Heading to Valencia (and la tomatina)

lynchy

Hi,

Myself and my girlfriend are heading to Valencia towards the end of the month. We are looking for any suggestions for places to stay which aren't that expensive as we've both been studing for the summer and havent got much money. Also thinking of heading to la tomatina and just wondering had anyone had any experience of this and how would you get to the town and that.

Cheers

brickmaster

I've been to La Tomatina a few years ago. Its quite good and easy to get to. You just show up early enough at the Valencia train station on the morning of the event and take the train to Bunol. The trains will be PACKED! It is not a comfortable train ride. Once you get there just follow the crowds.

The tomato fight itself happens in a very narrow street and for the first 20-30min after the trucks have passed through its crammed and not that much fun. I would suggest holding back from the centre until it dies down a little, its quite rough. My GF didn't like it at all.

Once it thins out it becomes fun and you can actually have a tomato fight!

Wear confortable shoes! Do not wear flip flops. You will loose them and you will not be allowed to board the train barefooted (we had to plead with the conductor, then GF had to walk through Valencia barefoot back to the hotel)

All in all its worth the trip

Bambi2

We went to Tomatina in 2008. It was great craic but as brickmaster says it's more than a little cramped down in that street. The place is packed with Aussies too.
We went on Lastminute.com and got a secret hotel which was 5*s and right over by the new football stadium. Grand stuff.

We were lucky on the train out to Bunol and managed to get seats, do all you can to do the same! Also be aware that while we waited for the tomatoes to arrive things get a little hi-jinx-y and all the lads around us ended up having their t-shirts RIPPED off. You have to have a t-shirt to get back on the train so my Mr. took his off and hid it down his jocks.

You can buy waterproof disposable cameras in Bunol pretty handy so don't worry about that stuff before you go.

But if your girlfriend is too girly I'd give it a miss.....tomatoes are not soft!

ballsymchugh

i'm going to that too!! one bit of advice a friend of mine gave me was to bring swimming goggles for the fight. don't know how long they'll last though. may see you there!!

lynchy

Thanks for all the advice guys. Just wondering. Is there any pace where you can put belongings and that like a spare pair of clothes and that. Think we are going to go the night before also. Apparently there is a party that goes on all night on some hillside so we are going to try and find it. Hopefully it will be there.
ballsymchugh might see you there. Just listen out for the Cork accent somewhere

LilOc

Going too!
There's also the Wine and Water festival in another village closed to Valencia the day before. We'll try to get to it as well but maybe won't be able too...

Bambi2

Well guys, how'd youz get on? Did you get the pig on the pole?

ballsymchugh

it was great, kinda got pinned against the wall by the crowd (def not a place for claustrophobic people) but any tomato that missed just hit the wall, so there was a quality supply of ammo around me all the time.
will prob go again sometime!