God. I've been there. That moment when your team makes it to a European final and your heart says "BOOK EVERYTHING NOW" while your brain screams "YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IS ALREADY CRYING."

With Man United hammering Athletic Club 3-0 away and Spurs handling Bodo/Glimt 3-1 at home, we're staring down the barrel of an all-English Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21st. And let me tell you - accommodation prices have gone absolutely bonkers.

£1,000 for a shoebox? You've got to be kidding me

I checked the hotel prices in Bilbao last night and nearly spat my tea across the room. A THOUSAND POUNDS. For ONE NIGHT. In a single room that probably has a view of someone else's bathroom window. And that's if you're lucky enough to find availability!

Air BnB is even worse - £2,300 for a flat in the city centre. I mean, I love my club, but I'm not remortgaging my house for 24 hours in Spain.

The stakes are massive tho. Beyond just the trophy, the winner gets that golden Champions League ticket for next season. Career-defining for players, potentially manager-saving, and absolutely massive for both clubs' finances.

So where teh hell can we actually stay?

After spending way too many hours researching alternatives (my partner thinks I've lost the plot), I've found some options that won't require selling vital organs.

Bermeo: The nearby fishing town that won't fish all your money out

Just 21 miles from Bilbao (about 35 mins drive), this little coastal spot in Biscay offers flats with three beds ranging from £568-£714. Not exactly pocket change, but split between mates? Doable.

If you're flying solo, hotel rooms average around £100. I actually stayed near here back in 2018 on a driving holiday and it's pretty charming - though I wasn't competing with thousands of football fans for beds then.

San Sebastian: Worth it for the food alone

About 100km east of Bilbao (70 min drive), this gorgeous coastal city has hotels at around £300 per person. Still steep, but...

Listen. If you're really pinching pennies, hostels here go for £34 a night. Yes, you'll be sharing with strangers who might snore like chainsaws or come stumbling in at 4am. Been there. Survived that. Barely.

Santander: The western budget-saver

Same distance as San Sebastian but westward, Santander is weirdly cheaper. Top hotels for just £68! That's like finding designer shoes in teh bargain bin.

Hostels here are an absolute steal at £22. Though after a night of celebration (or drowning sorrows), sharing a room with 7 strangers might be... challenging.

Glamping: For when you're desperate but still fancy

I tried glamping once. Thought it would be romantic. Ended up fighting off insects adn arguing about who had to trek to the toilet block at 3am.

But hey, for £50 per person at a site an hour from Bilbao, you get a bungalow with actual amenities. Not bad if you want to pretend you're communing with nature while actually just saving cash.

The French escape plan

Biarritz, just over the French border, is about 1hr 45min from Bilbao. Hotels there run around £90 per person - practically giving them away compared to Bilbao prices.

My colleague went there last summer and wouldn't shut up about how beautiful it was. "Like the French Riviera but without all the oligarchs," was his exact description.

For proper budget warriors, they've got static caravans sleeping 5 people for £150 total. That's £30 per person! Though I imagine five adult football fans crammed into a caravan after a final might test even the strongest friendships.

Whatever you choose, book NOW. I waited too long for the Champions League final in 2019 and ended up paying more for a hotel room than my monthly mortgage payment. Poor financial decisions and football fandom - name a more iconic duo.