Vincci Lys ★★★★

Red and gold, silk and velvet, bold contemporary furnishings and a timeless air of sophistication… From the moment you enter the Vincci Palace, you can sense the hotel’s clearly defined character. In fact, there is a clue in the name – based on the opulent décor of the city’s palatial residences, this is a 21st century palace providing a haven of regal comfort, extravagant grandeur and classy style. Of course, every grand palace needs some spectacular grounds; in this case, the whole city of Valencia is your playground! The city centre spills out of the front door like the Gardens of Versailles from the continent’s finest palace, a fascinating jumble of wacky modern architecture, charming ancient monuments, beautiful gardens, inviting beaches, cultural centres and legendary paellas.

You will, then, waste little of your precious time getting to and from Valencia’s premier sights. You wake up, already with a smile on your face thanks to the pure comfort of your soft bedding, and make your way down to breakfast. One exquisite spread of fresh fruit, gorgeous traditional pastries and classic local breakfast fare later, you are heading out of the front door and immediately immersing yourself in the thriving centre of Valencia. A walk of less than ten minutes leads you to the cathedral, where you can marvel at the lovely Gothic architecture, beautiful interior and the Holy Chalice widely believed to have been the one used by Jesus at the Last Supper. You stroll around the corner to the Llotja de la Seda (Silk Exchange), the stunning World Heritage Site which reminds the world of Valencia’s status as one of the original Mediterranean powerhouses. Then, you make your way to the Mercado Central, one of the oldest markets still running in Europe, and the Plaça de l’Ajutament, the city’s largest square outside the town hall and the centre of the legendary ‘Falles’ festival every March. You wander back via the Turia River, no longer a river at all but a gorgeously-planted garden flowing through the heart of the city, which leads you almost right to the front door of the Vincci Palace. This may sound like you have been walking for miles, but in fact you have just done a small circle around the hotel, never straying even as much as a kilometre away.

While you’re here, you may as well nip back into your room, grab your swimming trunks and bikinis and head for the coast, making the most of Valencia’s fantastic combination of beach break and city break. Of course, you could stop for a snooze on the Vincci Palace’s rooftop sun terrace, but there’s no time! Go for a quick paella en route (it would be a shame not to – this is where Spain’s most emblematic dish was originally invented and since perfected) before spending the afternoon soaking in the sun, cooling off in the Mediterranean and thinking about all you still need to do… You have not yet admired Santiago Calatrava’s marvellous modernist ‘City of Arts and Sciences’ project, a masterpiece of culture, technology and striking contemporary architecture. You have not yet joined the locals at their favourite theatre, the famous Mestalla stadium where the city gathers to watch footballing drama. You have not yet had a taste of Spain’s world-renowned nightlife, as pulsating in Valencia as in any other city…

Speaking of which, soon enough it is time to head home to the Vincci Palace and proceed with the night’s entertainment. The evening should begin at the hotel’s bar, one of the city’s most stylish meeting points which feels more like a top exclusive night spot in its own right than just another hotel bar. With its contemporary-baroque style, silky curtains and upholstery, and moody shades of gold and deep magenta, the vibe is somewhere between upmarket nightclub and 18th century palace. You could feel like a film star and sip cocktails in this VIP ambience all night, but that would be to miss out on the rest of Valencia’s night scene! Just outside your door, there are no end of top restaurants, drinking spots from gloomy local hangouts to fancy cocktail bars, and nightclubs if you’re feeling energetic. Because this is Spain, you can expect to be staying out until long into the night before you retreat to your cosy room.

No matter how much your legs ache, how much of your energy you have spent or how much your head is spinning, returning to your room is always a comforting experience. A spacious bed with rich bedding, the same glamorous style as everywhere else, and all the facilities required to nurse you back to life make for a soothing and reinvigorating night’s sleep. Before you know it, the Spanish sun will be creeping through a crack in the long, flowing curtains and it will be time to get up and do it all again…