Long term secure luggage storage in Bilbao?

[Anne100]

My trip is slowly evolving... it looks like I'll be flying into and out of Bilbao. I will need to store luggage there for 3+ months. Is there a safe place to do that?

 

[sillydoll]

Anne, most airports and large bus stations have luggage lockers. But I would think that ± 3 months would be a bit costly.
You could post your extra luggage to Ivar's luggage storage facility in Santiago.
He usually keeps luggage for 60 days but perhaps you could negotiate a longer period with him.

Ivar Rekve
ATT: Your Name
Travesia de la Universidade 1
15704 Santiago de Compostela
La Coruña, Spain

Just remember, that you are only allowed 90 days in any Schengen country so try to keep your stay to under 3 months.

 

[neutra]

My wife and I stayed at the same hotel (NH Villa de Bilbao) when we arrived in Spain and the last few days before we left. That allowed us to stash a bag with them and also provided a place for me to send stuff to when I did the "pare down" routine at the end of the first week of walking. I imagine any hotel would extend the same courtesy.

 

[Anne100]

Just remember, that you are only allowed 90 days in any Schengen country so try to keep your stay to under 3 months.

I'd forgotten about that. I'm a slow walker. Does the 90 day limit apply to EU members, too? I'm a dual national so I hold an EU member passport in addition to my U.S. passport.

 

[sillydoll]

Anne, some of the rules are quite confusing. Generally, USA citizens can enter the Schengen Area as a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period.
Have a look here for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_polic ... pean_Union
Perhaps your local Spanish Consul can give you advice regarding your EU passport but I would suggest you leave the US on your US passport, and enter Spain using your EU passport.

 

[Anne100]

I would suggest you leave the US on your US passport, and enter Spain using your EU passport.

Good idea, that's my plan. The laws are a bit confusing but I just found this at Ireland's web site for the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade (I should have researched a little more online before asking). I'm posting it in case anyone else has a similar question:

"Staying for longer than three months

All EU citizens who wish to reside in Spain for more than three months have to register in person at the Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners Office), which is normally part of the town hall (Ayuntamiento), or at designated police stations. You will be issued a Certificate of Registration stating your name, address, nationality, identity number (NIE) and date of registration. The certificate serves as confirmation that the registration obligation has been fulfilled, but it is not recognised by the local authorities as a valid form of identification and you are not obliged to keep the certificate with you."

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=8545

 

[Anne100]

My wife and I stayed at the same hotel (NH Villa de Bilbao) when we arrived in Spain and the last few days before we left. That allowed us to stash a bag with them and also provided a place for me to send stuff to when I did the "pare down" routine at the end of the first week of walking. I imagine any hotel would extend the same courtesy.

How long did you leave a bag there and how did they secure it?

 

[zilla.kzilla]

I also stayed in a hotel in Bilbao, Tryp Arenal. They kept my luggage for 6 weeks. Lovely staff, very friendly and accustomed to pilgrims. I highly recommend the hotel. My suitcase was kept in a locked storage closet behind the desk. All was safe and sound when I got back to spend 2 nights in Bilbao, a city that I loved!