travel

viva la revolución in valencia!

The America’s Cup will turn this up-and-coming
Spanish city into a social hotspot

arrival
Let’s get started. Flights into and out of Valencia during the spring are crowded to the point of being unavailable, but the airport is adequate and modern to the point of being impressive. If tickets are too dear for the weekends of competition, try flying into Barcelona instead. A three-hour train ride from Barcelona Sants (the main station) will drop you in the center of Valencia, and given the flight availability, may be the perfect ticket.

Valencia is famous for its lovely oranges, and it is underrated for a city nestled so closely to the Mediterranean, but much of it still feels like it was built in 1972 during a Socialist Party architecture competition: bland blocks on arrow-straight boulevards sap the soul of the city. In 1957 much of the Valencia flooded from a river that runs through the center, so the locals diverted it and turned the riverbed into a greenbelt and park, which saves the city from this otherwise soulless form of architecture. And since it is Spain’s third largest metropolis, much attention has been paid to making it more appealing, so Valencia features a robust arts program and an improving vibe that will surely be enough to kick off a great America’s Cup this spring.

The centerpiece of Valencia’s art angle is the Ciudad de las Artes y Las Cienia (The City of Arts and Sciences), Europe’s largest cultural and leisure complex designed by the famed architect Santiago Calatrava, who hails from Valencia. The venue includes lots of -iums — aquarium, planetarium and laserium to name a few — but is really just amazing to look at, the architectural gem of the city. The new Port area built for the America’s Cup is also fantastic, modern, breezy and very chic.

where to stay
Locals like to say that anyone with four walls has put up a hotel sign in Valencia as everyone prepared for the impending Cup. This would not be untrue, but several options stand out. The unforgettable Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort is situated on the beach and features gorgeous event facilities, a huge pool and brand new, big rooms. It’s a knockout, and so popular that it’s sold out through most of the Cup period. You can always try Sandra Molina for open rooms on key days, but it might be better
to just book a massage and forget about trying for room before June.
The Barcelo Hotel is well situated between the old city and the Port, home to the Cup activities, and seems to be a favorite for sailors and corporates. Plenty of rooms in this large hotel mean that it will do well, and its location is pretty unbeatable. In town, try the Ad-Hoc Monumental — it’s the coolest boutique in town and situated in the more quaint and stylish old city. Other solid bets are the NH Hotels, a local Spanish chain with average locations but good capacity, and the Neptune, also located on the beach and within stumbling distance of the Port.

activities
The America’s Cup runs in two stages: The Louis Vuitton Cup Series eliminates the majority of the boats and runs through the second weekend in June, when the final two contenders will square up for the America’s Cup Match, which will conclude the first weekend in July. Much of the action is earlier, because it is more fun to see a dozen boats in competition than just two, but the majority of the spectators will arrive for the Cup finals. Valencia tourism officials maintain that any time between March and July will be a great time to be in Valencia, because they are planning a range of projects and activities to keep you entertained when you’re not on a yacht. A good secret tip? Try to get out on the water during training days or off days — this is when many of the boats are out, not just a few for competition, so you are more likely to capture a grander sense of the sport.

For the Cup, yacht charters are a must, and while packages from ACM, the official organizers of the event, are amazing, at up to $60,000 you may find it a bit out of your price range. Public spectator boats will be available to take individuals or small groups out for race viewings, and at quite reasonable rates. For private charters, two recommended companies are Mundo Marino and Boramar, both of which can arrange a private boat, lunch and other activities to create a more intimate atmosphere.

evening entertainment
There are two places worth noting for spring activities: The port area will be humming with people, music and activities throughout the America’s Cup competition, and the adjacent beach area will be a hotspot. A place to be will be the Omega lounge at the Hotel Neptune, as will, of course, a Hub Culture America’s Cup Pavilion next door at the Beach Salons. Both are situated right on the beach. Next to the Port is the giant open-air nightclub Dockas, which features beds, palm trees and giant lounge areas. The club can really pack them in, hosting up to 5,000 people on a big night during the summer. It will definitely be rocking, and entry is not too difficult.

For dinner, we do not recommend paella, as it’s only eaten for lunch. Valencia is the paella capital of the world, so don’t insult the locals by trying to order it in the evening. A couple of good locations include Chocomeli and Azalea. Bamboo is fantastic and conveniently the hottest restaurant in the city. The owners are so popular that they have opened Bamboo Mar, which is located in the Cup pavilion and is all white with mirrors and nautical breeze inspirations. Both are worth a visit.

When Auckland hosted the America’s Cup in 2002, it helped put the city on the map as a global destination, into the top tier of hubs around the world. Valencia is hoping the same for this year’s Cup, and has gone the extra mile to spruce up in anticipation of your arrival. Sure it has a cute city center, and the Cup itself will be reason enough to visit. New architecture, new facilities and a friendly spirit help to make up for a few years of bad planning. But go now, while everyone else does, as the appeal will be harder to justify when the boats have gone. Did the Cup spark a revolution in Valencia, turning it into a global city? Maybe not, but the paella is to die for, and the city is on its way.

Stan Stalnaker is the founder and creative director of Hub Culture Ltd., a movement with a suite of activities focused on content development, private social networks and global experiences. He can be contacted at stan.stalnaker@hubculture.com.