Valencia is a destination that we like very much. Easily accessible from Paris, a historic center and a seaside area well “separated”, both linked by a modernism inherited from the dynamics of hosting the America’s Cup a few years ago. Add to that a climate that makes it an ideal off-season destination, and you can see why we love this city.
Our usual stop in Valencia is the Westin. A very nice building, spacious, without surprises, with large rooms. The recent inclusion of Design Hotels in the SPG loyalty program offers a new choice that I was eager to test: the Hospes Palau de La Mar.
A central location for a very sober “boutique hotel”
Compared to the Westin, the Palau de la Mar is located on the other side of the green corridor (an old river whose course has been diverted) that cuts the city in two. It is thus on the side of the historical heart of Valencia that one reaches in a few minutes of walk. We are thus on the city side and not on the beach side.
A member of Design Hotels, a chain of high-end boutique hotels, it fulfills all the criteria of the genre.
From the outside it is a beautiful old building in the city center.
Inside it is a modern hotel totally redesigned in a sober and uncluttered way as shown in this overview of the common areas.
An efficient check-in
The check in is quickly done. Ma clé est déjà prête. I was welcomed with a smile, the formalities were quickly completed, and as a bonus I received a map of the city.
A “Dreamer” room that could almost make you dream
I chose the “Dreamer” room which, despite its name, is neither more nor less than a standard room of 20/25 m2.
The decoration, modern and sober, does not suffer any criticism.
Given the limited space available it is very well laid out and organized. A real wardrobe in which you can store all your stuff, a sofa and, despite everything, space to move.
But everything has a price and this space was made to the detriment of the working space with, you see it, a more than minimalist office where your computer will have to find its place between the water bottle and the coffee machine.
The bathroom is also surprisingly large for a room of this size. It has both a bathtub and a shower.
Very spacious, well arranged, we are far from the cubbyhole often proposed in old buildings with rooms of this size.
In video it’s always better.
So there is nothing to complain about, or almost nothing to complain about. The bedding leaves a little to be desired. That the mattress is a little soft for my taste is a matter of personal judgement, but on the other hand, selling two single beds side by side as a double bed is a little “cheap” in a hotel that claims to be luxurious.
Finally, the room overlooks the interior patio where there is a terrace bar and which is surrounded by the other wings of the building.
But we will come back to this later.
Good quality bar and restaurant
I tested the bar in question at aperitif time. If the interior part is very pretty, the local climate gives indeed more desire to enjoy the outside. Nothing to say about the service or the quality of the products (a dirty martini for the record).
The place could not be more pleasant at any time of the day, with a tea or a glass of wine, with friends or a good book.
I did not try the restaurant whose menu suggests a rather upscale positioning. Not that I wasn’t inspired by what was on offer, but because in Valencia there are so many ways to eat well outside of hotels and for infinitely less money that unless you’re exhausted from your trip it’s best to go hang around the cathedral. The restaurant has a terrace…on the street. Some will appreciate it, others less, even if it didn’t seem to me that the car traffic was too important.
I did, however, test the breakfast service which takes place in the same room. I would describe it as a “Spanish-style” breakfast. Understand: a rather rich and quality choice but mainly oriented towards delicatessen and cheese.
Spa and Fitness to be improved
The Palau de la Mar also offers its clients additional services such as a Spa and a fitness room.
I did not try the spa treatments but simply the facilities themselves, consisting of a sauna, steam room and pool in the basement of the hotel.
The treatment rooms are arranged around the high terrace that borders the patio.
The least I can say is that the place is relaxing. Dimmed lights, deckchairs to relax. Very nice to relax and read a book between two swims in the pool except that given the number of seats available the place was full with 5 people.
The pool is more for relaxing, not for swimming. It does its job perfectly, especially after a visit to the hammam, but from the expression on the faces of the other guests, there was agreement on one point: the water was much too cool for the taste of many.
So if the content leaves something to be desired, the form is undoubtedly there.
As for the fitness room. More than minimalist and at sight no bigger than my room. Not convincing.
Hospes Palau de la mar : good grade
I will definitely return to the Palau de la Mar on a future visit to Valencia, but to be honest, it didn’t manage to dethrone the Westin in my rankings. After that, it all depends on what I’m looking for at a given moment.
That said: the grades.
The hotel: it’ s hard to do better in terms of location, the style is really nice, no trace of obsolescence. I give it 10/10.
The room: normal size, nice design, nice bathroom, clear view. On the other hand the size of the work space and especially the 2 twin beds lower the grade. 7
Bar and restaurant: nothing to say about the bar, and for the little that I tested of the restaurant (breakfast) the quality was there but not so much the variety. I will say 8.
Check-in/out: nothing to complain about. Smooth and efficient. 10.
Loyalty program: The SPG program is not always 100% supported at Design Hotels to date. No upgrade then but no problem for the late-check out and the free drink. 10.
Facilities: the fitness room is small and poorly equipped. 4 cardio machines and 3 weights are struggling with each other. As for the pool/spa area, despite a very nice setting, it lacks something to really make you want to go back and spend time there. 6
Service: friendly, attentive, smiling, charming. 10
Experience/Price ratio: from 160 euros per night off season a beautiful boutique hotel combining charm and luxury. Despite some imperfections, the result is still of excellent quality. On the other hand, the price difference with the Westin, especially in season, does not seem to me to be justified at this point. 8 but this takes into account the time I traveled, I would have been more severe at other times of the year.
The complete photo album is available here.
