Valencia - Finally going and need advice
Jun 1st, 2015, 05:30 PM
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Valencia - Finally going and need advice
Buenos días!
Sorry if this is a little long, but I have been trying to do my homework beforehand. I have received much valuable advice from this board and have humbly tried to reciprocate whenever I could - here goes!
After hearing several great things about Valencia, and avidly reading the related trip reports on this forum, we are planning a visit in mid-October of this year. We are very much looking forward to experiencing the many delights it seems to offer !
WHO WE ARE:
Middle age and physically fit couple, interests are museums, art (particularly but not limited to modern and contemporary), music, food!, wine!, architecture, general culture. We are not beach/resort/tour persons.
Fluent in Spanish language, in fact studied it in Spain in another life in both Salamanca and Sevilla (just LOVE both those cities), re-immersion in the language and culture is a big and important part of our Spanish sojourns.
In preparation for this next trip, I would be looking for suggestions and advice in two separate aspects as this will be our first foray into Valencia: (a) lodging and (b) itinerary before and after Valencia.
LODGING considerations:
- Central location, and reasonably quiet at night (I know, this is Spain after all!)
- Preference for something with a kitchenette (not absolutely compulsory)
- Much prefer to have a bathtub, i.e. not shower-only
- In-room safety deposit box, for peace of mind
- Would like to keep it under 110 to 130 euros/night
What we looked at so far:
1- Valenciaflats Catedral: some units seem to have bathtubs, units appear to be small though, no in-room safety box (it looks as if there have been a few rare issues), limited kitchen supplies from what I can tell (glasses, plates, salt, pepper, soap, etc.)
2- Hotel Melia Plaza near the ayuntamiento: Looks quite nice and many people seem to really like it, including some Fodor posters. Superior rooms look onto the plaza, surprisingly quiet but no kitchenette. Looks interesting nonetheless.
3- Spain Select apartments: these look quite nice, are much larger than the Valenciaflats, not sure about in room safety box, or kitchen supplies. Some units have a bathtub. The main potential issue here would appear to be night time noise, as Carrer dells Cavallers is apparently party central - is this in fact the case?
ITINERARY ideas:
Our current thinking is to arrive in Madrid where we would be spending a few days as we truly love it there, and then heading to Valencia by way of Cuenca (Abstract Art Museum, casas colgadas, cathedral).
Option 1 is to take the AVE to Cuenca and overnight (or 2) there. Is the Parador a good choice? It seems a little dated in the website pictures. Are there better alternatives? NH? or other? From Cuenca, AVE to Valencia.
Option 2 is to rent a car and drive to Cuenca, overnight (or 2) and on to Valencia. This would make sense only if there are other sights/stops of interest along the way. For instance, going into the Sierra de Cuenca to the enchanted city (geological formations, is it worth it? - for info we really enjoyed El Torcal near Antequera), any other worthwhile sights? Guadalajara?
Finally, after Valencia I am trying to get a feel whether it would be worthwhile to drive down the coast a little. For instance, the Ifac Penyal has caught my attention, and there is a Parador in Javea. Should we be aiming further south to Murcia? (this will be mid-October) This is unchartered territory for me, and keeping in mind the above mentioned sought Spanish re-immersion, I would wish to try and avoid any German, British, Russian, American, (insert your favourite nationality here) enclave along the way.
Sorry for the long rambling, but I would be very interested in thoughts, comments and suggestions on the above.
Sorry if this is a little long, but I have been trying to do my homework beforehand. I have received much valuable advice from this board and have humbly tried to reciprocate whenever I could - here goes!
After hearing several great things about Valencia, and avidly reading the related trip reports on this forum, we are planning a visit in mid-October of this year. We are very much looking forward to experiencing the many delights it seems to offer !
WHO WE ARE:
Middle age and physically fit couple, interests are museums, art (particularly but not limited to modern and contemporary), music, food!, wine!, architecture, general culture. We are not beach/resort/tour persons.
Fluent in Spanish language, in fact studied it in Spain in another life in both Salamanca and Sevilla (just LOVE both those cities), re-immersion in the language and culture is a big and important part of our Spanish sojourns.
In preparation for this next trip, I would be looking for suggestions and advice in two separate aspects as this will be our first foray into Valencia: (a) lodging and (b) itinerary before and after Valencia.
LODGING considerations:
- Central location, and reasonably quiet at night (I know, this is Spain after all!)
- Preference for something with a kitchenette (not absolutely compulsory)
- Much prefer to have a bathtub, i.e. not shower-only
- In-room safety deposit box, for peace of mind
- Would like to keep it under 110 to 130 euros/night
What we looked at so far:
1- Valenciaflats Catedral: some units seem to have bathtubs, units appear to be small though, no in-room safety box (it looks as if there have been a few rare issues), limited kitchen supplies from what I can tell (glasses, plates, salt, pepper, soap, etc.)
2- Hotel Melia Plaza near the ayuntamiento: Looks quite nice and many people seem to really like it, including some Fodor posters. Superior rooms look onto the plaza, surprisingly quiet but no kitchenette. Looks interesting nonetheless.
3- Spain Select apartments: these look quite nice, are much larger than the Valenciaflats, not sure about in room safety box, or kitchen supplies. Some units have a bathtub. The main potential issue here would appear to be night time noise, as Carrer dells Cavallers is apparently party central - is this in fact the case?
ITINERARY ideas:
Our current thinking is to arrive in Madrid where we would be spending a few days as we truly love it there, and then heading to Valencia by way of Cuenca (Abstract Art Museum, casas colgadas, cathedral).
Option 1 is to take the AVE to Cuenca and overnight (or 2) there. Is the Parador a good choice? It seems a little dated in the website pictures. Are there better alternatives? NH? or other? From Cuenca, AVE to Valencia.
Option 2 is to rent a car and drive to Cuenca, overnight (or 2) and on to Valencia. This would make sense only if there are other sights/stops of interest along the way. For instance, going into the Sierra de Cuenca to the enchanted city (geological formations, is it worth it? - for info we really enjoyed El Torcal near Antequera), any other worthwhile sights? Guadalajara?
Finally, after Valencia I am trying to get a feel whether it would be worthwhile to drive down the coast a little. For instance, the Ifac Penyal has caught my attention, and there is a Parador in Javea. Should we be aiming further south to Murcia? (this will be mid-October) This is unchartered territory for me, and keeping in mind the above mentioned sought Spanish re-immersion, I would wish to try and avoid any German, British, Russian, American, (insert your favourite nationality here) enclave along the way.
Sorry for the long rambling, but I would be very interested in thoughts, comments and suggestions on the above.
Jun 1st, 2015, 07:47 PM
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I would stay with option one, the AVE to Cuenca and then on to Valencia. The drive can be boring.
Yes, the Parador Cuenca is a little dated, and could use a little renovation, but Spain's been in a recession for the last 7 or 8 years, so give it time. But it's in good shape and I would not hesitate staying there. Besides it's great location, it has a great breakfast.
Yes, the Parador Cuenca is a little dated, and could use a little renovation, but Spain's been in a recession for the last 7 or 8 years, so give it time. But it's in good shape and I would not hesitate staying there. Besides it's great location, it has a great breakfast.
Jun 1st, 2015, 08:42 PM
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Even if you are not a beacH person, take a taxi to Las Arenas hotel and
go for a walk by the beautiful beach....It goes for miles.
Next to the hotel, there is a row of restaurants, bars and cafes...perfect on a
nice day ( evening).
go for a walk by the beautiful beach....It goes for miles.
Next to the hotel, there is a row of restaurants, bars and cafes...perfect on a
nice day ( evening).
Jun 2nd, 2015, 05:43 AM
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Thanks so much to you both.
Robert2533, that was my hunch also so this seems to confirm my initial thought - this really helps.
Danon, just to clarify, by beach person I meant to go lie on the sand/swim/sun etc. for hours. Since the sight of any sea or ocean is a rare opportunity for us, there is no doubt that we will to spend time on the shore to take it all in. Your kind suggestion is duly noted and is very much appreciated.
Robert2533, that was my hunch also so this seems to confirm my initial thought - this really helps.
Danon, just to clarify, by beach person I meant to go lie on the sand/swim/sun etc. for hours. Since the sight of any sea or ocean is a rare opportunity for us, there is no doubt that we will to spend time on the shore to take it all in. Your kind suggestion is duly noted and is very much appreciated.
Jun 2nd, 2015, 06:26 AM
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Glad to help.
Valencia is a beautiful city.
Sorry I cannot recommend logging...( stayed in a private home.)
We took cercania to Xativa and walked part way to the castle.
A nice half day outing.
The language is similar to Catalan but Castilian Spanish is spoken everywhere.
Valencia is a beautiful city.
Sorry I cannot recommend logging...( stayed in a private home.)
We took cercania to Xativa and walked part way to the castle.
A nice half day outing.
The language is similar to Catalan but Castilian Spanish is spoken everywhere.
Jun 2nd, 2015, 06:57 AM
#7
I think that I may have been one of those recommending the Melia Plaza - which we thought was in a great location and had very nice bathrooms, in room safes etc.
the didn't try the restaurant but that looked ok; there was a great restaurant just behind it which we enjoyed a lot:
http://www.restauranteelencuentro.es
also lots of great tapas bars, and many places offering a menu del dia at lunch time for €10 or so including drinks.
it was a bit of a fag to get out to the beach [bus from the main plaza just across from the hotel] then walk but once we were there we could see the attraction - a long stretch of sand and nice restaurants offering many different rice dishes, sangria, wine, etc - a great place for a long lunch.
we also enjoyed the Beaux Arts museum, the ceramics museum [the orate front is worth the trip] and the new Arts and Science centre.
for a day trip we took the train from the main station [5 mins walk from the hotel] to Sagunt where there is a wonderful castle covering Rome to Napoleon; we were accosted by someone offering his guiding services which we [unusually for us] accepted - he turned out to be both informative and entertaining, and we ended up giving him €20 rather than the €2 each he asked. We also found a nice restaurant on the way back to the station where we had a good lunch.
we stayed for 4 nights and could certainly have managed at least one more, or even a week.
the didn't try the restaurant but that looked ok; there was a great restaurant just behind it which we enjoyed a lot:
http://www.restauranteelencuentro.es
also lots of great tapas bars, and many places offering a menu del dia at lunch time for €10 or so including drinks.
it was a bit of a fag to get out to the beach [bus from the main plaza just across from the hotel] then walk but once we were there we could see the attraction - a long stretch of sand and nice restaurants offering many different rice dishes, sangria, wine, etc - a great place for a long lunch.
we also enjoyed the Beaux Arts museum, the ceramics museum [the orate front is worth the trip] and the new Arts and Science centre.
for a day trip we took the train from the main station [5 mins walk from the hotel] to Sagunt where there is a wonderful castle covering Rome to Napoleon; we were accosted by someone offering his guiding services which we [unusually for us] accepted - he turned out to be both informative and entertaining, and we ended up giving him €20 rather than the €2 each he asked. We also found a nice restaurant on the way back to the station where we had a good lunch.
we stayed for 4 nights and could certainly have managed at least one more, or even a week.
Jun 2nd, 2015, 04:36 PM
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Thanks again - these are all great recommendations!
annhig - yours is one of the trip reports (or feedback posts, cannot remember exactly) that I did go through as I recall. It is likely that the Melia Plaza stuck in my mind at that time. We are looking at spending probably 5 or 6 days in Valencia, which could be stretched to a week. I appreciate your restaurant suggestions as well as the museum and day trip suggestion. These are new to me so I will definitely look them up!
Bedar and danon, thanks for the ideas of trip to Xativa, the ceramics museum and Manises - this is new info to me. Of course we are well aware of Calatrava so the Arts and Science center is already tagged as a must
annhig - yours is one of the trip reports (or feedback posts, cannot remember exactly) that I did go through as I recall. It is likely that the Melia Plaza stuck in my mind at that time. We are looking at spending probably 5 or 6 days in Valencia, which could be stretched to a week. I appreciate your restaurant suggestions as well as the museum and day trip suggestion. These are new to me so I will definitely look them up!
Bedar and danon, thanks for the ideas of trip to Xativa, the ceramics museum and Manises - this is new info to me. Of course we are well aware of Calatrava so the Arts and Science center is already tagged as a must
Jun 3rd, 2015, 02:44 AM
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Went to Valencia many years ago during Fallas- fireworks, costumes , papier-mâché figures - loved it even though my husband was there for a business fair. I remember doing a walking tour of Barrio del Carman , the fascinating Mercado Central , Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia., Belle Arts Musee. I remember taking a local bus to the beach just to walk along the sand and had a picnic on the foreshore. Also caught a bus going south just to see some other areas . Enjoy
Jun 3rd, 2015, 04:08 AM
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check out orange roos valencia. My friend used to own it nut recently sold it. those are small flats with kitchenette.
There are lovely flats all over the city for temporary lodging possibilities. The QUART area will be quieter than Rusafa or cathedral IMO in general, and still central, but not as much as cathedral area, of course. There are some flats around Torres de Serrano which would also be a great location. Orange rooms are near the central market.
There are lovely flats all over the city for temporary lodging possibilities. The QUART area will be quieter than Rusafa or cathedral IMO in general, and still central, but not as much as cathedral area, of course. There are some flats around Torres de Serrano which would also be a great location. Orange rooms are near the central market.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 12:48 PM
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Those are all great ideas, northie. We will have time to venture out a little so this kind of info is always useful. It sounds as if you hit a lot of the highlights, including Las Fallas, as well as having quality downtime by the sea.
lincasanova, I suppose I was somehow secretly hoping you would chime in re. locations within central Valencia. I was starting to feel a little "edgy" about accommodations (meaning feeling a little challenged), so will indeed look in the directions you are pointing me towards, and may come back with further questions/seeking opinions. As someone on-site, I certainly value your insight and do note your comment about the Quart area, and also Torres de Serrano which appear to be close to the Valencia Modern Art Institute which is on our must-do list. This is REALLY much appreciated.
lincasanova, I suppose I was somehow secretly hoping you would chime in re. locations within central Valencia. I was starting to feel a little "edgy" about accommodations (meaning feeling a little challenged), so will indeed look in the directions you are pointing me towards, and may come back with further questions/seeking opinions. As someone on-site, I certainly value your insight and do note your comment about the Quart area, and also Torres de Serrano which appear to be close to the Valencia Modern Art Institute which is on our must-do list. This is REALLY much appreciated.
Jun 3rd, 2015, 03:20 PM
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Jun 4th, 2015, 08:50 AM
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Wow! This looks as if it is going in the right direction I'll have a closer look at these and also look in the barrios you mentioned. I may just then ping back if its not asking too much.
Thanks so much lincasanova, things are now looking up again!
I'll have a closer look at these and also look in the barrios you mentioned. I may just then ping back if its not asking too much. Thanks so much lincasanova, things are now looking up again!
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