Time to Save…Valencia Tourist Card (Spain)

Be sure to purchase a Valencia Tourist Card for your visit to this beautiful city. The card offers free public urban transport, as well as discounts at museums, leisure activities, shops, and restaurants.

Cards are available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, and range in cost from €12 – €22, so you can pick the one that best fits your needs. For more info on the card, click here.

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Checking In…Hospes Palau de la Mar, Valencia (Spain)

 



Valencia is a beautiful cosmopolitan city located on the Mediterranean on the eastern coast of Spain. There is something for every visitor to enjoy here: historical sites, museums, cultural events, leisure activities, shopping, and great food. It is here that Spain’s iconic dish, the paella, was created. With the recent launching of Spain’s high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Valencia, visitors can have breakfast in Madrid, hop on the AVE train, and 90 minutes later find themselves enjoying a Paella Valenciana in the city where it all began.

The 5-star Palau de la Mar Hotel is a charming and relaxing place to call home while you explore all that the city has to offer. This boutique hotel is housed in an elegant 19th C. mansion that is centrally located in the heart of the historic part of town. The building’s design is elegant and classic, with vaulted marble archways and beautifully carved wooden staircases, while the guest rooms are decorated in a comfortable contemporary style.

There are a total of 66 guest rooms, with the Dreamer and Deluxe rooms located in the main building. The Junior Suites are located in the original palace building and are spacious, with a sitting area and open-plan bathroom with separate shower stall. The large Presidential Suite has a living room, 2 separate bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

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On the Menu...L'Estimat Restaurante, Valencia (Spain)

Paella is one of Spain's best known dishes and is served in restaurants throughout the country. But Valencia is the birthplace of this quintessential Spanish dish, so no visit to this city would be complete without sampling this local favorite.

L'Estimat Restaurant is a family owned restaurant that was established in 1927 and today is run by the 3rd generation of its founders. It is located on the Paseo Neptuno on Las Arenas beach. Here you will find so many different types of paella to choose from, that one visit may not be enough. If you're not sure where to start, the traditional Paella Valenciana, that contains chicken, rabbit, snails and vegetables, is a good choice, or you can opt for the Paella Marinera, that contains a variety of fresh seafood, including mussels, calamari and shrimp. Whatever type of paella you choose (seafood, meat, vegetable, or a combination), you will not leave hungry.

Paseo Neptuno, 16
Valencia, Spain
Phone: (963) 711 018
Web: L'Estimat Restaurante

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On The Menu...History of Paella, Valencia (Spain)

When you think of paella, you may envision a round, shallow pan full of saffron-colored rice, topped with an abundance of seafood, such as shrimp, calamari, and mussels. However, you may be surprised to learn that the original paellas were made by field workers who cooked them over an open fire and used ingredients that were more commonly found in the fields, such as chicken, rabbit, and snails.

Today there are as many variations of paella as there are cooks, and the locals in Valencia take pride in handing down their own family recipes from one generation to the next.

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High Speed Train Links Valencia and Madrid

From the Tourist Office:

VALENCIA, Spain, November 12, 2010 – Paella lovers rejoice! Getting to Valencia will get a lot easier come December. Just in time for the New Year, the Alta Velocidad Espanola, the AVE, or high-speed train will inaugurate service from Madrid to Valencia making the trip in only 90 minutes. On December 19, the first trains will depart, traveling at speeds of up to 205 miles per hour. Eventually up to 20 trains a day will make the trip. The AVE will have two-class service in 12 coaches with 365 seats: four Club Class coaches with 71 seats and eight for Tourist Class with 294 seats. Currently the train from Madrid to Valencia takes more than three hours and 45 minutes.

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Three New Golf Courses Open In Valencia

Whether you're a hobbyist or serious athlete, golf can be one of the greatest reasons for leisurely travel. For those heading to Valencia in the near future, the region has recently opened three brand-new, world class golf courses. Valencia has a rich history with the sport and is the home of renowned golfer Sergio García. With these additions, the area now has 28 full golf courses in operation.

Here's the full information on the new courses from Valencia's press announcement:

Expected to open this fall, La Galiana is near the town of Alcira, south of the city of Valencia. The 18-hole, par-72 course enjoys a spectacular setting in a valley surrounded by pine and orange groves. More than 5,000 local species of plants and trees were used in the landscaping, and water consumption will be minimized through a sophisticated rainwater collection and drainage system. Designed by the Spanish firm Moon Masters, La Galiana will be open to non-members who can use the facilities. New golf schools are also planned for the area.

Opened in May, Font del Llop Golf Resort is a new 18-hole course located near the historic town of Monforte del Cid, in the Vinalopo valley, just minutes inland from Alicante. Designed by Blake Stirling and Marco Martín, the par-72 course blends naturally with its scenery and has great views of the surrounding mountains. Recalling some of the best Scottish and American courses, the layout of Font del Llop’s fairways – around a small river connecting five lakes -make for a technical game that challenges players to use all golf clubs.

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club opened in June and is located in Dehesa de Campoamor, south of Torrevieja in the province of Alicante. Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, the 18-hole championship course has been carved out of a spectacular gorge and has breathtaking panoramic views of the nearby coastline and a nature reserve. Managed by Troon Golf, the par-71 course offers a great variety of short and long holes, with five unique par 3’s presenting an array of challenges of varying length and topography. Key features of this course’s design are water hazards and dramatic bunkering.

Head over to the ILC website for our robust offerings in Valencia and make sure your clubs are ready to play.

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Gandia Celebrates 500th Anniversary of Patron Saint's Birth

Head to beautiful Valencia, Spain this summer and explore the historic town of Gandia. Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of its patron saint, the town will be holding public festivities all summer and there's truly something for everyone. Let's start with music:

On June 23, the “Fiesta de San Juan” celebrates the shortest night of the year with bonfires and music on the town’s beach. On July 9 and 10 the “Festival Borja Music Summer and Sand” will present popular bands and DJ’s on the same beach. From July 20 to 24, “Festival Les Venus de la Mediterranean” features singer-songwriters such as Jane Birkin, Maria del Mar Bonnet and Ute Limper at venues on the beach and on the patio of the Ducal Palace. For the entire month of August the “Casa de la Marques” will play host to the International Music Festival of Gandia. From September 28 to October 3, the town holds its traditional fair celebrated with additional pomp in honor of the 500th anniversary of the saint’s birth.

Those that are into regional cuisine also have tons of options -- the biggest of which are two gastronomic fairs taking place from September 17-19 and then in the winter from December 11-19. Most restaurants in the town's historic square will participate and offer up a unique Gandia take on Spanish cuisine.

The recipes feature traditional Gandian favorites like stuffed squid and rabbit, as well as truly authentic medieval preparations. One such recipe is for a garlic sauce made with bread, garlic, oil and fish stock. Almonds may substitute for the bread, a variant that works well with eel. Another medieval recipe is a leek puree which, instead of the cream used in a modern Vichyssoise, has almond-milk – true to Valencia’s Mediterranean heritage and to the dietary laws of Medieval Jews and Muslims who contributed to the region’s customs.

For more information about the region of Valencia, you can visit our website or the Tourist Office.

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Formula One in Valencia

Valencia has announced that it will feature Formula One racing for the third straight year starting later this month on June 25. The main event takes place June 27 and features four Grand Prix Champions (Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button). Traveling at up to 200 miles per hour, these are some of the best drivers in the world and if you're into racing, these are some of the more incredible spectacles that the sport has to offer.

From the Tourist Office:

With its charming old quarter full of Renaissance and Baroque monuments, the Museo de Bellas Arts with one of Spain’s best paintings collection, IVAM, the contemporary art museum, beautiful beaches and delicious cuisine – this is paella country, after all – Valencia has plenty to offer visitors before and after the competition. Stunning modern architecture is another draw. Valencia’s emblematic City of Arts and Sciences with its aquarium, planetarium, science museum and performing arts center has a new addition, the Agora by Santiago Calatrava. Resembling a knight’s helmet, this dramatic steel structure in deep violet was the venue for last year’s Valencia Open 500.

Tickets for all three days of racing are currently available here.

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Delta Goes Non-Stop To Valencia From New York

The Tourist Office has just passed on some great news for travelers to Spain from New York City. Delta Air Lines is about to resume service to Valencia, a breathtaking city on Spain's Mediterranean coast and popular summer destination. The new flights start on May 28 and take place four times a week from JFK airport.

“For several years now, Valencia has been Spain’s fastest growing destination for international visitors. With Delta’s new non-stop service, Americans will be able to travel here faster and more conveniently,” said Belen Juste, Minister of Tourism for the Valencia Region and President of the Valencia Region Tourist Board.

Valencia is known for more than its pristine coastal properties. Visitors will find unique gothic and renaissance architecture, an amazing, unique cuisine (try the paella) and some of the best weather in Europe. Check out the Valencia section on our website for more information, hotel offerings and some helpful travel tips.

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Valencia Is Home To August Grand Prix

Capitalizing on last year's successful run alongside the old river bed of the Turia, Valencia is proud to bring back a summer of grand prix racing for visitors. More than 500,000 people gathered to watch the cars rip, roar and rumble at nearly 200 miles per hour along the city's picturesque waterfront. The track - a 3.4 mile circuit that transforms city streets into a Formula One maze - is the work of a fantastic architect named Hermann Tilke. It's really not to be missed!

Here's the ticket information from the Tourist Office:

New General Admission tickets will permit fans access to the Valencia Street Circuit without buying a seat (about $42, or 30 euros on Friday, $70, or 50 euros on Saturday and $142, or 100 euros for the Grand Prix on Sunday.) Grandstand tickets are on sale now and range in price from around $212 to $680 (150 to 480 euros). Sailors can moor their yachts and view the race from the water and the marina also has a special grandstand. To learn more about the Grand Prix of Europe, go to www.valenciastreetcircuit.com/index_eng.html.

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Nonstop To Valencia

Starting June 5, Delta Airlines will offer direct flights to Valencia - an exotic, beautiful locale on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Flights will depart four times a week from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and the timing couldn't be any better. Valencia is rapidly becoming one of the must-see Spanish destinations.

If a trip to Valencia is in your cards, we advise you to catch the Fallas (the city's main festival taking place in March). Also, make time for a visit to the City of Arts and Sciences - a futuristic cluster of museums that features an opera house, planetarium and plenty of art.

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