We are taking off! Flights have been booked for Sandra and I for June 13th-26th. We know that with kids’ end-of-school dates and people’s availability for vacation is varied so we decided we would be in the area for a bit longer to alleviate the stress of “being able to be there for the right dates of the trip.” For the most part, we will attempt to accommodate team activities and dinners to take place on the 18th and 19th. Below we will provide a basic itinerary of events and schedules.
Getting to San Sebastián
We found the fastest flights out of Boston to Bilbao through Iberia Airlines. With a stop in Madrid, the total travel time is about 9.5 hours. I have been seeing flights with travel times of 14-16 hours. So, this was a nice find. Additionally, United is now offering direct flights to Bilbao from New Jersey. Welcome to find any way you would like to arrive in San Sebastián (plane, train, automobile); we only ask that you let us know when you plan to arrive and plan to depart for planning purposes.
If flying into Bilbao, the airport is very nice and small. Some buses leave for San Sebastián nearly every hour. They almost always have someone near the bus ticket area directly outside the airport doors who will assist you with booking tickets. If you manage to stay awake during the bus ride, the views are really nice.
The Social Hub
Sandra, Serge, and I are all staying at the Social Hub—a few reasons for this. One, there is a pool, and if Sandra and Abby (Serge’s fiancé) want to relax while Serge and I are off at practice or coaching, it is a nice place for them to relax and not worry about traveling someplace if they don’t feel like doing that. There is also a cafe that serves coffee. They need that.
The second reason is that we can easily walk to the Judo Club from the Social Hub. So, if parents wanted to drop the kids off at the Social Hub, we could easily walk over together. Then, the parents can either do other things or could watch practice.
The third reason is that the Social Hub has large enough areas where we can all easily meet to have team meetings or gather together to head to an outing.
There are potential group rates, but that would require most people arriving and departing around the same time. Otherwise, Airbnb, hotels, hostels, and even homestays are available.
Practice Schedules
Stealth BJJ Schedule
Head Instructor: Jakub
Address: Iribar Kalea, 6, C-14, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Judo Club San Sebastian
Instructors: Julen, Dani
Address: Anoeta, Lugañes Pasealekua, 18, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Adults, you can practice as much as you want to. But parents, try not to make your kids hate the sport.
Adults, if you want to train three times a day, you are welcome to do so. I think there are other really cool things to do in San Sebastián (beach, pintxos, cider house, axe sports and forge, aquarium, hikes, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing, sitting by the pool, exploring food markets are just a few things that readily come to mind). Still, you can do whatever it is that makes you happy. It is your trip!
Parents, please don’t force your kids to go to every practice. Even a handful of practices would be a great experience for them. The experience of being in San Sebastián with their family and friends could be more important, though! Jet lag, walking every day, and potential time in the sun on the beach could quickly tire the kids. And that’s ok. If they need to rest, let them rest. Traveling while attending a few practices has incredible value in itself, especially as this will be their first time and first experience!
Regardless of the number of practices you decide to attend, I assure you that arriving in good physical shape will be immensely helpful. Walking for miles in the city is enough to tire your feet and legs, so getting some walking or running routine will be helpful. As well as comfortable feet attire!
We are ordering Elevate Gi’s for the trip. They will arrive ahead of us and can be picked up at the Social Hub.
We will have special custom San Sebastián Elevate Gi’s, rashguards, shorts, and T-shirts, including our Judo/Jiujitsu friend’s logos. Pretty cool. So there is no need to pack your own Gi’s and Nogi items if you do not wish to. We will also find a way to have a laundry service pick up and clean the sweaty uniforms daily. Because who wants to deal with that and the smell? Yuck.
You can choose to take the Gi’s and Nogi items home with you or leave them with one of your new Basque friends. The choice is yours!
Team Dinner - Ilarra
June 19th
We met Juliana and her husband on our way back from Stealth one afternoon, and they invited us to dinner. Their invite was special as they were completely booked for the week, but they loved that we were willing to say hello as we walked back from practice mid-afternoon and made a special table for us! It was one of the best meals we had ever had in San Sebastián, and that’s a tall order! They have a great indoor and outdoor space accommodating our entire group. We are inviting the Judo and Jiujitsu coaches to the dinner as well.
We are awaiting prices for our group to have dinner there; I expect it to be close to $50-$70 per person (kids most likely would be in a different price point). We can inform Juliana of our food preferences, and they can adjust the menu accordingly. Very excited!
https://ilarra.com/en/
Optional Dinner/Lunch at El Vaskito - June 18th
El Vaskito came highly recommended by Jakub, the owner and head coach at Stealth BJJ. And it truly looks great! In addition to the spectacular-looking food, they have a small cider house! Most cider houses are closed in June, and this restaurant will offer the opportunity to catch the cider directly from the barrels. They also provide a set meal for the cider experience if you are interested.
We want to visit on June 18th, perhaps after all practices are completed. For those of you not able to make it, it will still be available to visit during your stay and I am sure many of us would return to eat here as well. Both Ilarra and El Vaskito are walking distances from Stealth BJJ.
https://elvaskito.com/en/cider-house-menu/
Additional Events
We will post other excursions and events here and continue to add to this over the next few months leading up to the trip. If you have any ideas or interests, please let us know! I, for one, would love to visit the Rioja region or the Basque Axe makers…