Valencia Spain Great City- Terrible Tour - Ripped-Off and Angry

[@hollyhammond5203]

You guys are so positive even when you have a less than positive experience ..Makes me smile 💗

[@livingphase2]

Thank you!

[@BeefromSC]

This video was a little funny, being rushed through the tour sights compared to Clark Guieswall, too funny! But looking back I would be a little upset at myself for not just ditching the tour guide and going off on my own. Hopefully you’ll friend goes through with the build, and you get another chance to visit and stay awhile 😇 Thanks for sharing

[@steveglass7142]

So sorry to hear of your bad experience of Valencia. We live midway between Valencia and Alicante and Valencia is our favourite city, which we class as our home city. Should you make it back to Spain we would love to introduce you to its many charms and those of the communidad de Valencia, the smaller seaside towns and inland mountains, where we live. There is always a room for you here, I have followed your blog throughout. It sounds as though your tour really took you to a bad restaurant for the paella, but just for your info the burnt bit of the paella is traditional and should always be there, it is the best bit for valencians and has its own name the socarret. Thank you again for your blogs and hopefully we can improve on your visit to Valencia in the future! Steve & Dave

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much for sharing all of this. Did not know about the burnt bit of paella. We certainly have hopes to return. Because what we did see was absolutely charming.

[@KarenHenelde]

It’s always disappointing when a tour is a big bust. But Valencia certainly looks like a nice city to visit. P.S. Nice haircut, Nancy.👍

[@livingphase2]

Thank you! 😃

[@telmamarti3647]

I never comment on your videos but, I’ve been watching every single one of them and as a Valencian myself was really looking forward to this video. I feel bad you weren’t able to enjoy what my beautiful city has to offer, that tour shouldn’t have been that rushed as the amazing thing about Valencia is taking in everything you are seeing. I hope you decide to come back to this beautiful city and try an amazing Valencian paella 🩷

[@livingphase2]

Thank you. It’s unfortunate. We had the experience that we did. But like we said in the video, it certainly gives us a reason to come back because what we did see we absolutely loved. Just the tour was unfortunate.

[@greenbutterfly-8]

Stay Safe All Ways All Thank You Sharing

[@livingphase2]

Thank you.

[@johnhunady3526]

Thank you. Love your pumpkin shirt. Liliana H. ❤

[@livingphase2]

Thank you! 😊

[@bettydillingham1498]

You two never disappoint with your positive attitude. Even when things go “wrong”, I know you’ll find the good points. I really really appreciate that. Bravo to your sunny and upbeat way of assessing the situation. More power to you both. Debbie Downers are never fun to watch. ❤️

[@livingphase2]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for following along with us on our journey. We appreciate you.

[@JaneKilian-y7t]

Thank you for still sharing your awesome adventures 🤩

[@livingphase2]

Glad you like them!

[@danielawillbold880]

Sorry to hear😢. For further cruise passengers: just leave the port, to the left at the entrance there is the bus stop for bus #4 to city centre, it's 2 euros, takes half an hour. Can be crowded sometimes. But, at least, you can do Valencia on your own. You can also call an Uber to this bus stop, not expensive. Valencia can be easily done by foot. To the city of arts and sciences you can take an Uber. At least half a day you should plan to visit, you can take outstanding pictures in the city of tomorrow. Great that you, Mike and Nancy, will come back to Valencia. Thank you for the video.

[@livingphase2]

The bus would’ve been a great way to see the city. Hopefully we’ll make it back and do Valencia on our own.

[@cindyderr225]

So sorry you had a bad tour, but I love how you both stay so positive. When you return it will be great. Loved the bloopers!

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much!

[@samandkellealbrecht9034]

Bloopers had me cracking up! What a shame! So sorry that happened. But I bet it will be so wonderful when you return

[@livingphase2]

Exactly. Next time we’ll have to return on our own.

[@Panamascooter]

Valencia is a great place, you guys definitely need to go back and see everything

[@livingphase2]

We certainly will try to.

[@Bundydream]

I loved your bloopers at the end 😂😂

[@livingphase2]

Thanks!😂

[@GinetteSt-Onge-d2w]

It’s maddening and sad when a tour doesn’t live up to its advertising! Of course you both made the best of your day with your positivity! Sorry this happened to you but like you said, we learn as we go. 😁

[@livingphase2]

Exactly.

[@SHYsArt]

What a total bummer, so sorry you had this experience. As always I loved the video. hugs

[@livingphase2]

Thank you so much!

[@truigrunland6817]

The end was sooo funny!😂

[@livingphase2]

😂

[@JaniceM0908]

How sad for you! I hope you get back there. I’m glad you can laugh about it, glad I stayed till the end😂

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much!

[@prpman99]

Sorry about the bad experience. We loved Valencia. Just took a city bus (very helpful drivers) from the port into old part of town. Saw a number of the sights that you walked past, even the Holy Grail. Had an original Horchata in the market, yummy. Yup would love to return.

[@livingphase2]

We think Valencia is a wonderful city as well and can't wait to go back. We have friends in Spain and are looking forward to visiting them

[@eileenammendolea1776]

I just watched the last bit…. I loved your case of the giggles!🥰

[@livingphase2]

😁😁😁

[@anneoestreicher7333]

Valencia is a lovely city. I was lucky to stay there for a week to attend a conference. I do hope you go back to really experience it.

[@livingphase2]

Thank you. We hope so too.

[@lynnew2517]

What a downer that was! Glad you are both home safe. Nancy, I love your short hair!

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much

[@nonnasstitchingloungewithr7281]

I've never been to Valencia and its definitely on my list to dos. Thanks for your review of the tour company. You have to laugh when you want to cry..... LOL

[@livingphase2]

Oh my gosh, that is so true.😉

[@glenncamp733]

We visited Valencia on Seabourn Ovation, and did a Paella class which was fun. We had decided before we took the tour to visit Valencia after our 10 day cruise. We took a train from Barcelona to Valencia and an AirBnB in Valencia. We had a great tour from Tours by Locals which was 5 hours, including ample time in the market place (you buy something in the market Place and use your receipt to get in the bathroom). We spent 5 days eating and touring Valencia and with places shown by Tours by Locals we had a wonderful time. Would suggest Sonia from Tours by Locals.

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

[@eileenammendolea1776]

The city looked beautiful. I am so sorry the tour was so disappointing. It will be nice to go back!

[@livingphase2]

We can't wait to go back. We have friends in the area and look forward to visiting them soon

[@lynnfranklin5098]

Excellent catholic trivia

[@anneellison8188]

Oh that was just so unfortunate! I've been on tours that I felt weren't worth the money and left me wanting as well! Its so disappointing. I'm sure you're over it now but still...Love the hair Nancy!

[@jholly5747]

Hi Nancy and Mike So sorry to hear that yet. Another tour you want was a bust. I really enjoy hearing about tactile experiences for blind or visually impaired people. If I ever get a chance to visit Europe, I know I can add Valencia to the mix, so that I can visualize in my mind the city looks like my feeling it. I am glad that you also said Croatia had sculptures that you could touch as a blind or visually impaired person because I didn’t remember what city or country that was in from your previous videos. Still enjoying all your videos looking forward to the next one. Cheers

[@livingphase2]

Thanks so much!

[@dsr8223]

I just HAD to look up the restaurant on Trip Advisor, and WOW. 14 five-star reviews vs 529 one-star reviews! They must depend entirely on tourists who are never coming back anyway. I suspect the restaurant slips the tour guide some $$$ for bringing in buses full of unsuspecting (and captive) tourists.

[@livingphase2]

We said the same thing. They are probably in cahoots with each other.😤

[@dsr8223]

@@livingphase2 You need to post a review of the tour company.

[@gwenmarshall587]

I did an NCL tour when I was there and we had about an hour or so in the market and walked through the silk market. We didn't have an included meal, but we could snack in the market. Ship tours don't tend to over promise.

[@livingphase2]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@tulaandtherabbittadventure19]

Wow so sorry this happened to you. Big reason we rarely ever go on any tour with other people. We go on our own.

[@livingphase2]

Yes, there were a member of people on the ship who would just go and get a taxi for the day at many ports.

[@lindapeterson3613]

Sorry you had a bad tour but you made the telling amusing. I hope you can go back.

[@livingphase2]

Thank you. We hope we can return and do Valencia on our own.

[@tatjanaanderlic7212]

Bloopers 👌 Lep pozdrav iz Slovenije

[@livingphase2]

Thank you!

[@RobynLichter-sv3xj]

So sorry this happened to you. I would have said to the guide at the market, were staying here, we will find our own way back to the ship. You would have had a much better time on your own.

[@fascination2525]

But the tour guide kept promising the most AMAZING paella (knowing full well that the restaurant has an awful reputation). I'd bet $100 that the tour company gets a per person kickback from the restaurant.

[@livingphase2]

Yes, next time on our own.

[@fascination2525]

Top Private Tours must be in cahoots with that abysmal paella restaurant, getting a kickback for every customer they bring in. That's why the tour guide was so insistent that you not drop out before going there. There is NO way they didn't know about the abysmal restaurant reviews. I hope you left a scathing review of Top Private Tours. Scammers.

[@livingphase2]

You know, we all said that. They must be in cahoots.😤

[@jholly5747]

Hi Nancy and Mike. Even though your chair of Valencia wasn’t great, do you have any thoughts about Valencia now that there’s catastrophic flooding in the region.

[@livingphase2]

Oh, we’re so sad. Valencia has gone through such horrible flooding. That happened after we had put the video together. Heartbreaking.

[@RosieDhoopun]

love it when people get the giggles - what was the 42 joke?

[@livingphase2]

It was a silly thing our children used to say. What is better than 42, the answer is 43.😂😂😂

[@FunandBudget]

Ah...thanks for explaining the difference between a basilica, cathedral and church

[@livingphase2]

You’re very welcome.

[@RobynLichter-sv3xj]

I’m sure there was nothing you could do, especially when they keep promising the best Paella. Well hopefully you will get back there soon👍🏻💐

[@livingphase2]

I hope we get back there soon too. There are so many places we’d like to revisit in that area and spend more time at.

[@joyceroth7211]

Nancy you got a haircut. It looks nice

[@livingphase2]

Thank you!

[@cheralyndewet897]

Phew 🫣 sorry guys but nice to have somewhere to head back to.

[@livingphase2]

That’s exactly right.

[@jenniferp5996]

So sad seeing the absolute devastation of the flooding!!! Just now happened!!!!

[@livingphase2]

Oh, I know. Wasn’t that flooding just horrible.

[@karenbaker2867]

Nancy: I love your shirt

[@livingphase2]

Thank you!

[@nancysmall9793]

Sorry to hear that your tour was not good.

[@ellieramseyer]

Oh no, a Valencia tourist trap. BTW, you need at least a couple of days to see Valencia.

[@livingphase2]

We agree completely.

[@live2skide1]

I'm sorry you had a terrible tour. When I look at the website, it does list the time allotted at the various stops. Yet I agree that the word PRIVATE tour is very misleading. I hope you followed up with a rating on the resturant, and the tour company on Trip Advisor or other sites. Just looking at the pricing structure tells me they reeled in the customers by discounting based on the numbers. I can imagine you were angry and disappointed.

[@livingphase2]

We were. Now that is in the past we know we just want to come back on our own.

[@rogue2438]

What happened after lunch? I’m guessing a silent bus ride back?

[@livingphase2]

Yeah it was not a happy group of people

[@LynetteMueller]

There was severe flooding in Valencia today.

[@livingphase2]

We saw pictures of it. It was absolutely horrific.

[@DebbieDeWolf]

I’m wondering why you took group tours in most cities you visited. Why not visit the attractions, etc. on your own? Is it because you have so little time in each port when visiting via cruise ship? We’ve visited Europe many times (no cruises) and have never taken a tour. We don’t care for large group experiences.

[@livingphase2]

Overall we agree with you and in Europe which is what you'll see in our upcoming videos that's exactly what we did. But you're also exactly correct when you're going to a place you don't have any experience in, we took tours because of the very very limited time we had in each place. But since we lived in Europe for 4 years you'll see much more independent touring there

[@sheilawest8386]

Whats the name of the restaurant? I live in Valencia and want to avoid this place

[@livingphase2]

I don’t remember offhand right at this moment, but there is a picture of their review in the video. That should tell the name of the restaurant.

[@lynnfranklin5098]

Sounds like at 3 nights in Valencia

[@livingphase2]

I think you could easily spend three nights there or longer

[@MaryOliver-w2z]

That was so boring