OK, I'm going to a music festival there in the summer and am trying to book a hotel. I found a nice farmhouse just out of the centre, but it means driving.

I'm confused. I'm looking at all the hotels in the centre area and some reviews say that they are in dodgy areas.

The concert is on the hills to the West of the central area, just over the autovia. Does anyone have any recommendations for reasonable hotels in reasonable areas with parking?

Would appreciate any help. I suspect we wont be leaving the concerts until 2 in the morning, so I need somewhere near

If I remember correctly, the underground goes out to the coast, so it may be worth looking for accommodation there. If you leave your concert late though, you may have to take a taxi. EDIT just seen your 2 am warning. Hmmm. Not sure what to advise, except book your accommodation as soon as you can. For some reason rooms get booked up very quickly in Bilbao

Take raincoats and/or an umbrella - even in July you can get soaked in Bilbao. A fascinating city though, and well worth exploring.

Well I spent hours now on various sites trying to find a decent hotel, and I'm going around in circles. I dont know Bilbao at all, and dont know the good areas and the rough ones. I find a decent hotel and then I find people commenting that it is in an intimidating or rough area

Here's a longshot, Mitzyboy. How about a campsite near Bilbao? Playa Joyel at Noja, near Castro-Urdiales. Lovely beach.
Carol

Or,
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S12818.htm

Metro runs til 2am Fridays and all night, I think, Saturdays. Need to check on that.

Yipes My camping days ended when I crawled out of a tent one morning and placed my hand in the remnants of a spilled tin of tomato soup

Thanks. Ive been on Owners Direct and found the only apartment they have, but waiting for a reply from the owner as to where it is

We did the eurocamp holiday here many years ago, so can not comment on it's present state. However, it was idyllic - even in the rain! Surely no problems for you to arrive in the wee small hours of the morning.
We stayed in a mobile home but the tent pitches were good, too. This isn't camping in the wild! All amenities to hand: beach on your doorstep, onsite pool & restaurant, town a stroll away...The beach then was clean & quiet, the town of Noja small but with a market. Larger town of Castro-Urdiales a few mins away by car. Fiesta del Carmen on 16th July big event here. Bilbao was further East, not far, though. Police with guns, but I found Corte Ingles, so I was happy.

all police in Spain have guns and a lot of security guards have them too.

Guess I'm not use to them, but these were BIG guns, if you know what I mean , Harry.

Try Booking.com. Reviews are genuine as to give one the person as had to have booked through the website and stayed too. if you do not turn up no review!
http://www.booking.com

I have mate! They are either extremely expensive ... or the reviews are rubbish.

I have decided to go for the farmhouse we found. Its too far away really as I will have to drive (3 or 4 kms) but at least its a decent enough place at a reasonable price (even though they haven't replied to my email from this morning yet!)

Maybe they were anti-terrorist police. I lived in London around the tube bombings a few years ago. You must have the seen the guns they were walking around with in the years that followed!

There is the Ibis Barakaldo just outside of town beside the autovia and a big commercial centre,.. should be secure with good parking and maybe not crazy prices.
Might be worth checking out if the location suits you.

Have a look at www.hotel.com always found them pretty comprehensive for a good range of hotels

Sometimes the Guardia have them at the sailors hill at La Cala where they do the vehicle checks.