anniebarndoor

Hi all,

My husband and I get to spend a week in Valencia (July 3-10) after spending a week in Madrid (ending our trip with 5 days in Barcelona). We've been completely convinced of the value (for us) of staying in one place for a while. We are searching for an apartment and hoping that most places in the old historic part of Valencia are acceptable. I'm drawn (for some unknown reason) to places around the Botanical Gardens and not so much to the southern locations (around the train station). We are not interested in the beach. We might try to rent a car one day to see some of the surrounding area (mostly south), but don't need full time car parking services. Since we'll travel by train both into and out of the city, I should probably prioritize the apartments around the train station. Any advice about apartment location?

Thanks so much in advance--Ann

Robert2533

Why choose Valencia in July if you are not interested in the beach? The beach is one of its major attractions.

There are several day trips you can do from Valencia, but most involve going to the beach. You can reach most places by train or bus. If you do rent a car, you can drive to Cartagena for the day and possibly visit the Jumilla and Yecla wine region on the way back.

anniebarndoor

Thanks for the reply Robert. We want to go to Valencia because this is an area of Spain that we missed when we were in Spain 3 years ago. (I'm really sorry that we have to travel in July, but that can't be helped this year.) We fell in love with Spain 3 years ago, and that is why we are returning to Madrid and Barcelona. We saw the Sorolla show in the Prado and would love to see some of the sea scapes motivating him. We've also read some great comments on this board about how fabulous Valencia is!!

Robert2533

It should make for a good trip, but it will be busy in Valencia in July (great beach weather, better than Westport and Ocean Shores).

If you are going to book a rental car, then I suggest checking with Auto Europe. We've used them for years and have always received the best deals.

kimhe

When in Valencia, don't forget to visit the Mercado: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8ryWd5aFw

anniebarndoor

Thanks kimhe! We are very excited about the market, since one Fodorite said that it was better than the one in Barcelona!!

And thanks Robert for the car advice. We too used Auto Europe before with excellent results. But we had the car for the whole time before (3 weeks). This time we are traveling by train for the most part with just a short use of a car for the area around Valencia.

stevelyon

The UK chef Rick Stein (hes famous over here) would agree about th market and ever sincehe broadcast from there I have had a yearning to go there, he reckons it is a very under-rated City.... and of course then there is the paella ,heaven.

Agosto

I'm from Valencia. The Mercado Central is indeed wonderful, you'll love it. The train station is just in the center of the town, much closer to everything than the Botanical garden.
If you want to eat (good) paella, a good, inexpensive place to do so is Los Toneles, just in the street in front of the train station's main gate. They have a menu, and it includes paella practically every day. And they cook wonderful paellas. Another option is to visit La Albufera and to eat in a little towna by the lake ( El Saler, Catarroja, Sueca, Sollana...)
I would recommend avoiding any restaurant which offers lots of diffents types of paella the same day; they are pre.-cooked and rather nasty. As a rule, although he are different recipes for paella, only one or two a cooked each day. By he way, real paella is made with chicken and rabbit, with or without seafood. If you are wary of eating rabbit, you may prefer 'fideuà', which is cooked with seafood and noodles instead of rice. Very typical and deicious.

Hope you enjoy your stay!

Cehegin

For day trips I would recommend Xativa(hometown of the borgias) and Teruel or Albarracin.
have a look at my blog: http://theartichokeadventures.blogsp...in-one-of.html

lincasanova

Also try Goldcar for local rental. They are so cheap many times we have never found anything competitive.

Xatvia by train. Lovely town. It WILL be hot up at the castle ruins. There is a nice hotel up there to have lunch or drink on outdoor terrace.

The Jardin Botánico area is quite nice. I know there are some nice rental flats around there. My only concern about the trendy barrio del carmen area is it can be quite noisy on the weekends and very late at night running well past midnight or 1 a.m. Any apartment there must have AC and at least double glazing. But there are some very nice flats there.

Don't miss:
The Mercado central
la lonja ( across the street)
Horchateria santa catalina ( get horchata ad a few fartons or chocolate and churros ( better int eh winter)

A cooking class might be fun. They will get an interpreter if you give them a day or two notice www.foodandfun.es

Cycling in the riverbed

Photo op at Calatrava Science center and Opera house complex

A good introduction to Fallas is the Falla Artists' Museum to understand how the Fallas are built. Museo Artista Fallero

http://www.gremiodeartistasfalleros.com/inicio.html

Actually I have given tours there if you need any assistance please let me know. Bus 28 and 12 stop at the door.

I really like the Valencia History Museum. it is one of the most impressive pieces of museum architecture in the city. Do go to admire the numerous displays, see a few of the film clips, a few of the animated videos in period dress and admire the building.

A boat ride on the Albufera from the fishing town El Palmar http://www.artvalencia.com/?p=148&lang=en

Nice day trips down coast Denia/Javea/Altea/moraiara.. beach towns with boardwalks or seaside restaurants.

Hiking everywhere in the mountains.

Peñiscola would be my choice by car for day trip. Up the coast less than 2 hours.

http://www.google.es/search?q=peñisc...w=1920&bih=858

If you want to get together for a coffee please advise! I should be here. If your husband is a golfer you may want to arrange that at one of the lovely clubs in the area. I'd be happy to do that. We even have some clubs he could use.

You may be surprised at how inexpensive hotels can be in case you don't find what you are looking for in a flat. www.trivago.es works well as it compares. similar to kayak.

lincasanova

Areas to avoid.. the riverbed after dusk. But other than that, I doubt you will be venturing to the Nazaret area which has always been a bit shady to say the least.