A luxury experience in San Sebastian as a guest of the best boutique hotel in town

(March 2013):   Villa Soro, one of San Sebastian's most charming luxury boutique hotels, has created the ultimate travel experience for connoisseurs of fashion, art and fine food in the Basque city which has made its mark on the Spanish map for a variety of reasons.  Crowds flock here for the international San Sebastian Film Festival; for its wonderful food, the city has more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere in the world; for its designer shopping and a brand new gallery museum that pays homage to a home-grown couture talent, the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum.

The three night stay, based at Villa Soro, an elegant boutique hotel just a 10 minutes' walk from Zurriola beach and the historic centre of San Sebastian, combines access to the exquisite Balenciaga Museum just outside the city, bookings at the best tables at the most popular Michelin starred restaurants in town and the chance to explore the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in nearby Bilbao.

Villa Soro, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is set in an aristocratic 19th century villa in a peaceful residential part of the city.   The house has been sensitively restored and officially designated a landmark and part of the Historic Heritage of the city.  It combines the best of hospitality - a respect for the original architecture and the family who owned the villa, alongside genuine warmth, courtesy and calm.

Set just outside of San Sebastian, the small village of Getaria has long been quietly intertwined with the bright lights of the fashion world.   It was here that the Spanish king of haute couture, Cristobal Balenciaga, was born in 1895.  He learnt his craft from his mother, a seamstress, and as an apprentice tailor from the age of just twelve.  He went on to become one of the most influential couturiers of the 20th century.   And it is here, perched on a hilltop overlooking the village, that the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum opened in 2010, as home to one of the most significant fashion collections in the world, with more than 1,200 individual Balenciaga creations. 



The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the most exciting museums of modern and contemporary art in the word.  The astonishing, iconic building, designed by the Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, is one of the most admired works of contemporary architecture, hailed as a "signal moment in the architectural culture", because it represents "one of those rare moments when critics, academics, and the general public were all completely united about something."   The museum features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists.

Spain's Basque Country is known for its food - and with good reason too, with wonderful Michelin-starred restaurants, including the world-famous Arzak, Akelarre and Berasategui alol in Sab Sebastian.   Villa Soro's concierge has access to these highly sought after restaurants, and can book tables for clients, to complete this one-of-a-kind luxury experience:

Luxury San Sebastian with Villa Soro

• 3 nights in a Villa Deluxe room at Villa Soro with breakfast each morning
• Getaria Txakoli bottle (white wine produced in Getaria) on arrival
• Two tickets to the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum with two guidebooks, and round-trip chauffeur-driven transfers San Sebastián - Getaria
• Concierge service:  lunch reservation in Elkano Restaurant (One of the best grilled fish restaurant of the world) whilst visiting the Balenciaga Museum (clients own bill)
• Round trip San Sebastián - Bilbao to visit the Guggenheim Museum with two entry tickets
• Concierge service:   lunch or dinner reservation in a 3 Michelin Star Restaurant in San Sebastian* - Arzak, Akelarre or Berasategui (clients' own bill)

Rates start from €632 (low season) to €1,348 (high season) for three nights with breakfast, based on two people sharing a double room for a three night stay.  Round trip transfers from Bilbao airport can be arranged for €300.  Costs of dining at restaurants are excluded from the package price.  All rates are subject to 10% VAT.

VILLA SORO | Avenida de Ategorrieta, 61 |  20013 San Sebastián | Spain

For reservations:  +34 943 297 970 | www.villasoro.com

Further information and images: 

Mango PR: Katie Harel : Vivian Woo

Katie.harel@mangopr.com I Vivian.woo@mangopr.com  +852 2862 8003

NOTES TO EDITORS

Villa Soro is part of the Marugal portfolio of hotels, which specialises in the development, launch and management of luxury independent hotels.  Marugal only works with independent hotels. The portfolio comprises Hotel Viura in La Rioja; Villa Soro and Astoria7 in San Sebastian; Cap Rocat in Mallorca; and Torralbenc in Menorca (opening May 2013).

Villa Soro is also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. 

Villa Soro - www.villasoro.com

Cristobal Balenciaga Museum -  www.cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com

Guggenheim Museum & Gallery, Bilbao - www.guggenheim-bilbao.es