Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort

The Las Arenas hotels stands in front of the beach that bears the same name, some 12.5 mi from the airport. Allow half an hour to get there by car. The city-centre is almost 4 mi away, so you must either take a cab or rely on the bus service to get to the hotel.

Las Arenas has long been a seaside resort of national renown, and it was the first in Europe to boast both fresh water and sea water swimming pools. Towards the end of the 19th century, Las Arenas seaside resort was a place where society's elite gathered. The treatments on offer yielded astonishing results among guests who suffered from traumas, arthritis or nervous disorders.

The hotel was rebuilt in 2006 and has retained the old arcades dating back from 1898, which is the only remnant of the original seaside resort. The reception area is vast and entirely marble-clad, with lounges and cushy armchairs arranged around a rectangular fountain that resembles a swimming pool surrounded by palm trees. It is truly an idyllic setting! In one of the numerous corridors, there is a payphone and a computer with an Internet connection. Las Arenas also boasts a car park with 312 places (about 11 pounds per day). However, what will really grab your attention are the outdoor pool and the hotel spa. Created over a hundred years ago, the swimming pool area is a protected site, which explains why, when it was rebuilt in 1933, the dimensions (33m) were kept and the original diving board was preserved. However, don't try climbing onto it, as it is no longer in use! As for the spa located under the swimming pool, it is very modern but includes some older elements that used to belong to the seaside resort, such as the ancient marble bathtubs and the famous sign designed by Renal for its inauguration. This mix creates a surprising and interesting setting. Guest can enjoy the vast area dedicated to thermal treatments, a Swiss lodge, showers of icy water, Scottish showers and sprayers, as well as 8 cabins fitted with special light fixtures (chromotherapy), and an independent sound system that plays music. The spa centre offers a complete range of services, and every kind of massage you could think of: therapeutic, relaxing, specialised, sport-oriented, and chiropractic. The area dedicated to relaxation faces the swimming pool, and tea or coffee is available. The fitness centre includes 15 machines with integrated individual TV sets broadcasting in several languages. If you've forgotten your headset, don't worry, they're available for free.

Elegance and sobriety are undoubtedly the two dominant features of the guest rooms in Las Arenas hotel. In addition to the nice parquet floor and high-quality furniture, they are equipped with a stylish but discreet stereo system. There is a photo of a ship adorning the wall above the bed. The hotel houses 253 guest rooms, 164 of which look out on the street, whereas the remaining ones afford a view of the beach. The latter also include a terrace with a small table and rattan chairs. Another positive feature of the rooms is that they boast a hydromassage cabin, separate from the bathtub, as well as a hair dryer, a dressing gown, slippers, and a magnifying mirror. There is also a transparent double sink that blends in perfectly well with the setting.

The Sorolla Brasserie, named after the famous artist from Valencia, serves a creative cuisine (prepared by chef José Maria Baldo) of Mediterranean inspiration and a large selection of rice. The menu is standard and true to the Spanish culinary tradition, but the dishes are presented in an elegant and tasteful manner. The breakfast buffet offers a complete selection (with pastries, fruit juices and cereal) and is served from 7:00am till 11:00am in the large room, and even on the terrace in the summer.

A little beyond the garden, there is a slightly windy large beach of fine sand, with thatched sunshades and deckchairs for hire. Las Arenas is a wide and pleasant beach, and the promenade that runs alongside it is crammed with restaurants and bars. It is halfway between the port of Valencia and the beach of la Malvarosa, and is probably not the best of places for relaxation, but thanks to the size of the beach, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a secluded little patch of sand.