Going on ma hols! Advice please :)

[Alan]

I'm looking to go on holiday to a coastal town or city (i.e. Madrid is too hot!). I'd like to see Valencia, but I'm not in the mood to stay in the city centre all the time. I'm looking for some peace! :) Does anyone know of any good hotels or other accomodation? I'm not looking to spend a lot - I don't have a job yet! It's also important that we have our own room.

Thanks :)

[Ben]

Valencia is full of cheap hostals, get a copy of the Rough Guide and try to book before you leave, over the phone. A nice, quiet, fairly Spanish beach resort near (1 hour by train) Valencia is Benicassim - lovely beach... Again make sure you can sort out some accommodation before you leave - either through deals on the net (www.rumbo.es maybe - use IE to book through them, fails at the final booking hurdle with Firefox :( ) or via the Rough Guide.

[Alan]

Wow, I had a look on www.rumbo.es and at Benicassim in particular. The cheapest I found was €1452.28 for 14 nights. That's a bit dear, is it not? I looked for other more "typical" holiday destinations and prices were starting at about €20 per night. That's more like it :) I'm afraid I just can't afford more than about €30 per night, because I need to pay for flights too :).

Is there anywhere closer to Valencia that would be as cheap you could recommend? It can be touristy - we can escape that if need be :)

[Ben]

Gandia? Altea? Oliva? Javea? All south of Valencia and pretty nice.

[Lizzie]

How about this site?
http://www.homelidays.com/EN-Holidays-Rental/100_Home/Home.asp

[Alan]

That's an excellent site Lizzie. I think it'd be a good idea to use it when booking for more than two people, but it seems a bit expensive for only two. I was thinking of a stag night, so I'll bear it in mind :D

[Chiny]

I always use http://www.tripadvisor.com/ when looking for hotels. It has never let me down, indeed has provided some fantastic locations.

--
Chiny

[greytop]

http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/eng/htm/accommodation-introduction.htm

Kill two birds with one stone & brush up the oral skills? They arrange accom from family stay up to room in a flat. Couple of hours study in the morning, possible trips to Valencian culture and you are on your own for the rest of the time. There are probably more schools and I'm sure one of the foreros will have some ideas. Additional to accom.
ntensive Course 20 hours / week € 140
Don't come next week - the Pope is visiting! Also the Americas Cup sailing is on this summer so accom is at a premium, especially near the harbour.

[Lizzie]

I always use http://www.tripadvisor.com/ when looking for hotels. It has never let me down, indeed has provided some fantastic locations.

--
Chiny

Yes, When I travel abroad, I also use tripadvisor site.
It's very useful!! :D

[Ben]

Don't come next week - the Pope is visiting!

Do you know when and where is he going?

[Marbella]

Do you know when and where is he going?

Just Valencia on July 8th-9th. The mass will be on Sunday 9th.
It will be an amazing event, even Zapatero might go to meet him!

Look, the popemobile has already arrived in Valencia...

http://www.thinkspain.com/news/ReduceImgWidth.asp?foto=foto11399.jpg&width=200
http://www.thinkspain.com/news/noticia.asp?CodNoticia=11399

[Lizzie]

http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/eng/htm/accommodation-introduction.htm

Kill two birds with one stone & brush up the oral skills? They arrange accom from family stay up to room in a flat. Couple of hours study in the morning, possible trips to Valencian culture and you are on your own for the rest of the time. There are probably more schools and I'm sure one of the foreros will have some ideas. Additional to accom.


ntensive Course 20 hours / week € 140




When I stayed in Valencia, I had a flatmate who is a teacher of this school located in the ceter of the city(next to the plaza de Reina).
She was very experienced and friendly. It seemed the school chose
well educated teacher. But as you might know, you can't expect a nice or attractive apartment.

Here is another rental apartment site:
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/
It also little expensive, but you can check it out.;D

[greytop]

[quote=Marbella]Just Valencia on July 8th-9th. The mass will be on Sunday 9th.
It will be an amazing event, even Zapatero might go to meet him![quote]

http://www.valenciatrader.com/valencia/valenciaevents/popevalencia

Also the week of the family, for which he is coming, goes on along with other events. They have spent a lot of money and built an altar beside a bridge over the river.

Flats with a view are going for large amounts of money! http://www.elpais.es/articulo/Comunidad/Valenciana/alquiler/pisos/puntos/calientes/visita/Papa/Valencia/llega/000/euros/elpepiautval/20060621elpval_20/Tes/

The popemobile weighs about 3 tonnes and is limited to low speed as it does not have safety belts!!
Not everyone is happy however and some signs saying in Valencian "I'm not waiting for him" have been seen.

[Alan]

I'm not Catholic, so I'm not too bothered about meeting the Pope :) Although it might be cool to drop in a conversation :D

[Marbella]

I think he is only going for the weekend 8th/9th to close the Encuentro Mundial de la Familia. The Valencia organisers think they can fit 1.2m people 'around the altar', but there will be a lot more people there than that. The Holy Father certainly pulls the crowds. Hope they show it here because it will be a spectacular event and hopefully a further promotional opportunity for Valencia.

[Marbella]

Should put the papal visit in a new thread really. I'm not religeous but it doesn't seem right to be talking about the pope in a thread entitled 'Going on ma hols'!

[gary]

She was very experienced and friendly.;D

Ooer count me in.....:blush:, ;)

[gary]

I'm looking to go on holiday to a coastal town or city (i.e. Madrid is too hot!). I'd like to see Valencia, but I'm not in the mood to stay in the city centre all the time. I'm looking for some peace! :) Does anyone know of any good hotels or other accomodation? I'm not looking to spend a lot - I don't have a job yet! It's also important that we have our own room.

Thanks :)
Alan, I use alpharooms (http://www.alpharooms.com) there are some great bargains in you are not travelling in the kids holidays.

We stayed full board 4* for £130 each last Easter

The more touristy the more competetive....

Self catering is dirt cheap

[Brian]

Gandia? Altea? Oliva? Javea? All south of Valencia and pretty nice.

Don't forget Cullera. :thumbs-up: I spent a heavenly holiday weekend there once.

[Alan]

Well, with budget being the primary concern, we went to see what last minute deals we could get. We booked a holiday and I think we got a good deal. It's a package thingy, but we're just looking to relax for a bit. We're off to Minorca and have hired a car. Since I don't know too much about Minorca, I have started a thread (here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=461)) to find some stuff out :)