We started our special on Valencia with something that can conquer all: food, but this city has attractions and spots to entice people of all ages and preferences. Whether you share your home swap trip with children, teenagers, young adults or older adults, your companions will find a favourite place. If you are looking for adventure or you want discover ancient treasures, there is something for you. If you want to play sports and get energized that way or enjoy marvellous sunsets to power up your senses until your next vacation, in Valencia you will find your spot.

Beaches and dunes:
When you are ready to find your home exchange partner in Valencia, look for this beaches in the nearby attractions or description: Arenas, La Malvarrosa, Cabañal, or beaches in the Albufera Nature Reserve (El Saler or Col-Legi). La Malvarrosa lies in the city itself and has the infrastructure to receive many people in its miles of white sands. Arenas and Cabañal, in the southern part of the city, have golden sand and many interesting features like restaurants, bars, promenades and events.

Parks and sports:
As mentioned in the beach and dunes category, you can visit the Albufera Nature Reserve, and in the area you will find El Saler, a blue flag beach that looks like a dream! There are also entertainment parks, like Gulliver’s Park for children, the Botanical Gardens and the Bioparc, a modern zoo based on the concept of immersion. Regarding sports, you will find a place to move your body: hiking, golf, kayaking, sailing, horse riding, scuba diving, windsurfing, paragliding… Or an event for watching-enjoyment: Valencia FC, Formula 1 Racing or World Championship Motorcycle Racing.

Image: Hakilon / Wikimedia Commons.

Let’s dig in! One of the most tempting features of Valencia (in this case both the city and the region) is its appetizing cuisine. The Paella Valenciana is the queen of the tables and if you can enjoy it by the sea during your home swap vacation, then you are the one who is going to feel like royalty.

Paella is ubiquitous in Valencia, and it can have many flavours, but if you enjoy it at the seafront, maybe accompanied by a matching wine, your senses are going to be thrilled. If you think about it, since you are going to be spending more than one day in Valencia, you can try several combinations until you find your preferred one: paella by the sea, paella in an ancient street, paella in the modern area…

What is so special about this dish? It is indescribable, that is the secret. You have to try it to understand because rice, vegetables, beans, meat and seasoning seems like a combination beyond what one can imagine. Why in Valencia? Because it is the home of the Paella Valenciana, for other paellas try elsewhere

Image: Ary29 / Wikimedia Commons.

We have mentioned Valencia in other posts, but we have never given it our full attention and it clearly deserves yours, so it was about time! There is so much to enjoy in Valencia during a home exchange, that it well deserves to be featured among the best destinations in the Mediterranean Coast, and after we cover its beaches, cultural spots and events, architecture, entertainment and nightlife, you are going to agree with us. Just read and let us know

In Valencia, the tranquillity and charm of the Spanish coastline is combined with the beauty of a modern and vibrant city to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience. We need more than one post to tell you all about the treasures of Valencia, so we are going to give you just a snack today and more later.

The list:
Paella Valenciana
The City of Arts and Sciences
Silk Exchange
Valencia’s Cathedral
The towers: Serranos and Quart
The Fallas bonfire festival
The beaches and dunes
The sports and parks
And a lot more…

There are almost 200 home swappers in the city alone, and more than 500 in the region waiting to hear your proposals.

Image: B ulliel (own work) / Wikimedia Commons.

Another year has ended and with the new year comes a time for plans, resolutions and hope. We hope it comes with many house swaps in your travel plans. There are many users that have written us to let us know that they already arranged all the house swaps they wanted for 2012, and we are looking forward to reading their feedbacks and reviews. For those still searching or just getting started, we know you will find what you are looking for, explore our tools and contact our Customer Service team if you need help.

As for the blog, 2012 finds us in an exciting tour along the European Mediterranean coastline, that we hope will be useful for users that are exploring options in this vast area. We are encountering destinations that would be perfect for next Summer, but that are not to be dismissed by those considering a winter-swap.

Marbella, Malaga, Almeria and Alicante have been the main spots we covered, with many smaller picturesque cities and towns nearby that may as well deserve a visit, like Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Benidorm, Torrevieja or Torremolinos. If you have not found your next home exchange destination among them, just wait and read… Next stop: Valencia.

Image: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net