Overview:
Frequently touted as the 'New Barcelona', Spain's third largest
metropolis is fast becoming one of the hottest tickets in the
European city break market. A short hop from the resorts of the
Costa Blanca to the south and serviced by a large number of
low-cost airlines, its transformation is being led by two huge
projects. The first is the architectural tour de force La Ciudad
de las Artes y las Ciencias (The City of Arts and Sciences)
housing an eclectic range of visitor attractions. The second is
the America's Cup, the world's biggest and most
prestigious yachting event, which takes places every four years
and will be staged in and around Valencia over a period of three
months in 2007. To accommodate this, the port area has become one
of Europe's largest urban regeneration projects. Over 1.5 billion
euros is being invested to put Valencia on the map as a world-class
yachting center and establish year-round activities that will
attract visitors to the port and city. Pre-2007 regattas began
in 2005, and once the party has left town, a full program will
ensure there is no America's Cup hangover.
Meanwhile, the nautically challenged and those unmoved by modern
architecture should not forget that despite its unprepossessing
first impressions (and ghastly high rise suburbs), Spain's third
city boasts an atmospheric old town that is the equal of any of the
country's centros historicos, as well as a good beach just a
five-minute ride from there.
Getting Around:
The narrow streets of the Old City are best explored on foot and
most of the main sights are clustered within easy walking distance
of each other. Local buses will take you to places further afield
like La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies, the port and beaches, and
the Llac Albufera. The metro system is aimed at commuters, but Line 4
(a tramline above ground) is handy for the beach at Malvarrosa.
Public transport is efficient, inexpensive and easy-to-use.
The tourist information office has a useful local transport or
regionales depending how far they are travelling) ply the coast
north (for the Costa del Azahar) and south (for the Costa Blanca)
of Valencia. They are cheap, regular and usually run like clockwork.
They also run west of the city towards Utiel and Requena and southwest
to Xativa/Jativa. Other inland areas are better served by local buses.
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Expo
Venecia
Kris Consul Del Mar
Catalonia Excelsior
Melia Valencia Palace
Husa Serrano
Petit Palace Bristol
Confortel Aqua 
Husa Reina Victoria
Room Mate Atarazanas