Where to stay in the Valencian Community, from the beach to Morella

Where to stay in the Valencian Community by area

This selection has three clearly different fronts: the city of Valencia and Xàtiva, the coast of Gandía and Alicante, and the interior of Castellón with Morella. I'd first choose between sea, city or stone and silence, and then the specific place.

Valencia and Xàtiva

Two very different ways to sleep near the city, one cheap and for passing through, the other more carefully kept.

• Hostal La Barraca Suites, in Valencia. Simple guesthouse on the Passeig de Neptú, in the Poblados Marítimos, a few steps from the beach and from bars and restaurants. The rating is modest because of the state of the rooms, so I'd see it for a short break.
• Plaza Home ResEst, in Valencia. Simple rooms in Ciutat Vella, near the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the Estación del Norte. It works without a reception desk and has a reputation for being noisy.
• Bellver bedrooms, in Xàtiva. Accommodation in a private house in the centre, with a private bathroom, air conditioning and a terrace. Nicely decorated and with a friendly welcome, ideal for a quiet stop.

Gandía, Elche and the Torrevieja coast

Here the plan is the sea, although Elche lets you switch off in a garden.

• Hostal Ducal II, in Gandía. Budget guesthouse a few steps from the port and not far from the beach, with air conditioning and television. A good spot for couples and travellers passing through on a tight budget.
• Pink Lemon House, in Elche. Accommodation with breakfast, an outdoor pool open all year, free Wi-Fi and plenty of garden. For friends and couples, as long as they read the reviews about cleanliness and rooms first.
• H'S Beach, in Torrevieja. In the centre, a few steps from Playa del Cura, with air-conditioned rooms and studios, Wi-Fi and a restaurant. Parking may be the drawback.

Castellón interior, Morella

To swap the sea for stone, mountain air and views of a medieval town.

• Casa Rural Molí D’En Pi, in Morella. Stone and timber house on the outskirts, with a garden, free parking and farm animals. For families and couples, but no pets are allowed.

What kind of accommodation you'll find in the Valencian Community

In this guide guesthouses and simple rooms predominate, aimed at short stays and tighter budgets. A rural stone house in the interior and a couple of places with more garden or decoration complete the offer.

Don't expect luxury. What you do get is location, by the beach or in the city centre, and some places with good ratings that are worth it for a short trip. The gap between the best and worst rated is large, so always read the reviews.

Which place to choose for your trip

The choice depends on whether you want sea, city or calm. This table is a shortcut, and the links are in the areas above.

What to check before booking

There's a clear gap between these places. Bellver bedrooms and Casa Rural Molí D’En Pi have high ratings, while Plaza Home ResEst and Hostal La Barraca Suites score lower because of the state of the rooms and the noise.

That doesn't rule them out if you'll sleep little and spend the day out, but I'd book them only for a short stay and without children. At H'S Beach the rating is excellent but there are few reviews, and in Torrevieja it's worth thinking about parking before you arrive. And if you're travelling with a pet, Molí D’En Pi isn't the place for you.

When to visit the Valencian Community and how to get around

The coast fills up in summer and it makes most sense from spring to autumn, but Valencia and Xàtiva are good to visit almost all year. Morella, in the interior, has a cooler mountain climate, so it's most appealing when you want to escape the coastal heat or are after a winter atmosphere.

To get around, the coast and the cities are well served by train and bus, and in Valencia much of it is done on foot or by public transport. The interior is another matter. To reach Morella and move around its surroundings you need a car. If you want to combine sea and interior in one trip, allow time for driving and don't pack in too many stops.