NH Valencia Las Artes

While the exterior and interior of NH Valencia Las Artes have a color scheme like that of several other hotels in the NH chain, the designers have incorporated subtle Art Deco style touches into its design. Pale-yellow vertical lines and green window frames accent the boxy brown-brick exterior. In the high-ceilinged reception area, the walls and columns are covered with caramel-colored wood panels, while the floors are made of polished green-and-white marble. Gray leather-covered bucket seats echo furniture styles from the first half of the 20th century. But a few touches, such as the white leather couches on chrome legs, veer toward dated. The restaurant is more minimalist and refined, with white-leather chairs and wood tables. The outdoor terraces are cozy -- one is lined with Astroturf and another is covered in reddish tile. The hotels draws lots of couples, families, and business travelers.

The centrally located neighborhood around NH Valencia Las Artes is best known for the science museum City of Arts and Sciences, which is a three-minute walk from the hotel, but other attractions require a drive, or a bus or taxi ride. (There's no metro station nearby.) The downtown business district is about a 12-minute drive, or a 33-minute trip on public transportation. Valencia Cathedral, which dates from 1238, is about 15 minutes away by car or 20 minutes by bus. The Central Market, known for its array of food stalls, is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel or a 30-minute trip on public transportation. Valencia Airport is a 20-minute drive or a 40-minute bus trip from the hotel.

The 174 rooms at the NH Valencia Las Artes are stylish in a minimalist way. While many rooms have been renovated, guests complain those that are yet to receive an update can be dark and uninviting. Depending on the room, furniture is either stained or painted wood, with comfortable beds, wardrobes, desks, chairs, and benches for luggage. White or off-white walls, polished wood floors, and abstract art give a basic backdrop. Single Rooms (12 square meters or 129 square feet) and Standard Rooms (18 square meters or 194 square feet) are pretty compact. In-room perks include minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Superior Rooms up the decor quotient a bit, and add coffeemakers and bathrobes, but they don't add space. Junior Suites (43 square meters or 463 square feet) are notably larger, with more lounge space and outdoor furnished terraces. Bathrooms have marble walls and shower/tub combos, and vary in size with the room category.

This NH hotel offers a nice array of amenities, including a restaurant, a pool and three terraces for sunbathing, a tapas bar, and a fitness center, and meeting rooms with business services, The restaurant, which scores high with guests, serves Mediterranean and Valencian dishes, and there are several restaurants in the neighborhood. A full breakfast buffet is available for an extra fee, and there's special menus for kids. There's a small tapas bar in the reception area. Fitness facilities include cardio and weight machines as well as free weights, and the pool is large enough for a quick dip but not for laps. Seven meeting rooms on-site can hold up to 250 people, and the spaces can accommodate boardroom meetings, conferences, or cocktail receptions. Parking is available for a fee, which some guests complain is excessive. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.