http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19105
At first, there was only one choice to rent bikes in Valencia and that was Orange bikes but nothing ever stays the same for long. Of the four main rental services Valencia Bikes is the most expensive but great for very large groups over 20 but be prepared to pay a lot.

Next, we move on to Do You Bike, who have decent bikes but do be choosy as some of them are lousy plus they are five euros more at the weekend. Orange's bikes have a wide range of bikes at a decent price but charge a whopping €250 deposit so make sure you check the bike over before you go or get bit where it hurts.

The newest is Soul Cycles run by a Dutch girl. Their bikes are different all together with an emphasis on fun and comfort such as City & Beach cruisers or the choppers for the easy riders out there - the same prices as pretty much everyone and cheaper at the weekends than some others. To say bikes are dangerous in the Turia is ludicrous as it is 11 kms of flat block-paved path suitable for all types of transport from roller bladers and skaters to MTBs and little folding bikes.

To sum it up, if you want a good MTB for long-distance jaunts into the interior go to Orange Bikes, if you want fun and comfort and some extra information or a chat go to Soul Cycle and then Do You Bike for availability as they have a large amount of bikes but they are pretty much a get them in and out kind of affair. All in all, there is something out there for all tastes.

On a friendliness scale: 1. Soul Cycles 2. Do You Bike 3. Orange Bikes 4. Valencia Bikes. Just my two cents' worth!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19105 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18634 On the first floor of the Palacio you pass through room after room smothered with colourful plasterwork and marble decoration with enormous chandeliers sparkling in the gilded mirrors. The Palacio dates back to the 15th century but the exterior was remodelled in the 1740s and and the interiors redecorated in the rococco style in the 1850s. When you've progressed through the many delightful rooms and admired the beautiful paintings and decorations, you reach the ceramics collections themselves. The highlights for me were the colourful painted Spanish tiles and ceramics, including the replica of a tiled Spanish kitchen on the top floor, and there are also some plates decorated by Picasso.

The museum is free on Saturday morning and Sunday but otherwise it costs €2.40
You can see my review and photos on my blog;
heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/palacio-de-marques-de-dos-aguas-in.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18634 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18635 There was a bright red self-catering kitchen where breakfast was served and a sitting area with large TV and 2 free internet stations. There is 24-hour reception and internet facilities as well as underground parking which would be useful if you were driving through Spain. The multi-lingual staff were efficient and helpful. We paid €70 for a double and €100 for a triple room for a mid-week stay - it's slightly more at weekends.
You can see my review and photos on my blog
heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/hme-rooms-deluxe-hostel-in-valencia.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18635 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18633 Because of its position in the heart of this area, it's a great place if you're in your 20s, on a tight budget and value a great nightlife over an early night.

You can see my review and photos on my blog:
heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/hme-backpackers-hostel-in-valencia.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18633 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18609
The area is a well lived in and slightly scruffy old quarter of the city and the centre of the nightlife in Valencia. There is a lot of development going on and round each building plot you find cement walls, usually covered by some great street art. Take your time to wander round the area in the day, you'll find some nice street art round every corner.

You can see my review and photos on my blog;
heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/old-town-valencia-and-street-art.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18609 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18607
Inside it's decorated with painted Spanish tiles and you can see the food being prepared in the open kitchen. There's a range of typical tapas, seafood and meat dishes - it was good for children as they had some plain dishes like steak, grilled chicken or fish and also some more adventurous things including Paella.

It's tucked down a small street behind the ceramics museum in the Palacio Marques de Dos Aguas but is worth hunting out.

You can see my review and photos on my blog; heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/evening-out-with-angel-in-valencia.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18607 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18606
Service starts at 2pm although I'd arrive a little earlier and have a drink as it is very popular with the locals.

For €9 you get 3 courses of excellent modern cooking and there are 3 choices per course. To give you an example of what we ate; Salad of salt cod, chicken in a curried sauce with wild rice (or Valencian Paella), Coconut cream with pieapple and lemon sorbet. It was all delicious.

You can see my write-up and photos on my blog: heatheronhertravels.blogspot.com/2008/04/lunch-at-la-beneficencia-in-valencia.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18606 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18410
We were amazed at what we got - five courses of pure delight, all served with different drinks to wet the palette.

The owner Eduardo Phillips Blanco (you would be surprised to find out he is English, with that name) and head chef Michael Baering not only provided and served some of the best food we have ever eaten but also entertained us.

Our meal cost us 35 euros each and that was with all drink included, they do a deal with three tapas dishes and a bottle of vino for 15 euros most nights though.

Find them off the beaten track, near La Lonja, not the best setting but the restaurant is cool and funky and it hasn't copped on with the Spanish yet.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18410 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18224 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18224 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18223 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18223 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16851
Nice, relaxed laundromat with good computers and good internet connection! Friendly staff. Check it out! And they are open every day, all day.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16851 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15407 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14053 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14053 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13195
You can cycle from the old town and through cycle paths in the park and on to the revamped port, seeing everything in half a day. Hire bikes (including tandems) at Cycletour, next to the fab Gulliver’s playground in the park, or in town at the excellent Orange bikes.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13195 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12815
There are lots of theories on how the festival started; one is that it began in 1945 with anti-Franco protests, although any link between Franco and tomatoes remains ambigous. Another theory is that it started when two friends had a stand-up knock-down argument while sharing a meal. The argument quickly reached food-throwing proportions, infected acquaintances and nearby diners, moved out into the street, spread through the suburbs, progressed to neighbouring towns and eventually wound up as an annual event that attracted 'mata throwers from all corners of the the world.

The most likely explanation is that it started as a juvenile class war between bare-footed Troskyist macarras and el-ivy leaguers staying at Papa's summer house, the latter passing the former in a provocative way - that is to say, within tomato-throwing range. Like gangs of adolescents anywhere, it soon became a point of honour and a mark of tribal loyalty to make a stand at the tomato-stained barriers. As the event turned into a national event it lost its hostile political edge and became, instead, an unbridled Dionysian riot of flesh-baring bodies covered head to toe in tomato goo.

The standard uniform is an old T-shirt, old shorts and eye goggles. T-shirts with bullseyes printed on them are not recommended. Nearly 140 tonnes of tomatoes are trucked in from around the countryside and the argy-bargy begins with the firing of a rocket. An hour later the end of the festival is announced with the firing of another rocket and the clean up of the tomato-slimed streets begin.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12815 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12813
My friends and i stayed in Red Hostel and saved a lot of money for going out. The hostel staff told us where to go, how to get to parties and even a handsome receptionist went out with us to the beach!!

They have internet, air conditioning, kitchen, shared and private rooms... It's open 24/7 and waiting for us after party. Our rooms were coloured painted and we saw the river of Valencia by the window!! Best holidays ever had in a lovely hostel!!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12813 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12451 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12076
50 display areas taking visitors chronologically through 22 centuries of Valencia history.

However, beware the school groups, there were three in while I was there, which made it hard to concentrate.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12076 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12075 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12075