If you are thinking about spending any time in Valencia, you should stop searching for places to stay and book Elena’s flat. My wife, daughter (6 months), and I spent 5 weeks there in the summer and it isn’t possible for there to be a better place to stay.

To start, Elena is a lovely person and the perfect host. She was waiting for us at the flat and had also helped arrange a taxi to meet us at the airport. Once we arrived, she explained everything, gave us recommendations, and then left us to enjoy her flat. Elena is very respectful of your privacy and allows you to enjoy the flat without interruption. But if you ever have any questions, whether it is about where to take the rubbish or where to get the best paella, she is immediately responsive. There was never a moment where we felt like we were living in someone else’s home. But there was also never a moment where we felt like Elena would not assist us with anything we needed.

Elena also included several unexpected and essential amenities for our daughter, including a travel cot and a pram. She is really wonderful and made it exceptionally easy to stay in Valencia.

The flat itself is beautiful and a very easy place to live. The location is amazing. The neighbourhood is filled with wonderful cafes and bars. It is a short two block walk to the most amazing park (the Jardin del Turia). There are great markets that are literally around the corner for fresh produce (Valencian tomatoes are the best), meat (jamon iberico), and cheese, as well as a delightful bakery (buy the focaccia). Because of our baby, we often ate at home, but the meals were terrific, and easy to prepare. The flat is also an easy walk to the centre of town, where one can find the central market, cathedral, etc.

If there were some way that my wife and I could realistically work in Spain, we would try to move into to Elena’s flat permanently. But since that is unlikely, we will always remember our time there fondly and hope to return again in the near future. In the meantime, I cannot recommend it more strongly.