Today I spent 40 minutes on the telephone trying to find a hotel room in Valencia for the night of the 18th of March. This, the Nit de Foc, is the penultimate night, and one of the highlights, of the Las Fallas fiesta, involving an hour-long fireworks display of previously unknown scale and inventiveness, followed by drinking and dancing til dawn in the city’s beautiful squares. Previous Nit de Focs rate amongst my top nights out in Spain, ever. Unfortunately plenty of other people who don’t live in Valencia evidently feel the same way! When I asked one hostel owner if he had rooms for March 18th, he said, “for which year?”
So, if you are thinking of heading to one of the big Fiestas this year, be it Las Fallas, Carnival in Cadiz, Easter in Seville, or San Fermines in Pamplona, book your accommodation now, for this year or next, or end up sleeping on the street. I usually start by checking the big hotel chains on the web, then going through every number in various guide books. My troubles paid off at last today, when I finally found one room going in a business hotel 30 minutes walk from Valencia city center – as close as we’ll get this year!
Photo: Crazy Valencians playing with fire again! For more on fiestas, and to help me find the year’s best, check out this forum thread.
Pedrito J
11 Jan 07 at 11:55 am
Good advice, there. Lots of trouble concerning accomodation and travel, do not hesitate to book now, and confirm periodically!
greytop
11 Jan 07 at 2:35 pm
At least that far out you may be able to park!
Amy
11 Jan 07 at 3:33 pm
When I wen to Las Fallas we stayed at a campground just south (maybe 15 minutes) of the City. It was convenient and also right on the beach so we could do some relaxing away from the crowds. If you aren’t afraid of “roughing it” the campgrounds are definitely an option!
Ben
11 Jan 07 at 6:36 pm
Amy, great idea, but Marina and I camping… hmmm, not big fans I’m ashamed to say!!
Hernandez Fiendish
12 Jan 07 at 12:02 pm
You did well to get a room at this stage! Which direction out of the city are you? It would be better to be towards the river (for the fireworks). If you’re near a stop, the metro could come in handy as they run through the night at Fallas.
March 18th is the biggest night out in the Valencian year. I’ve been in Valencia for nine Fallas and every 18th night I’ve made it through to daylight without a bother. I can take or leave the castillos but the mascletaes have to be done. Crowds can get unbearable for the last few days so I try to catch as many as I can before the fiesta kicks off in earnest (the mascletaes are on every day from the March 1st). The mood on the 19th night is quite different as everyone is aware the fiesta is ending with the bittersweet burning of the fallas, it’s a spectacular night but not so much of a piss up. However many outsiders are kind of oblivious to this and do their best to party on.
Russafa is a great barrio to visit, there’s a falla on almost every corner, El Carmen can get very crowded
Ben
13 Jan 07 at 2:29 pm
Thanks for the advice! I will definitely try to check out the Russafa Barrio this year.