We surprised my mom with a trip to Valencia to celebrate her 60th birthday and I am so glad we decided to stay at Rafa & Marien's apartment. They are incredible hosts! They were always quick to respond and very accommodating with early check-in since we arrived in the morning. Marien even decorated the apartment with a banner, balloons, cake & champagne for my mom's birthday. It was beyond adorable and so thoughtful--my mom LOVED IT.
The apartment is impeccably clean and very well decorated. We arrived to find it well stocked with games, blankets, clean and comfortable beds, the fluffiest towels you've ever felt, and basic cooking essentials like coffee, milk, cereal, oil, snacks, etc. And tons of cooking utensils if you want to make a quick trip to one of the many local markets for a meal at home.
The neighborhood is very authentic. It was great to be outside of the typical tourist zone with easy access to the best local bars, restaurants and a short walk to the beach. Rafa & Marien provide a very helpful book of their favorite things to do, see, eat and drink--both near and far.
We highly recommend a bike tour (DoYouBike was excellent) at the beginning of your trip to get a lay of the land since Valencia is so big and there is so much to see. Casa Montana was our favorite restaurant--a wonderful tapas spot around the corner. Enjoy a glass of wine or a beer in the street while you wait for your table.
Sending huge thanks to Rafa & Marien for helping to make my mom's birthday trip such a wonderful success. I can't recommend them as hosts, or their lovely home, highly enough. We hope to see them again soon. BOOK THIS APARTMENT NOW!