{"id":1402,"date":"2018-11-22T08:06:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T08:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devoursansebastianfoodtours.com\/?p=1402"},"modified":"2018-11-22T08:06:40","modified_gmt":"2018-11-22T08:06:40","slug":"responsible-travel-in-san-sebastian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/responsible-travel-in-san-sebastian\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be a Good Tourist: San Sebastian Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Don’t miss the rest of our responsible tourism guides:<\/em>
MADRID<\/a> | BARCELONA<\/a> | SEVILLE<\/a> | LISBON<\/a>\u00a0| ROME<\/a><\/span> | PARIS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling has never been as easy as it is now, which means that now it\u2019s more important than ever to be a responsible traveler. <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After all, don\u2019t we all want to make cities better for those who live in and visit them?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Sebastian is located in the Basque Country, or Euskal Herria in Basque. This means \u201chome of the Basque people,\u201d and it is a cultural region that covers four provinces in Spain and three in France.  It\u2019s a small piece of land that has been isolated for many centuries from the rest of the world by a mountain range on one side and the rough waters of the Bay of Biscay on the other. The inhabitants have managed to preserve their traditions, culture and language almost unchanged over hundreds of years, which is what makes the region one of the most interesting destinations in Europe. Recent years have brought a record number of visitors and we all, locals and tourists alike, have to take responsibility for preserving San Sebastian so that future generations will be able to enjoy its treasures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"What<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to be a good tourist in San Sebastian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Learn a few <\/span>words in Basque<\/span><\/a>! You will get the respect of Basques and melt their hearts!<\/span><\/li>
  2. Support local businesses. Small and family-run places will give you the real experience.<\/span><\/li>
  3. Get to know the story behind San Sebastian and its people. Take a guided tour and find the answers to all your questions.<\/span><\/li>
  4. Use public transportation\u2014it\u2019s fantastic! The buses and trains will take you anywhere you want to go, and parking your car out of the city center will cut down on congestion and save you money and hassle.<\/span><\/li>
  5. Get out of the Old Town and visit other neighborhoods. You\u2019ll love the Basque hospitality.<\/span><\/li>
  6. Respect the residents\u2019 right to rest. We all love to stay out and hang out with friends but remember that not everyone around you is on vacation.<\/span><\/li>
  7. Learn the <\/span>pintxo etiquette<\/span><\/a> before heading out to bars\u2014it isn\u2019t a buffet!<\/span><\/li>
  8. Leave the city and its beaches clean.<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Practicing
    San Sebastian’s beaches are some of the best in Europe. Please leave them the same as (or better than!) when you arrived.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    When to visit San Sebastian responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise: during the low season! San Sebastian is the busiest during the summer months, especially in August. This is the month when it takes an hour to find a tiny spot on La Concha beach and when the Old Town becomes so crowded that you feel like you\u2019re marching in a parade just to get from A to B. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But fear not, there is a solution! San Sebastian is wonderful any time of the year. Imagine all these <\/span>beautiful beaches<\/span><\/a> just for yourself (and maybe a few local dog walkers), enjoying a delicious <\/span>pintxo<\/span><\/a> and glass of local wine without being jostled from side to side, and most importantly: meeting locals and maybe even making some new friends. Visit November through March for the most authentic experience!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Start
    Quiet moments are much harder to come by in high season.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Where to stay in San Sebastian responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    As a responsible traveler, you want to support local businesses, not massive chain hotels. We have plenty of great options in San Sebastian and the surrounding areas. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Choose boutique hotels if you\u2019re looking for a memorable experience with a taste of luxury. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our picks<\/strong>: <\/span>Hotel Niza<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>SANSEbay Hotel<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Okako Hotel<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Villa Soro<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Hotel One Shot Tabakalera House<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Guest houses, called <\/span>pensiones <\/span><\/i>in Spain, are a simple, cheap and authentic accommodation option in San Sebastian. There are hundreds of them all over but the majority are in the Old Town and Gros neighborhoods. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our picks<\/strong>: <\/span>Pensi\u00f3n Iturriza<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Pensi\u00f3n Amaiur<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Pensi\u00f3n Kursaal<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Pensi\u00f3n Balerdi<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Avoid over-crowding the most central neighborhoods and invest some of your tourism budget in a lesser-visited neighborhood. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our picks<\/strong>: Benta Berri, <\/span>Aiete<\/span><\/a>, Miramar, <\/span>Egia<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Amara<\/span><\/a>, Ulia and <\/span>Igueldo<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"One
    The Old Town isn’t the only part of San Sebastian with incredible views!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The last option is to escape San Sebastian all together and stay in one of the nearby villages which are well-connected to San Sebastian. This is sure to be the cheapest option, great for a relaxed pace! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our picks<\/strong>: Astigarraga, Hernani, Pasaia or Lasarte-Oria.<\/span>
    \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Where to eat in San Sebastian responsibly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In Spain we might call a place a <\/span>\u201cbar de toda la vida,\u201d<\/span><\/i> which means that the place has been open for a long time and is recognized as a great place to try local specialties. These establishments are often family-owned businesses, running back generations, that use local, seasonal and fresh products in their kitchens.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Responsible
    The quality of food at locally owned restaurants is far and away better than anything you’ll find at a chain.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some of our favorites:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Old Town<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n