Hotel Alameda Plaza

Hotel Alameda Plaza was the Holiday Inn Valencia until mid-2016. The switch has yet to bring any major changes -- guests report that brochures and signs have slapped on makeshift Hotel Alameda Plaza stickers over the Holiday Inn brochures and logos. Housed in a tall concrete-and-glass tower, the property fits in perfectly with the City of Arts and Sciences, which sits opposite the hotel. The spacious lobby is bright, sleek, and minimalist -- some might call it cold -- with floor-to-ceiling windows, glossy wood floors, pale-green glass columns, and white leather backless seating. A dizzying, circular stairway leads from the lobby to a cozier lounge set with tables, chairs, vending machines, and a pool table. The restaurant and the tiny, but hip, streamlined bar have dark chairs and blond wooden tables. While still striking, the hotel has begun to show some age, especially in the rooms. 

The hotel sits on the edge of a main roundabout near the somewhat surreal playground at Gulliver Park, about a 15-minute drive (or a 30-minute walk) to the city center. Aside from the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencas), which is a 14-minute walk away, there aren't many tourist sights within walking distance of the hotel -- at 24 minutes, the Plaza de Toros and the Oceanografic aquarium would be a bit of a hike. There's a bus stop a two-minute walk from the hotel. Restaurants and bars can be found on surrounding streets, and there’s an additional shopping area that takes 17 minutes on foot to reach. It’s a 22-minute drive to Valencia Airport. 

Hotel Alameda Plaza's 200 rooms stand out for their size, floor-to-ceiling windows, and attractive blond-wood furniture. That said, they've begun to show their age. Although some have parquet wood floors, the carpeting in other rooms is stained, and the furniture is scratched and worn. Beds are made with bold black runners and black accent pillows. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, minibars, and kettles with coffee and tea. Executive Rooms and Suites are on the higher floors, and these room options add free bottled water and trouser presses; some have pull-out sofas. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combos. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Suites come with hydromassage tubs and terraces. 

The standout feature here is the small rooftop pool area set with white loungers. There are stunning city views, but no shade or umbrellas. There's also a fitness center, with cardio and weight equipment that while functional, has seen better days, and a sauna and power shower. The hotel’s Mezzo Mezzo Restaurant serves Spanish cuisine and offers a varied breakfast buffet each morning; it's not included in the rates. The hotel’s Blue Spirit Bar is open in the evening for cocktails. A lounge area above the lobby has a pool table and vending machines. Underground on-site paid parking is available. The hotel has with six fully equipped meeting rooms that can hold up to 350 people, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.