DETAILS

Valencia, Spain

GETTING THERE: Connecting flights are available on many U.S. and international carriers from Washington area airports. Round-trip fares to Valencia this fall start at about $800. If you can find an inexpensive fare to another European city -- try London or Frankfurt -- consider traveling onward to Valencia on a discount carrier. Check Openjet, http://www.openjet.com/ , and Ryanair, http://www.ryanair.com/ , for round-trip flights starting at about $115. A word of caution: The discount carriers depart from smaller airports, and if you miss the flight your ticket is invalid, so take that option only if staying overnight in the first city is appealing.

WHEN TO GO: Summers tend to be hot and muggy, with average temperatures in the 80s. Winters are mild, with average temps in the high 50s or low 60s, and spring and fall have balmy temps in the 60s and 70s. Book in advance for Valencia's biggest festival, Las Fallas, when local clubs make giant sculptures up to 80 feet high and display them in the streets. Processions of locals in native costumes begin the first week of March, and March 12-19 features morning-to-night festivities.

BUDGET TIP: The Valencia card, available at city tourism offices, the airport, the train station, the convention center or from http://www.valenciacard.es/ , provides limited free public transportation on the subway, bus or streetcar system, and discounted entrance to many major attractions in the old city and the City of Arts and Sciences. Cost: $7.70 for one day, $12.80 for two days or $19.25 for three days.

WHERE TO STAY: For a chic boutique hotel in an old building, try the Vincci Lys (5 Avenida Martinez Cubells, 011-34-91-490-2650, http://www.vinccihoteles.com/ ). Double rooms begin at $127 a night. Hotel Petit Palace Bristol (3 Abadia de San Martin, 011-34- 96-394-5100, http://www.hotelpetitpalacebristol.com/ ) is an attractive boutique hotel in the old city, with free Internet access. Double rooms begin at about $107 on weekends. All rooms are the same price at Ad Hoc Monumental (4 Boix, 011-34-91-391-3667, http://www.adhochoteles.com/ ) in the old city, so ask for one of the larger ones with a balcony. A double room begins at about $100.

WHERE TO EAT: Restaurante Vinatea in the Hotel Astoria Palace (5 Plaza Rodrigo Botet, 011-34-96-398-1000) is said to have Valencia's best paella, in a city where nearly every restaurant serves that dish. Dinner entrees begin at about $13. La Fonda (Plaza de La Reina) features a great location, indoors and out, in the shadow of the city's cathedral. Rice dishes, including paella, are a specialty. Dinner entrees begin at about $16. For gourmet, cutting-edge cuisine (think foie gras with peaches, or a salad of salmon, shrimp, avocado, potatoes and mushrooms), try Restaurante Sergio Alarco (23 Calle Marino Blas de Lezo, 011-34-96-355-2280). Dinner entrees begin at about $16.

INFORMATION: Valencia Tourism and Convention Bureau, http://www.turisvalencia.es/ , or Tourist Office of Spain, 212-265-8822, http://www.spain.info/ . For details on the City of Arts and Sciences : http://www.cac.es/ .

-- Cindy Loose