attention.

Course when we checked in, even the lobby looked like it needed a good steam cleaning. Though we did get nice ocean view rooms (they made us e-mail and call twice) we might have been more satisfied with a warmer welcome and less attitude.

I had a great experience at the Niza. Spent a week in San Sebastian first week of Sept. with college friends from the states and we all agreed that it was perfect for what we were looking for. Beautiful views of La Concha beach, oceanfront rooms that we didn't even request, one with a balcony. Walking distance to the old town with great pinxto bars. Decor was very beachy and pretty, with a very cool Victorian elevator. The staff was very helpful even before we arrived, as I called several times to make changes to the reservation. And then at the end of the trip when we decided to go to Barcelona a day early, they let us check out a day ahead for no charge. Prices were very reasonable and simple continental breakfast was included. Would definitely stay there again on another trip and have recommended to everyone I know.

I had heard mixed things about the Niza, a pretty hotel located right

on the beach in San Sebastian, but as the price of 110 euros seemed

reasonable, I decided to try it. The problem started when I made a

reservation for 2 nights by phone with a male staff member. I called

one week later to change my resevation to add another night, making it

3 nights, three nights and was told that there was no reservation. When

I explained I had made it by phone, the woman at reception directly

told me that I was lying, because otherwise the reservation would have

been there. This is a hotel that has the nerve to tell their customers

that they are liers. I couldn't believe it. Why would I lie, like I

have nothing better to do than call hotels claiming to have made a

reservation?

Unfortuantely, I needed the room as San Sebastian has very few hotels

and it was 2 days before my trip. The Niza had a room aavailable, and I

had to go there if I wanted a room in town, so I bit my pride and made

a "new" booking. When I arrived, reception staff were rude and

unbelievably unsmiley and unfriendly, not only to me but to everyone

and apparently even to each other. The room we got was horrific, tiny

(the bed was about 2 feet from the door) , tacky, kitsch, with a view

of a gray wall 5 feet away from the window. the room was literally in

front of the elevator (which we heard all night) and we were woken up

at 7AM with the sound of the cleaning staff's trolleys, as their room

was right next door. The cleaning staff were loud and yelling down the

halls at each other. I don't go on vacation to wake up at 7AM!! The

staff were equally rude in the morning at check out, as were the staff

at breakfast. Breakfast was bad, the coffee was the worst I have had in

Spain and the hot food they had looked like it was reheated frozen

junk. There was something that resembled reconstituted scarmbled eggs

but they were such an unnatural orange color, that I didn't dare.

I have never in all of my travels in Spain experienced such rude staff, and despite the reasonable price I am prepared to pay more to be treated with the respect and care that a customer should receive. I should have gone to the Londres, where the staff were much nicer when I went over to investigate, unfortunately the hotel was full. The Londres is much more beutiful inside, as well. the decor in the Niza is not antique, it's dated.



In no uncertain terms, I would never recommend to anyone that they stay

in the Niza unless they want to be treated like dirt. It is evident

that there is extremely poor management there.

We reserved two double rooms for single use, requesting sea view rooms. The return fax could not promise ocean views, but upon arrival we were given neighboring ocean side rooms (mid October 2003). The price was astonishing -- 64 Euros per room, plus 7% tax (breakfast extra at 6.5 Euros). Continental breakfast can be augmented by eggs and bacon. We kept wondering when we'd discover the flaws, but there were none. Rooms were large, beautifully furnished and impeccably clean. Recently refurbished (very modern) bathrooms. Each room had an upholstered chair, desk, twin beds and matching night stands. PLENTY of lamps and sconces for reading. Cable TV with 4 English channels (also, French and German). Warm, helpful staff. Located right in the center of La Concha beach (wide sand), easy walking distance along pedestrian sea promenade to the Old Town with its dozens of tapas bars and restaurants. Popular inexpensive pizza & pasta restaurant in basement of hotel. Bar (entrance from sea side of hotel) serves the best grilled ham and cheese sandwich for only 2.6 Euros. I'm going to stay here again when I return to San Sebastian.

we stayd at the Niza hotel during the month of august , i reserved rooms well in advance , the hotel is well situated facing the la concha beach . the rooms facing the sea are reserved ( i guess by repeat costumers ) and we could not get rooms facing the sea , the rooms we got were on the third floor facing the street , to our great dismay the noise and shouts from passersby filtered into the room , the noise was awefull . breakfast is included in room price but it is such a poor affair served in a demeaning way . we left two days early couldnt stand the noise .

I spent four days at The Niza and loved it. There are wonderful paintings everywhere. It's chic, in a great location on the Concha and the staff are friendly and helpful. I was there alone and felt really comfortable. Try the thalassoptherapy centre just along the promenade - it's blissful.