Bike hotels are not infrequently functionally equipped places. Everything is there, but if you're honest, you wouldn't book that hotel with your partner. Unless you are both bike crazy, but even then. In Basque Country they found something to that. The beautiful Arima Hotel & Spa, on the south side of San Sebastian, is an oasis of calm, of beauty ánd completely carbon-negative (!). When we stayed here, it was soon clear: Arima Hotel in San Sebastian deserves the label Cycling Destination Approved. Do you want to know why? Then read on quickly!
Text: Sander Kolsloot, photos: Sander Kolsloot - Arima Hotel & Spa - Stijn Kanters
Stylish and chic
As a cyclist, you want a location that breathes tranquillity. Especially if you have experienced an intense day on the bike, a busy environment with all kinds of stimuli is the last thing you want. A place where you can still stretch your legs, read a book or have a quiet chat with your travel companions. A central spot in the city is too much then. At Arima, all that is in order. The Hotel exudes 'chic and stylish'. The lounge on arrival is sleek and you can grab a nice cold glass of water right away. From the outside, it looks sleek, with straight lines, a bit of vegetation and a nice vibe.
Everything for bikes
What you don't see is the many amenities the hotel houses. In the car park, there is a real bicycle basement, containing not only a hanging system for several bicycles, but also a rinsing place, key set and the possibility of locking the bikes. Really very fancy. From there, you can nicely start your ride and also feel good about leaving your two-wheeler safely.
Eating at a high level
A cycling holiday often revolves around a few simple things: food, drink, route and surroundings, sleep. In no particular order, of course. Food and drink, that is also very much in order at Arima. In the morning, there is an extensive breakfast buffet, where you can eat not only delicious but also healthy. Responsible carbohydrate stacking is no problem here. Different kinds of (non-)dairy, fruit, granola, nuts. Everything is there. Of course, for the sweet tooth, there is also a croissant or other local speciality.
There is no shortage of delicious snacks in the evening either. The restaurant serves all kinds of nutritious dishes, vegetarian and otherwise, which could find a great place in any restaurant. The restaurant is open until 10 p.m. so even late night trips are thus a possibility.
I'm dreaming
Not unimportantly, the sleeping quarters. Here, too, everything is neat and tidy. Sleek but tastefully decorated rooms, with spacious bathrooms and a view of the green surroundings. In fact, the hotel is adjacent to a spacious park, which is publicly accessible. The corridors are an oasis of calm. No screaming children or drunken groups of revellers. In other words: completely unwind.
All the extras
If you think: this is already pretty okay, there's even more. A full Technogym gym, a lovely Spa, where you can book treatments, but where you can also just go to an infrared sauna and then dip in the pool. Yoga class? Is available! Bad weather outside? Then cycle in anyway. The complete spa menu is better than the average spa in the Netherlands. This really is a get-away.
So if you are still in doubt about a location around San Sebastian, especially with the beautiful Tour pictures of 2023, then the Arima Hotel & Spa is your place to be. Rightly Cycling Destination Approved
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