Hospes Palau de la Mar, Valencia, a Member of Design Hotels

The staff made my birthday stay feel special. Each evening there was a little chocolate on the bed, and they also left a bottle of cava, a small cake, and a birthday note in my room. It was my first visit to Valencia, and I loved the city. The hotel is beautiful, about a 10-minute walk from the old town, with very good transport connections. Our room was perfect, and the spa was a great addition. I’d recommend it to friends and would definitely stay here again when I return to Valencia. I’m sure I will, I loved it.

UPDATE 16/01 After I submitted this review and a "Hoja de Reclamaciones", the general manager and head of housekeeping invited me to meet with them and explain their side. I saw the invitation as a sign that they were willing to listen and discuss what happened. They said the incident came down to several misunderstandings. The receptionist hadn't passed on my request for the iron and ironing board to be brought later, while I was showering. The room attendant didn't knock despite the "Por favor, no molestar" sign on my door, and she didn't know I was showering, so I was naked when I opened it. I accidentally pinched her fingers as she handed me the iron and board, which upset her. Then there was confusion over translation: she asked if I wanted more tea bags and I said yes. She returned banging on the door with them, and when I said no, she was upset that I'd changed my answer. She cursed at me after I banged the door closed. I appreciated the time they took to meet me. They kept mentioning that the attendant had worked there for 12 years and “is not the person that she was.” I came away thinking this may have happened before, but that they took it seriously this time because I used my right to submit a "Hoja de Reclamaciones". I’m very unlikely to stay here again. I don't want to end up in another awkward situation. ----- The hotel itself is beautiful, the room is great, and the location is ideal. I gave it one star because of the room attendants, who were aggressively rude to my face, as if my request was impossible. Around 19:00 (7pm) on my first night, I messaged reception on WhatsApp to ask for an iron and ironing board. They weren't in the room, and I needed to iron my clothes. The receptionist said someone would bring them. I asked for them later because I was showering, naked, and had the DO NOT DISTURB sign up. A couple of minutes later, someone banged on the door as if there were a fire in the building. I came out of the shower and stood behind the door to take the iron and board. The attendant looked exasperated and sounded upset while handing them over, like I'd asked too much. Once I shut the door, I could clearly, literally, hear her swearing at me in Spanish right outside. She didn't even wait until she'd left the hallway. Was asking for an iron and ironing board at 7pm too much? Had I interrupted her merienda? It's a beautiful hotel, but the service is questionable. Be careful around the room attendants. They may not be especially hospitable, and if they don't like you, they show it and can be aggressively rude right in front of you, even when you're naked with a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door.

The spa was pleasant, and booking a time slot means there are only a few people in there at once. It’s less convenient than being able to come and go freely, but it prevents overcrowding at busy times. We had a very nice stay overall. The staff were friendly, the facilities were good, and both the room and bed were comfortable. The room lost a star for being not very spacious. It wasn't tiny, just not especially big.

The spa was a lovely, quiet spot, and never felt busy since they limit it to six people. We had a fabulous five-day stay in Valencia. The hotel is beautiful and well located, with plenty to reach on foot or by bus. Everyone on staff was friendly and very helpful.