An under-rated holiday destination (Valencia)

Member Name: alistair

Product:	Valencia
Date:	07/08/00 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great if you want to avoid other tourists

Disadvantages: Bad if you want an English speaking holiday

Most tour operators dont really include Valencia as a destination option because it isn't totally geared around the 14 day visitor culture. What I liked about it was the Spanish-ness of the people and a great lack of tourists.

Personally when I go abroad I like to discover what it is like to really live there rather than meet up with several other groups from your home town and share fish and chips outside a pub. If the latter is you then Valencia is not for you!

Having said that, what does benefit the traveler is the comparative lack of tourists. If you ask for assistance many strangers will go out of their way to help (even if you cant understand the language).

There is a brand new underground system, admitedly not serving many stations, but it does link up with the tram and train routes.

The city has turned its back to it's beach. There is a smallish sandy bay but you need to get to it via the underground and tram system. When you get there it is surprisingly empty and has a few small shops and bars near it. (more like Poole in Dorset than Benidorm)

Weather is typical for mid South coast Spain and is pleasant even in the winter. In fact I would probably recommend that unless you want to toast your skin on a beach somewhere Spain is best enjoyed in the Spring and Autumn.

The nightlife is great with bars, restaurants, clubs, and a whole host of other options. You need to fit into the siesta culture to really enjoy it and meet up with the locals.

What I like most is the Valencian's friendly "can do" attitude. Nothing seems to be too much trouble. To give an example, when the river which ran through the centre of the city went through a period of regular flooding they diverted it away from the city. So what you say - well the river was the size of the river Thames, can you imagine Ken Livingstone organising that if the same were to happen to London? As a consequence they now have
a huge strip of park land with sports facilities, concert halls, etc. right through the city in what was once the river bed.

There is a whole host of places to visit and things to do. I love it and look forward to returning.

Summary: