This is a rather typical new "express type" hotel. It is what one expects it to be, that is, new, clean, modern, professionally run, with small rooms and limited amenities but reasonably priced and located. The staff is young. pleasant and helpful. No surprises, no disappointments. We were to be in Valencia for Las Fallas so the hotel did call my home phone when we were traveling to confirm we intended to stay there. I didn't like the fact that free wi-fi meant only 30 minutes use per day in the lobby. It's a petty charge that makes for poor guest relations. Fortunately, the staff covered for mangement.

I booked this hotel, as well as two others, through Booking.com and was very pleased with their service. They had the best prices, showing them with tax included, and there wasn't a single hitch in any reservation. They also followed up with a questionaire.

If you have to audition at the Palau De Artes of Valencia, the newly constructed opera house, Express de Artes is worth considering.

The booking on-line with the NH website is easy. BUT we didnt get the hotel email booking confirmation. I had to call (they speak Englis too) to double check and was told that my booking was guaranteed anyway (since I submitted my credit card details I suppose). No possible cancellation though for the E72 + VAT fee. But I had browsed other hotels and that price seems very good.

Be careful that you are booked to EXPRESS de Artes and not de Artes. The express is 3 stars, the other 4.

Click air from Milan, though cheap arrives past midnight. Taxi was 24 euros from the airport. (On the way back, the AeroBus from BEHIND the central railway station cost only Euro 2.50 and took only 20 minutes at 5.30 on a Thursday - they go every 20 minutes from there but stop at 11pm or something)

Check in was easy. The room was a double - very Ikea, which I love. So it was fake parquet floor. Room very well decorated. Bathroom not exactly spick and span (saw blond hair on the floor beside the toilet in the morning- at least its not pub## hair!) Bathroom itself invites you to have a nice warm bath, but we didnt have time...Had pretty blue tiles running at the bath sides. Water hot instantly. Toothbrush in a nice green plastic. Cute bath gel and soap too.

Two chairs and a curved desk joined to the wall. Double bed though was just two beds pushed together. They are not even secured together and they roll on the smooth fake parquet. But we didnt mind....love birds like us are used to cuddling up on a single, lol.....aaaaaahhhhh...

Men can sleep through a tornado so the noise outside didnt bother loverboy. The window looked out to the entrance and main rood and at the first floor, I could hear the traffic through the double? glazing...But, the cutain blocked out the lights from the street completly...thats for me, sleep in the dark or insomnia.
Generally, about the room, think of an Ikea showroom....

Price came with breakfast. Breakfast room is just an extention of the reception...not dramatic. Buffet was cute. Fruits cut in triangles and chilled. Mini kellogg boxes, boiled eggs, pastries. The sign said you can even order from the kitchen specially cooked eggs. Hmmm, okay... All in all, I loved it. By word - CUTE

So overall? Was there for the audition so it was a very very SHORT walk...yes, looking out the window you can already see the Palau.

Ahhh....too bad I didnt have time to go the the aquarium at the Palau complex...the price you pay when your husband is a top musician......grinnnn...

Kiss kiss