Biarritz, San Juan de Luz y San Sebastián

Overall, I am happy that I chose this tour. The itinerary was very good. Although I personally found Biarritz rather underwhelming and not really worth the stop, the other three destinations were excellent. I especially loved Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which was full of charm. San Sebastián was beyond my expectations, and the view from Monte Igueldo was absolutely breathtaking. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the guide. Apparently, there were not enough participants to justify using a bus, so the group was split into two vans—one for Spanish speakers and one for English speakers. We were in the English van. The guide gave me the impression that he was uncomfortable interacting with people. Rather than creating a relaxed atmosphere, he seemed to have memorized a script and spoke almost continuously throughout the journey, leaving little room for natural conversation. At the first pickup point, he introduced himself, told us not to eat or drink in the van, said that if we thought he was driving too fast it was “only our feeling,” and mentioned that tips were appreciated. At the second pickup point, he repeated the exact same speech word for word. He also said we were welcome to ask questions, except about politics and football. Ironically, he himself talked quite freely about both topics. He maintained a constant stream of commentary throughout the journey, and on the way back to Bilbao, he said he was getting tired of talking, so he played Basque music and sang along. The most awkward moment happened after each visit. When everyone returned to the meeting point, he would ask, “How was your visit?” Before anyone could answer, he would reply himself, “Amazing,” and then answer himself again, “Yeah.” We simply stood there watching him have a conversation with himself. I was also uncomfortable with his driving. He consistently drove above the posted speed limits. This was not just my “feeling”—I could clearly see both the speed limit signs and the speedometer. He also became visibly irritated with drivers who would not let him overtake. I chose the front seat hoping for a better view, but instead I spent the journey feeling unsafe. The front seat was cramped for two people, and sitting next to the driver only made the experience more stressful. On the way from San Sebastián to Bilbao, the guide played Basque music and sang along loudly while driving. I did not dare ask him to stop completely, but I tried to hint that it was bothering me by putting on my earphones and asking him to lower the music. He lowered the volume slightly, but continued singing just as loudly. In all my previous experiences, I have never had a professional driver sing throughout the journey. Background music is understandable, but passengers should not be expected to listen to the driver’s personal performance. The time spent in the van felt more like being trapped in an old-fashioned classroom with a teacher who was afraid of genuine conversation than enjoying a guided tour. I also noticed that some of the information he shared was not entirely accurate. Because he focused on delivering a memorized script rather than engaging with the group, there was no opportunity for discussion or for visitors with more knowledge to ask questions or add context. One final moment summed up the experience for me. As we were walking back to the van, a woman passed by wearing a T-shirt that read, “I’m not antisocial, I’m anti stupid.” The guide commented that he owned exactly the same T-shirt, which made me wonder whether he genuinely viewed other people that way. I have seen that slogan before and found it funny, but this time I started wondering whether being “antisocial” is actually about assuming other people stupid. The destinations themselves made this trip worthwhile, and I do not regret booking it. However, the guide’s communication style, constant singing, and driving significantly reduced what could otherwise have been an excellent experience.

We had an amazing time touring multiple places near San Sebastián. Our guide knew a lot of history on the region and was entertaining.

Oni was a fantastic guide- friendly, informative, perfect English and able to multitask and give us a relaxing tour. All 3 towns had their unique charm but the view over San Sebastian was the highlight of the day.

Our tour of Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and San Sebastián was absolutely incredible—stunning coastal scenery, rich culture, amazing food, and a perfect mix of relaxation and exploration. Highly recommended for couples looking to experience the very best of the Basque region.

We enjoyed the all-day walk, with comfortable transportation and a friendly and nice driver/guide. Biarritz is a beautiful tourist port, with a lovely sea. San Juan de Luz, a port with a history of kings, also a vacation spot, with beautiful beaches and streets prepared for tourism; seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and cured meats! You will eat something!

This was a great day out visiting 3 lovely and very different locations. Our guide/drive Cally was fantastic and looked after us for the day as well as providing wonderful commentary. Would highly recommend for anyone wanting to visit these locations, especially San Sebastian!

We saw many beautiful cities; we wish we had more time to explore. Overall, we were very satisfied. Our guide was helpful and knowledgeable. Thank you.

This trip is a very long day but does cover a lot of ground! The visits to Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz and San Sebastián were all most enjoyable with the journeys between them being punctuated with the almost permanent commentary from the irrepressible Borja! How anyone can possibly speak as much as he did for several hours is definitely a point to note. His pride and enthusiasm speaking about the Basque Country and way of life was clear. Good value for a whistle stop tour spanning two countries!

The trip was well organized. But on the way there we were treated to a lecture in Spanish about the Basque language for an hour. Not to chop. There was also an English speaking guide but he spoke very poor English and knew nothing. He was sympathetic, though. In short, recommended for the organization but definitely not for the guides.

Our guide Borja was fun and engaging. He told us about Basque history and culture of the 3 towns. It was a pleasant and interesting day trip from Bilbao.