Known for being one of the few hotel-monuments in Spain, the 26-room Caro is a unique luxury boutique located in the heart of the city center. The hotel seamlessly blends stunning historic elements such as mosaic tiles from the Roman period, parts of the city’s Moorish walls, and Gothic wooden beams with chic minimalist decor, both in rooms and common spaces. Alma de Temple Restaurant is known among locals and visitors alike for its excellent Mediterranean cuisine, and the bar has an intimate patio complete with a small plunge pool. The Caro offers in-room massage services and free Wi-Fi throughout, but lacks a full spa and a fitness center. Hospes Palau de la Mar Hotel has both of those amenities and similar prices, but Caro Hotel has more character and charm. 

An upscale hotel in a quiet beachfront neighborhood, Hotel Las Arenas Balneario Resort has both luxurious amenities and substantial business facilities. Its sprawling, sometimes impersonal atmosphere has earned it a reputation as being more suited to convention-goers than individual travelers. Nevertheless, with its enviable setting, the hotel attracts all types and often hosts weddings. Along with the ocean, the spa and pools offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation. Spacious rooms are decorated with pastels and light wood furnishings; bathrooms, too, are large, with plush robes and slippers. While the hotel has all the amenities one would expect from a first-class resort, service is sometimes inconsistent for the average tourist, largely due to the heavy emphasis on meetings and conventions.

The 101-room Vincci Lys hotel is in a superb location, right in the heart of Valencia’s city center. The hotel is elegant, clean, and convenient, right next to the train station, and less than a 10-minute walk to the Valencia Cathedral and other old-town attractions. If guests are looking for charm, old-world Spanish character, or a peaceful hideaway, the Vincci Lys, set amid shops, bars, and cafes, is not the place, but for a home base in the center of the city, this is the spot.

The 66-room luxury boutique Hospes Palau de la Mar Hotel is a refurbished 19th-century palace that's near Valencia's historic center. The lobby is grand, with tall arches, pillars, an imposing marble staircase, and elaborate wood carvings and ironwork. The hotel combines this grand old Spanish feeling with modern, high-quality touches and Zen-like tranquility. Rooms are oases of calm with elegant furnishings, promising a peaceful stay.

The upper-middle-range Myr Plaza Mercado & Spa is a boutique hotel situated in the heart of Old Town, right across the street from Mercando Central. Its 25 minimalistic modern suites for three to four guests are still fresh from the property's 2016 opening, and all feature fully equipped kitchenettes and stylish (though sometimes narrow) bathrooms with rainfall showers. The property also has a spa with a roomy whirlpool, hammam, relaxation area, and massage services, but the spa is only open during limited hours and use is not necessarily included in the room rate. A casual restaurant and bar, open until late, is another helpful feature as is limited on-site parking -- rare for a central city hotel. By comparison, the Vincci Mercat has a rooftop plunge pool, but rooms lack kitchenettes.

Hotel Melia Valencia is an excellent choice for business travelers looking for a modern hotel with easy access to the Valencia convention center. It attracts many people attending conferences and also caters to business travelers with several large event spaces. The property also features a restaurant and large wellness center. Its location in Ayuntamiento, one of Valencia's central squares, also makes it a suitable choice for leisure travelers looking for a hotel within a short distance of the the historic old town, the cathedral, and shopping centers. However, some tourists may find the neighborhood too quiet and too far from the city center. The property has 303 clean, larger-than-average guest rooms, some of which have balconies. However, potential guests should take note that not all rooms have regular overhead showerheads; many feature bathtubs with handheld showerheads only.

The Westin Valenica is a large, high-end property that's also a good base for discovering the city. The hotel combines classic style with modern technology, drawing many business travelers and large groups with its several ultramodern function rooms and banquet hall. Housed in a majestic white building, easily one of the most impressive structures in the city, the hotel is within walking distance of the center of Valencia. There are three on-site restaurants to choose from -- including those offering Mediterranean and Japanese fare -- plus a cocktail bar/club with terrace. The Caroli Health Club is a great place to replenish, with thermal and water treatments, and guest rooms are large. However, some can be loud and there are fees for Wi-Fi, parking, and use of the heated pool.

The upper-middle-range NH Valencia Las Artesis is an easy drive to the downtown business district and the historic sights of Old Town, but using public transportation to get around is a little trickier -- bus lines are nearby but not a metro station. Its style hints of Art Deco, though some details make it feel old fashioned. The 174 rooms are decorated simply with plenty of wood furniture and spaces for working and lounging. Amenities include minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. The fitness center has cardio and weight machines, and there's a small indoor pool. Outdoor terraces are there for sun-seekers. Travelers might want to also consider the Tryp Oceanic, also in Las Artes, which has similar amenities at comparable rates.

Hotel Conqueridor is an upper-middle-range property with decor and services that are a step up from the more basic chain hotels in the same price range. Breakfast isn't included with the price of a room, but "C" Restaurant serves tasty a la carte Mediterranean cuisine and Lobby-Bar has snacks and drinks for sale. The small fitness center has a free sauna for guest use as well. The location is ideal for those who want to explore the city of Valencia, though it may be worth comparing rates at the similarly-priced Ayre Hotel Astoria Palace, especially for those who want to be closer to high-end shops.

Primus Valencia is a four-star property with lots of bells and whistles -- but you'll pay extra fees to use them. Rooms are spacious with a minimalist decor and shower/bathtub combinations. There's an on-site restaurant and casual bar for drinks as well. The real standout, however, is the basement spa complete with a hammam, indoor swimming pool, and hot tub. Wi-Fi and use of the fitness center are free. For generally slightly better rates, consider the Hotel Conqueridor.