With the forthcoming America’s Cup, Valencia is finally getting its fair share of the international limelight. I was traveling with a friend and we needed two rooms, so each was single occupancy – not always a very economical way to travel. Yet The Hotel Puerta Valencia was superb value for money. I found a rate on the internet of only 58 euros per room, per night! (That´s about 75 US dollars or 40 GB pounds). I had originally found a wonderful looking boutique hotel in a converted townhouse, but it was almost 4 times more expensive, so the Silken Puerta Valencia seduced me on price alone. Looking at the hotel’s web site I thought we couldn’t go badly wrong – and we didn’t.
I concur with the other reviewers that the accommodation was excellent, with spacious rooms and clean bathrooms both with a strong, modern design.
We found the reception & bar staff to be really friendly and helpful. For example, when we first arrived, late at night straight from the airport, we were offered rooms next to the lifts; not one of the greatest locations. When we asked if we could change rooms, they swiftly reallocated us rooms without a problem or attitude.
Talking of location, this is definitely the hotel’s greatest weakness. Although close enough to a metro station and only about 15 minutes walk from both the attractive town centre in one direction and the stunning City of Arts & Sciences (CAC) in the other, the immediate neighborhood is dominated my drab and dull apartment buildings and tired looking shops and Asian restaurants. Normally a 15 minute walk in a new city is a pleasure, a chance to explore and discover. However we ended up using the inexpensive cabs to “fast forward” us to our destination so we could speed past these dull streets and spend time exploring in more inspiring environments, and believe me Valencia has plenty. Since the hotel was great value, understandably it had a high occupancy level at the weekend, with domestic and international guests - plus we were just entering the famous Fallas festival season, so the hotel was not exactly a haven of peace. Our rooms were well insulated from the streets outside, but less so from the internal corridors and the of noise chattering guests returning to their rooms (which at 3.30 in the morning seemed so much louder than it probably was)
Finally, on my favorite subject of coffee, I was disappointed to say that the coffee at breakfast was not good at all – again a case of fancy espresso machines not be fueled by decent coffee beans or operated by trained staff.
I think 2007 is the year to visit Valencia. Even if you are not nuts about sailing, the city has a well preserved historic old town with tapas bars and restaurants, whilst its elegant period avenues provide opportunities for retail therapy and the ultra modern CAC is like a theme park with world-class architecture. Go a little further and you discover the port, undergoing a renaissance thanks to the forthcoming America’s Cup, as well as stunning, broad beaches lined by restaurants serving paella, for which the city of rightly famous.









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