If your primary search criteria are budget and location, this place is fine There are a variety of great bars and restaurants at the end of the block, less than five minute walk to the beach. The host was responsive to a few minor requests.
If, like us, the whole point of renting an apartment over a hotel is getting the "we are living in San Sebastian for a week" experience, this might not be a good fit. Here's why:
1) HIGH FLOOR/NO ELEVATOR: This apartment is a 5th floor (6 flights of stairs) walk-up. It's very clear that the elevator has not worked for a long time and is a major repair project. Read other reviews - it is what it is, and does not seem likely to change any time soon. 2) NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO COOK-IN. The kitchen layout, amenities and location do not make this a good apartment for people who want to cook in - a main reason why we like to choose rentals over apartment. We are not hermits; San Sebastian's food was a big draw. But for us, we pick apartments over hotels so we can also try cooking local food. This kitchen works only for making coffee and eating our morning bread. 3) LIMITED BATHROOM PRIVACY: Access to bathroom is from the main living space. Anyone sitting in the living area or kitchen tais just on the other side of a very thin door. For two, adult couples, this lack of any privacy for the bathroom was not very comfortable. 4) GENERAL LACK OF AMBIANCE: Mostly white walls and cheap, worn out furniture. As we suspected, there are no views and little natural light in the apartment. Minimal decor and lack of care for the furniture. Also, the furniture - especially the sofas - are beyond cleaning and repair. We put blankets over them to hide the stains. There was a broken television stuffed in one of the closets, limiting space for clothes.
Again, I guess it depends on what you are looking for. We were all joking that in our 20s, this would have been fine. But, for these two 50-something couples, if we had known the above ahead of time, we'd have found another apartment.