Valencia Spain

Old Jul 24th, 2017, 04:16 AM
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Valencia Spain

Hi, we will be flying out of Valencia end of September (coming up from Andalucia region), and hope to spend 2 nights there. It may end up being just one day and night, and we have a 6:15am morning flight out of Valencia.

We are hoping to make the best of the city, possibly renting bikes (since could cover a lot of ground this way) or using taxes; we'd like to walk along the sea side but don't need to spend a whole day at the beach. This will be the only part of our one-week trip we'll see the sea. And we'd like to see 1 or 2 main sites in the city (if we're able to stay 2 nights meaning a full day and a half - otherwise only have half day) - I've been researching what best to do with little time. Not a lot of time but trying to make the best of the time there.

Any suggestions on this, and especially we are looking for hotel suggestion under/around 150 Euro per night? Or even what "area" we should stay. Keeping in mind we have to be at airport at 4:30am. Any locations that would be central and easy to get to airport but still do a little sightseeing and beach? We may or may not have rental car, and I'm assuming if no rental car we'll take a taxi to the airport.

I just don't want to make the mistake of staying 45 minutes from the airport. But can't imagine traffic would be too bad at that time.

We've obviously never been to Valencia so any suggestions are welcome.
Thank you!
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 05:02 AM
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Will be in Valencia this winter so interested in your responses.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 05:38 AM
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Type Valencia in the search box. There are many fairly recent reports, photos, hotel recs and links to places to see and beaches.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 06:56 AM
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The beach (Playa de la Malvarrosa) and the city centre are 7 kms apart. The airport is another 20 kms away from either location.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 07:15 AM
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Valencia has a great public transportation system as well as taxis us can use on this rather 'rushed' visit. You might want to look at a good guide book to see what you can do with your limited time.

As far as inexpensive accommodations, you can check with booking.com to see what might still be available in your price range for your dates. Booking.com is showing a 93% occupancy rate for hotels in your price range near the end of the month, but that still leaves you a few options.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 07:24 AM
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We stayed here:

https://www.inglesboutique.com

Excellent location for exploring the centre of Valencia and close to bus stops and the metro as well.

if you could get a rate within your budget, go for it!
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 07:58 AM
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>>> Or even what "area" we should stay. Keeping in mind we have to be at airport at 4:30am. Any locations that would be central and easy to get to airport but still do a little sightseeing and beach? We may or may not have rental car, and I'm assuming if no rental car we'll take a taxi to the airport.

Why is "easy to get to airport" a key consideration? Neither the bus nor the metro is running that early. If you rent a car, there is no traffic at that time. And if you take a taxi, that practically means anywhere in the metropolitan area is ok. The difference in travel time to the airport at that time between the closest metropolitan area to the furthest is perhaps 20 min.

You need to decide to what things you want to be "central" to. As mentioned above, the city is pretty spread out. To visit the rest, you would probably end up using buses, metros, taxis, or riding a bicycle. If bicycle, study the weather in September. It is still "hot" in September, but that depends on what kind of climate you are used to riding a bike.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 08:38 AM
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Given that the beach is so important to you, I like the idea of staying at the beach and going into town by cab or bus. You'll have spent a lot of time sight-seeing by then so a rest from the city will be welcome, I should think. But you can have your day in the city , and then in the afternoon when you've had enough go back to the beach, have a swim, and have a great dinner.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 09:16 AM
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I was kind of thinking the same thing, Annhig, about staying at the beach after city sight-seeing in the fairly warm Andalucia region. Valencia looks like a really nice city, but we will have seen some amazing sites in Seville, Cordoba, and Granada, and maybe we just need to do something more relaxing in Valencia. When we set out to do this trip, I was thinking, let's choose a place we've never been and we'll stay at a nice place and relax and explore without the kids for a week (because we've been so stressed and need this). I chose Spain. Now I look into Spain and realize we have a lot to see! Hopefully we'll bring the kids back with us in a few years.

Knowing that we can easily get to city sites from the beach area puts my mind at ease. For whatever reason, I'm having a hard time finding hotel on the beach. But we could be near, and as suggested, have an afternoon at the beach and a great dinner our last night - sounds lovely.

We just rode a bike half a day in 30 degrees this past week, and due to the breeze riding the bike creates, it was quite pleasant, though the shady parts were always appreciated. But I am happy to know the city is easily taxi-able. Less time for us to have to learn the bus system being there only a short time and no need to do bikes if we're too tired.

The concern of time it takes to get to airport was just because we have such an early flight that I wondered if we should be at an airport hotel, but I see now that airport is not far at all from city, and with no traffic that time, whether taxi or rental car, we should be good! Thanks!
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 10:29 AM
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glad you found that helpful, khedge.

We had 4 nights in Valencia a few years ago and we loved it. True there are tourists there but it is not overwhelmed by them, unlike [IMO] Barcelona. The beach front is lovely - a great long stretch of beach with a row of restaurants and a few hotels behind it. We ended up eating in town the day we went out there, but I suspect that the beach restaurants would have been better.

Personally I would take a cab to the airport, and return the car the day before - on the day you arrive in Valencia, you could drive to your hotel, spend the afternoon and evening there, and the next day, use it to drive into Valencia and return it to the car hire people, spend the day there, and then cab back to the hotel. simples.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 01:35 PM
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Yes, the beachfront is lovely and the boardwalk is great for cycling. If you look for beach hotels on booking.com, select 'Poblats Maritims' as location.

A 'must see' IMO is City of Arts and Sciences of the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. It's in the Turía Park, which you can also easily do by bike (the park is 9 km long).

Check this page for info on cycling tours and bike rental: http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what...ia/city-routes
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 05:25 PM
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Great advice on car drop off timing! And thank your for advice on booking.com Poblats Maritims. I just booked our hotel on it on the beach! So Valencia part is done, and onto Seville hotel and Granada hotel. Have to be wise with Granada choice if only staying one night as probably need to be able to be near the Alhambra. Still concerned about only 1 night there but I think we'll be ok!
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 03:47 AM
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no car necessary in Valencia. It will only stress you out trying to not get lost, not accidentally make a wrong/illegal turn and then having to pay 3.50e/hour to parking garages downtown.

It will be 20 minutes max to the airport from city center and maybe the same or 10 minutes longer MAX from beach area.

I can suggest El Coso beach restaurant AND they have a new hotel connected to it ( but have never seen the rooms). Meals at El Coso are highly discounted if you book on eltenedor.es. We go often and that is how I realized they now have a hotel upstairs.

Las Arenas is your highest luxury hotel at beach and Neptuno somewhere in between and also has highly rated restaurant.

I would suggest going into Valencia old town at night and stroll around to see some of the most extensive historical old town in Europe. There are some roof top bars around there which are nice at night.

If you prefer to stay city center, near old town and just go to beach area for lunch, for example, then El Hotel Ingles, posted by Annhig is nice, well located as are Hotel Astoria, among many others. Plenty in your price range unless there is a convention in town. I am happy to comment on other hotels you find you like.. let me know. just have not been able to see what is available right now.

Taxi to beach from city center may be 8-10euros.. public bus will take 30 min+. Be sure to stop for photo ops at science center.. another trendy place to stay, good new hotels, part way from beach and city center.. plenty of places to stroll/bike, as these hotels and shopping are bordering our now park river bed with bike paths.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 07:49 AM
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Have to be wise with Granada choice if only staying one night as probably need to be able to be near the Alhambra. Still concerned about only 1 night there but I think we'll be ok!>>

We stayed at the Hotel Guadalupe which is right opposite the Alhambra, and gets special rates for parking in the huge Alhambra car park right opposite.

http://www.hotelguadalupe.es/en/

Other people here have stayed there and agreed that it was a good choice; the rooms are a good size and they have their own restaurant if you are too tired to walk into town at the end of your evening visit to the Alhambra. [10 mins downhill]

There is a bus from the town centre back up to the hotel which runs very frequently or a cab would not be expensive.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 07:52 AM
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no car necessary in Valencia. It will only stress you out trying to not get lost, not accidentally make a wrong/illegal turn and then having to pay 3.50e/hour to parking garages downtown.>>

That wasn't what I was suggesting, Lin. My idea is that if the OP is going to be staying at the beach, s/he keeps the car until the morning of the whole day that they have in Valencia, when they can drive the car to the car hire depot and return the car [obviating the need to get a bus or a taxi], spends the day in Valencia, and gets a cab back.

If s/he decides to stay in the centre, I agree that there is no need for a car, and it would be better to get rid of it straight away.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 08:09 AM
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Seconding annhig's Hotel Guadeloupe suggestion for a short stay in Granada especially with a car.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 01:09 PM
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I wasn't dishing any suggestion or even thought you made that suggestion.. just letting her know she does not want a car regardless of where she stays unless she parks it free on street, probably near science center will be the only place or at beach early in the morning or later at night with NOTHING IN IT.

Hotel Guadaloupe was perfect for visiting the Alhambra. I assume you already have your tickets? Picking them up can be tricky unless you see the gift shop and BEHIND it is the kiosk where you get those online pre-paid tickets from the machine with your code.

Unfortunately there is a line that says "internet tickets" where tons of people were waiting instead of going to the kiosks, which no one knew where they were.

Have a safe trip and I hope you like Valencia.
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 01:39 PM
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I'm looking into Hotel Guadalaloupe now. I'm trying to figure out best place online to secure the Alhambra tickets.
Thanks!
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 03:29 PM
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oficial page is this one

http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/ind...Entradas/49/0/
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Old Jul 25th, 2017, 03:35 PM
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that hotel is perfect ... I was so glad to have seen it recommended on here for our short 2 night stay.
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