Hi all, usually good place to get holiday tips, so any good ones for a lads weekend in Valencia would be appreciated

Already booked to see the game against Athletic Bilbao.

Was strongly going to recommend you check out the bar owned bar Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish football super fan known worldwide as "Manolo el del Bombo" which is very close to the Valencia stadium. Certainly, if you are a certain age you will have seen him on television during World Cups, etc.. He followed Spain everywhere.

We stumbled on his bar entirely by accident when we were walking around outside the ground (frustrated that we couldn't get in for a proper look) whilst on a lads' weekend there donkey's years ago. He was there, and the bar was crammed full of his various memorabilia. It was a real bonus seeing it.

However, I just Googled him to check out my 'facts' and very sadly, and entirely coincidently, I discovered that Manolo passed away yesterday!

RIP.
_______________

We enjoyed Valencia. Swimming in the Med, drinking the local orange-based alcoholic drink (bit naff really), walking around the incredible area of modernist architecture associated with some Expo, or similar, etc..

Get some T-shirts printed with Gary Neville face on them.

Free beer all weekend.

Your a couple of years to soon for the new stadium but it should be a cracker.
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/14827314/va ... orld%20Cup.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Fri May 02, 2025 8:30 pm

Your a couple of years to soon for the new stadium but it should be a cracker.
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/14827314/va ... orld%20Cup.

Such a bizarre story that TT!

I suppose on the plus side, I can take in the old stadium and return in a few years (or 15) for the new one

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Fri May 02, 2025 10:07 pm

Such a bizarre story that TT!

I suppose on the plus side, I can take in the old stadium and return in a few years (or 15) for the new one

I was on the Mestalla a couple of years ago. Nose bleed height on their Longside. Metro station just outside makes it easy for getting back to your lodgings.

Always a place I've skirted around. Never stayed there. I love Spain, especially inland.

We had a weekend there twenty years ago, and got tickets high up in the Mestalla. It was a fantastic experience. Everyone around us was smoking cannabis, not just one or two, everyone.
We visited the aforementioned bar owned by Manolo, El Bombo de Espana. He was a great character, sad to see that he died two days ago.
I remember being in a bar during the day and a group of lads being mithered by some local kids. Once they got rid of the kids they realised that they'd taken a wallet off the table, including their match tickets.
Overall though a great place to visit, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
A few pictures here from the trip and the football match.
https://youtu.be/f_j3Gdz75rk

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Fri May 02, 2025 5:45 pm

Already booked to see the game against Athletic Bilbao.

I know you were looking for advice here and unfortunately I have none to offer. I wondered how you sorted tickets for the match though? Directly from the club or via a third party?

Promised to take my lad on a weekend city break with a football match at some point and Valencia was high on my list of possibilities.

Bacchus wrote: ↑

Sat May 03, 2025 10:08 am

I know you were looking for advice here and unfortunately I have none to offer. I wondered how you sorted tickets for the match though? Directly from the club or via a third party?

Promised to take my lad on a weekend city break with a football match at some point and Valencia was high on my list of possibilities.

Sorry Bacchus, must have missed your post. It was sorted through the club directly, quite easy to do on their website and it was €30 to sit on the back row. Incredible views over the city, although definitely not for anyone who is a bit unfit, very steep steps and a long climb up!

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Mon May 19, 2025 8:23 am

Sorry Bacchus, must have missed your post. It was sorted through the club directly, quite easy to do on their website and it was €30 to sit on the back row. Incredible views over the city, although definitely not for anyone who is a bit unfit, very steep steps and a long climb up!

Thanks, hopefully I'll get over there next season. Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

relatives have a villa a short distance south down the coast so I've been a few times ...

beautiful city, great beach, marina area full of expensive yachts, endless bars and restaurants, huge covered food market with tapas stalls

its an amazing city, you really cant go wrong and I'll hopefully be back in July

Bacchus wrote: ↑

Mon May 19, 2025 12:40 pm

Thanks, hopefully I'll get over there next season. Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

Thanks, yes it was great and I'm sure you'll enjoy it when you go.

Fantastic city, not too busy, easy to get around and the prices for food and drink are really reasonable.

Just to confirm, it was a great view