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Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián

$400 or more
Editor's Pick

4 Republica Argentina
San Sebastián
Spain
Tel: 34 943 437 600
hmc@luxurycollection.com
www.mariacristina.es

Concierge.com's insider take:

Designed in 1912 by the same architect as the Ritz hotels in London and Paris, this ornate hotel caters to those that love old-school pomp and pampering. (More casual types may find the courtly, formal service a bit over the top.) Its 136 rooms, 27 of them suites, are expansive, with marble baths, dark-wood antique reproductions, and rich-colored fabrics; some have Juliet balconies overlooking the Urumea River. There's an indoor pool and spa, which can get a bit crowded in September when visiting celebs come for the annual film festival; as the fanciest place in town, this is their lodging of choice.

From the readers of Condé Nast Traveler:

Overall Score: 88.9

Design: 87.5
Food: 78.9
Location: 95.0
Rooms: 92.5
Service: 90.0

In the center of town, along the Urumea River and a hop from sandy beaches, this Belle Époque hotel has "pretty rooms" dressed up in pastels and wood. Windows often look upon the Cantabric Sea; top-floor suites have private balconies. Café Saigon serves Vietnamese dishes such as duck with eggplant under silk lanterns; during the annual film festival in September, the Gritti Bar is a celebrity watering hole.

(108 rooms)
—2011 Gold List

Amenities: Spa