TL;DR: this lovely antique farmhouse is perfect for anyone who wants a relaxed visit to Valencia in which siesta time is as important as tapas. Grab it if it's available.
Looking for a stay in Valencia that is a totally different experience from a center-of-town hotel? Stay at Mery's place. This charming former farm manor is the perfect place to relax, siesta, sunbathe, and even dine in instead of going out for tapas every night. It's "close" to downtown in terms of being two blocks from a metro stop (ignore Google's directions, the Les Carolines stop is only 150m away) but enough of a remove to make you feel like you're in an outlying town. Plus, there's a cat (Linda), a bunny (Popolito), and three chickens.
Mery and her family will make you feel like you're a family guest rather than a renter. Expect to greet Mama, who takes care of the plants and animals, every morning.
Mery's place is a perfect place to take advantage of the fact that Valencia has some of the best markets in the world. There's a fairly well-equipped full-sized kitchen with stove, oven, nespresso, tea kettle, sandwich press and fridge. Even better, there's an outdoor brick grill and paella fireplace where you can wood-grill fish, meat, and paella, then eat it on the many outdoor tables. Aside from the famous markets, there's an excellent Spanish supermarket about 1/2km away (again, ignore Google Maps on this one). Come prepared to cook!
Now, some notes to make sure the right people stay here. Mery has a no-parties rule she's serious about. The 19th century spiral staircase in our unit would not be suitable for anyone with bad legs or knees. The three beds are all in the same room, if it's not clear from the pictures. Oh, and connect with Mery on Whatsapp, it's the best way to stay in touch with her.
If you're visiting Valencia and want a truly relaxing vacation, this is the place.