"We stayed at the Ilunion Aqua 4 and overall enjoyed our stay. The location is what really made it special.
Pros
1. Amazing location. The hotel overlooks the City of Arts and Sciences, and while our room unfortunately didn't have the view, some rooms look directly over the complex and the Oceanogràfic. It's also very convenient for shopping, with Aqua Mall directly below and additional shops across the road. Transport links are excellent too, with several bus stops nearby, the metro around a 10-minute walk away, and the tourist bus stopping right outside the mall. It was easy to reach both the beach and the old town.
2. We booked a four-person suite, which the website describes as a bedroom and living room with a sofa bed. We were pleasantly surprised to find that our suite actually had two separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living room. The extra space was fantastic, and having a second bathroom made a huge difference. Looking at the sofa bed, I can understand why they may have chosen to allocate the larger suite.
3. The breakfast staff were excellent, especially the host, who was personable, professional, and incredibly efficient. He really made the breakfast experience stand out. We also appreciated the small touches from housekeeping, including finding lollipops left in our room on two occasions.
Cons
1. In my experience, some aspects didn't quite meet the standard I'd expect from a 4-star hotel. There were nails protruding from a skirting board in our suite, which could have been a safety concern for families with young children. The towel rails in both bathrooms were also loose and moved when leaned on. We requested an iron twice; the first one provided was slightly broken, and on the second occasion we were told the hotel didn't provide irons and instead offered an ironing service. The cost was €11 to iron a single dress, with some items costing even more, so I ended up using my hair straighteners instead.
2. Communication before our stay could have been better. We wanted to add a fourth adult for part of the stay and simply pay any additional charges. Despite emailing and calling, we didn't receive a clear response until the day before we travelled. One phone call was particularly difficult as the staff member advised they didn't speak English and ended the call. Thankfully everything worked out in the end, but the process could have been much smoother. There were also a couple of minor administrative issues. When our additional guest arrived, the systems were temporarily down, so she paid separately for breakfast. At check-out, she was then asked to pay for it again before the matter was resolved.
3. Finally, while all staff were polite, I felt the reception team could have been a little more welcoming. Simple gestures such as greeting guests with a "good morning" or "good evening" when passing through reception can make a big difference to the overall guest experience.
Overall, it was a nice base for our stay in Valencia - Valencia is amazing. The location is outstanding and was the highlight of the hotel for us."
