By Dev
When you head off into the Basque country and Bilbao in particular the first and probably the primary thing on every tourist’s agenda has to be a visit to the Guggenheim Museum. The museum of modern and contemporary art is designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.
If Guggenheim is what you are looking, the perfect boutique hotel for the halt is NH Deusto Bilbao offering almost a perfect view of the marvellous museum from its windows. The hotel is hardly 550 yards away from the museum- a 10-minute leisurely walk along side the Nervion river which runs just behind the hotel.
The hotel might be only three-star on paper but the modern rooms and the perfect view give you much more than what you pay for. Located in the middle of the business district, the hotel is just 5 minutes walk from the Deusto metro station which itself is only a couple of stops away from Bilbao’s main station.
All the guest rooms are up-to-date with modern amenities with warm décor, hardwood floors and large double-tinted windows — which make for a great night’s sleep. Apart from these the rooms are well-equipped with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning and a fully stocked mini-bar.
The buffet breakfast is nice and sumptuous with a great range of cold cuts, variety of cheese, fresh fruit as well as fresh fruit juices. Since the hotel is located alongside the beautiful river, the walk to the ‘Old Town’ — the historic centre of Bilbao — feels a nice leisurely walk away. On foot, the Old Town is about half an hour away but walk from the Deusto makes it worthwhile but those looking for a quicker way can opt for a subway ride.
The hotel is decked up with ultra-modern Basque art and restaurant specialises in Basque dishes as well. For those looking for more culinary options the Old Town is the place to be but there is nice mall just across the bridge from the hotel which one can explore.
The downside probably was the 10 euro charge for the use of wi-fi in the hotel room. But then only three things matter to a solo tourist like me at the end of the day- location, location and location! And this hotel scores high on location.
The fifth floor rooms in the hotel offer balconies and terrace and it’s worthwhile paying 10 euros extra for these rooms if you like a view of the mountains on the one side and river on the other. At an average price of about Rs 5000-6000 even in peak tourist season in Bilbao, NH Deusto is a great option and I’ll definitely love to come back here again.
Fast Facts
Summary:NH Deusto is the perfect boutique hotel for a halt in Bilbao offering almost a perfect view of the marvellous Guggenheim museum from its windows.
