“Heaven on Earth to me, as I love all Basque people and culture.”

Located about 20 minutes from Bilbao, but only a 20 minute ride via a very efficient and simple Metro system, closest stop is a short uphill walk from the hotel (there is an elevator in case you are tired - REALLY -). Very nice, simple, efficient rooms GREAT BEDS AND bathrooms, brand new. Every room has a computer with FREE internet access. Dogs allowed. Try to get a ocean view, though even if you do not, all you have to do is walk out side to get it. Very friendly and efficient staff. Walking distance from the hotel you have movie theaters (all dubbed to Spanish), restaurants, and plenty of free parking. Very safe to walk everywhere in this area at any hour of day or night, to me that is heaven indeed.

“It will be fine when its finished!”

The room I was first allocated had footprints on the bed cover and empty cigarette packets and beer bottles in a bag on a chair. I think the room was being used by the builders, currently rennovating the hotel. I got no apology, but was given another room, which was clean, but very small.

“High Tech Hotel Tamarises”

We booked this hotel as an overnight stop after the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, and the only bad thing about it was that it was a bit difficult to find, so best to do a route planner request before you go. We loved the family room which was very comfortable, with an enormous double bed and proper bunks for the children. Bathroom was nice with a good shower. We had a sea view and the beach was just across the road, so went in the sea before dinner. Didn't see much of the staff, but the ones we dealt with were pleasant and helpful. Had we been staying longer we would have made use of the laptop and internet access provided in the room, which I think was free. Overall and excellent choice if you want a family room.

“Excellent location but poor internet”

This hotel is in a superb location, is very clean and has 'high tech' mod cons. Breakfast was great but no restaurant for evening meals. The bed was a bit hard. The big downside was their WIFI internet access was poor and although I could get into Google I could not get to my e-mails or any other sites that were important to me on my own laptop. They did have laptops in every room soi if you do not need to access data on your own laptop then you will find this hotel good in all respects.

“Not Impressed but the Locality was Great”

The hotel is not high tech! When we arrived there was an awful smell in the room. This was evident throughout our stay but we opened the french doors to the balcony. The public areas were quite good and seemed invitng but the rooms not so good. A lot of refurbishment had taken place (I was in the hotel last year when this was happening and hoped it would have been more improved). The balcony was deplorable, dirty and the rails were corroded. I told my wife not to lean against them in case they ruptured. The bathroom was good, very good, with a super shower and horizontal water jets for massaging. But the bathroom door was coloured glass, which I felt was not private enough.

“High Tech - Not Really!”

From the outside the hotel looked very delapidated. Balcony railings were heavily corroded. paintwork was tired. Inside the hotel was quite clean. I had what the hotel called an 'Executive room with a Queen bed'. The room was very cramped and the desk was so close to the bed it was difficult to sit properly. I could not push the chair backwards because of the bed and I could not sit with my legs under the well of the desk because the chair was hard against the metal bedside shelf. The shower was good, with a rainfall type shower and horizontal jets as well. But the sink was not practical. It was teacup shaped, which was ok, but the tap came straight out from the wall over the sink. I could not put my head down to wash my face without hitting the tap. The hotel had WIFI everywhere but, although I could connect to it, I could not get to my e-mails and other on-line programs that I needed for my work. Each room had a laptop with direct wired internet. This was ok and I could get most of my on-line requirements, but not all. When I complained to the front desk the receptionist was not helpful at all and all I got very little help except "other guests do not have a problem". Breakfast was ok but not great but it was as expected from a hotel of that type.