Casual Socarrat Valencia Hotel by Casual Hoteles

We loved how much character the room had, especially its colors, generous size, and high ceilings. The balcony faced Calle de Pau, though, and the street noise was unbearable. I’d suggest asking for an interior room.

The front desk team were extremely kind, and we appreciated their help. The room was clean, and the location made it easy to reach historic buildings, restaurants, and transport. We enjoyed our stay, but the street is busy, so this isn’t a good pick if you need a truly quiet night.

The staff were friendly, though they did reprimand us for filling our water bottle to take along at breakfast. Breakfast itself was disappointing: the omelet and ready-made sandwiches weren’t tasty, and the juice seemed sugary with little fruit in it. Our first-floor room facing the street was very noisy. We asked to move straight away, but the other room wasn’t available until the next day, so we were given an earplug in the meantime. The fourth-floor room smelled very unpleasant for the rest of our two days. I’d rate the accommodation 2/5, breakfast 2/5, and staff 4/5.

The bathroom smelled strongly of sewage, and the odor stayed for my whole Monday-to-Friday business trip. Cleaning was another problem: towels were taken without replacements, the bins weren’t emptied, and when the toilet paper ran out, I had to use tissues. The reception staff were lovely, and the location was handy, with plenty of shops and places to eat nearby. My room was spacious and the mattress suited me, but the layout was awkward. The TV was almost at the ceiling, and in nearly 40-degree heat, the air conditioner pointed away from where I could sit or lie down. I was uncomfortable and hot most evenings. Casual Socarrat worked well for getting around, but I’d choose somewhere else if I return to Valencia.