Spain family holiday suggestions.
Discussion
You've asked a question that's going to be tricky to answer - simply because there are so many options! You have thousands of miles of mainland coastline to choose from, even before you get to thinking about the Islands.
Anywhere you go in June and July, but especially in June you can't guarantee the weather. It can be boiling hot, or unseasonably cold. We have a place on the costa del sol, and last June stands out for me because it was quite cold. So chilly, that for the first time in my life in June, we were eating indoors in Restaurants and not outside, but back to where to go.
The north and west coast - French border to Portugal - right to left the Basque country, Asturias, Galicia. All beautiful, still quite spanish (relatively few tourists) but quite a bit colder than the south, and Galicia in particular can be wet at any time of the year. Great food. It's also a good place if you are planning to take the car, as you can ferry to Bilbao or Santander.
The south coast, from the French border round the bottom at Gibraltar and up to Portugal. The bit from the French border down to the tip can at times seem to be one long holiday resort, very built up in places, and there are large chunks of it that can appear to be more like England with sunshine than Spanish. Having said that, there are still places that are very Spanish in flavour. We live for part of the year in Marbella, which despite its reputation is nice little city with quite a Spanish feel to it.
From Gib up to the Portugese border (Costa de la Luz), you have some places with great beaches, but a bit windswept, as you are facing onto the Atlantic.
Then you have the Islands. I love Mallorca. It has everything from great beaches to great scenery and some fabulous driving roads. The road from Sóller up past the Puig Mayor is one of my favourites of all time. Plus you can get some decent food there too.
In summary, I think you need to have a crack at working out roughly here you might want to go, and how you want to get there, and then canvass some opinions about specific places.
Anywhere you go in June and July, but especially in June you can't guarantee the weather. It can be boiling hot, or unseasonably cold. We have a place on the costa del sol, and last June stands out for me because it was quite cold. So chilly, that for the first time in my life in June, we were eating indoors in Restaurants and not outside, but back to where to go.
The north and west coast - French border to Portugal - right to left the Basque country, Asturias, Galicia. All beautiful, still quite spanish (relatively few tourists) but quite a bit colder than the south, and Galicia in particular can be wet at any time of the year. Great food. It's also a good place if you are planning to take the car, as you can ferry to Bilbao or Santander.
The south coast, from the French border round the bottom at Gibraltar and up to Portugal. The bit from the French border down to the tip can at times seem to be one long holiday resort, very built up in places, and there are large chunks of it that can appear to be more like England with sunshine than Spanish. Having said that, there are still places that are very Spanish in flavour. We live for part of the year in Marbella, which despite its reputation is nice little city with quite a Spanish feel to it.
From Gib up to the Portugese border (Costa de la Luz), you have some places with great beaches, but a bit windswept, as you are facing onto the Atlantic.
Then you have the Islands. I love Mallorca. It has everything from great beaches to great scenery and some fabulous driving roads. The road from Sóller up past the Puig Mayor is one of my favourites of all time. Plus you can get some decent food there too.
In summary, I think you need to have a crack at working out roughly here you might want to go, and how you want to get there, and then canvass some opinions about specific places.
Best holiday I ever had was in San Sebastian.
Not "touristy" in a British style, all day breakfast and sunday roast and lager lout sense, but plenty of people there on holiday from Spain, so had a great vibe. San Sebastian itself is quite towny, but it has a couple of great big sandy beaches (one for swimming, one for surfing). There are loads of great beaches along the Northern coast if you hire a car too. Very close to the Pyrenees, Rioja region and if you really need to, France & Biarritz abotu 40 mins away.
The tapas bars in the old town are just awesome!
As it's Northern Spain and on the Atlantic Coast, it's not as hot and dry as the far south & Mediterranean.
Not "touristy" in a British style, all day breakfast and sunday roast and lager lout sense, but plenty of people there on holiday from Spain, so had a great vibe. San Sebastian itself is quite towny, but it has a couple of great big sandy beaches (one for swimming, one for surfing). There are loads of great beaches along the Northern coast if you hire a car too. Very close to the Pyrenees, Rioja region and if you really need to, France & Biarritz abotu 40 mins away.
The tapas bars in the old town are just awesome!
As it's Northern Spain and on the Atlantic Coast, it's not as hot and dry as the far south & Mediterranean.
Riff Raff said:
You've asked a question that's going to be tricky to answer - simply because there are so many options! You have thousands of miles of mainland coastline to choose from, even before you get to thinking about the Islands.
Anywhere you go in June and July, but especially in June you can't guarantee the weather. It can be boiling hot, or unseasonably cold. We have a place on the costa del sol, and last June stands out for me because it was quite cold. So chilly, that for the first time in my life in June, we were eating indoors in Restaurants and not outside, but back to where to go.
The north and west coast - French border to Portugal - right to left the Basque country, Asturias, Galicia. All beautiful, still quite spanish (relatively few tourists) but quite a bit colder than the south, and Galicia in particular can be wet at any time of the year. Great food. It's also a good place if you are planning to take the car, as you can ferry to Bilbao or Santander.
The south coast, from the French border round the bottom at Gibraltar and up to Portugal. The bit from the French border down to the tip can at times seem to be one long holiday resort, very built up in places, and there are large chunks of it that can appear to be more like England with sunshine than Spanish. Having said that, there are still places that are very Spanish in flavour. We live for part of the year in Marbella, which despite its reputation is nice little city with quite a Spanish feel to it.
From Gib up to the Portugese border (Costa de la Luz), you have some places with great beaches, but a bit windswept, as you are facing onto the Atlantic.
Then you have the Islands. I love Mallorca. It has everything from great beaches to great scenery and some fabulous driving roads. The road from Sóller up past the Puig Mayor is one of my favourites of all time. Plus you can get some decent food there too.
In summary, I think you need to have a crack at working out roughly here you might want to go, and how you want to get there, and then canvass some opinions about specific places.
Okay, so according to Mrs Manks its going to be mid July and we will be flying (I think). To be honest driving had not even occurred to me. Though perhaps it should have....Anywhere you go in June and July, but especially in June you can't guarantee the weather. It can be boiling hot, or unseasonably cold. We have a place on the costa del sol, and last June stands out for me because it was quite cold. So chilly, that for the first time in my life in June, we were eating indoors in Restaurants and not outside, but back to where to go.
The north and west coast - French border to Portugal - right to left the Basque country, Asturias, Galicia. All beautiful, still quite spanish (relatively few tourists) but quite a bit colder than the south, and Galicia in particular can be wet at any time of the year. Great food. It's also a good place if you are planning to take the car, as you can ferry to Bilbao or Santander.
The south coast, from the French border round the bottom at Gibraltar and up to Portugal. The bit from the French border down to the tip can at times seem to be one long holiday resort, very built up in places, and there are large chunks of it that can appear to be more like England with sunshine than Spanish. Having said that, there are still places that are very Spanish in flavour. We live for part of the year in Marbella, which despite its reputation is nice little city with quite a Spanish feel to it.
From Gib up to the Portugese border (Costa de la Luz), you have some places with great beaches, but a bit windswept, as you are facing onto the Atlantic.
Then you have the Islands. I love Mallorca. It has everything from great beaches to great scenery and some fabulous driving roads. The road from Sóller up past the Puig Mayor is one of my favourites of all time. Plus you can get some decent food there too.
In summary, I think you need to have a crack at working out roughly here you might want to go, and how you want to get there, and then canvass some opinions about specific places.
Robsti said:
More hours of sunshine in July but more shelter in the all day breakfast joints I grant you! 
July is normally bearable inside our flat - temperatures in the mid to high 20's. In August, the inside temperatures are low to mid 30's. Mid thirties I find uncomfortable, especially for sleeping. In between the heat and the noise from the rest of the world's air conditioning units..........Add in all the tourists (most Spaniards still take their holidays in August), and it's time to spend some time in the UK watching the Cricket.
Riff Raff said:
Robsti said:
More hours of sunshine in July but more shelter in the all day breakfast joints I grant you!
July is normally bearable inside our flat - temperatures in the mid to high 20's. In August, the inside temperatures are low to mid 30's. Mid thirties I find uncomfortable, especially for sleeping. In between the heat and the noise from the rest of the world's air conditioning units..........Add in all the tourists (most Spaniards still take their holidays in August), and it's time to spend some time in the UK watching the Cricket.
We've done various places in Spain.
COSTA BLANCA
The one I least enjoyed was Javea - lots of traffic and it's nothing special. In general, I'm not that keen on the Costa Blanca but Calpe is a nice place but a bit sprawling overall. Inland, we have hired villas in Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer which were lovely and quiet at night and within minutes of the main road to go places without getting caught in traffic. Similarly, Moraira is OK but over-rated.
COSTA ALMERIA
This is down south around Almeria, Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar. I quite like this area especially the Cabo de Gata National Park but many of the beaches are that gravelly/shelly sand. Mojacar has a nice beach but it gets very busy.
MURCIA
Lovely coastline but the resorts are a bit barren and quiet.
The two places I would unerringly recommend are Mallorca which is fabulous (I've recommended it too many times for it's variety) and easy to get to and on an equal footing, Peniscola. Not many people have heard of Peniscola because it's just out of reach of Alicante and Barcelona airports. Nearest airport is Reus. That is of course a good thing because it means very few Brits go there. We flew to Barcelona and drove the 200km down and booked an apartment on the Nerea development which has a community adult pool and a childs pool warmer than a kettle. It was bliss. A mile down the road is Peniscola where Ben Hur was filmed. it has a great beach and a castellated promontory to wander round.
In addition, a stone throw's inland are fabulous roads and towns built on rock outcrops which are amazing.
Can't help with hotels as we always rent villas or apartments.
COSTA BLANCA
The one I least enjoyed was Javea - lots of traffic and it's nothing special. In general, I'm not that keen on the Costa Blanca but Calpe is a nice place but a bit sprawling overall. Inland, we have hired villas in Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer which were lovely and quiet at night and within minutes of the main road to go places without getting caught in traffic. Similarly, Moraira is OK but over-rated.
COSTA ALMERIA
This is down south around Almeria, Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar. I quite like this area especially the Cabo de Gata National Park but many of the beaches are that gravelly/shelly sand. Mojacar has a nice beach but it gets very busy.
MURCIA
Lovely coastline but the resorts are a bit barren and quiet.
The two places I would unerringly recommend are Mallorca which is fabulous (I've recommended it too many times for it's variety) and easy to get to and on an equal footing, Peniscola. Not many people have heard of Peniscola because it's just out of reach of Alicante and Barcelona airports. Nearest airport is Reus. That is of course a good thing because it means very few Brits go there. We flew to Barcelona and drove the 200km down and booked an apartment on the Nerea development which has a community adult pool and a childs pool warmer than a kettle. It was bliss. A mile down the road is Peniscola where Ben Hur was filmed. it has a great beach and a castellated promontory to wander round.
In addition, a stone throw's inland are fabulous roads and towns built on rock outcrops which are amazing.
Can't help with hotels as we always rent villas or apartments.
LuS1fer said:
We've done various places in Spain.
COSTA BLANCA
The one I least enjoyed was Javea - lots of traffic and it's nothing special. In general, I'm not that keen on the Costa Blanca but Calpe is a nice place but a bit sprawling overall. Inland, we have hired villas in Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer which were lovely and quiet at night and within minutes of the main road to go places without getting caught in traffic. Similarly, Moraira is OK but over-rated.
COSTA ALMERIA
This is down south around Almeria, Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar. I quite like this area especially the Cabo de Gata National Park but many of the beaches are that gravelly/shelly sand. Mojacar has a nice beach but it gets very busy.
MURCIA
Lovely coastline but the resorts are a bit barren and quiet.
The two places I would unerringly recommend are Mallorca which is fabulous (I've recommended it too many times for it's variety) and easy to get to and on an equal footing, Peniscola. Not many people have heard of Peniscola because it's just out of reach of Alicante and Barcelona airports. Nearest airport is Reus. That is of course a good thing because it means very few Brits go there. We flew to Barcelona and drove the 200km down and booked an apartment on the Nerea development which has a community adult pool and a childs pool warmer than a kettle. It was bliss. A mile down the road is Peniscola where Ben Hur was filmed. it has a great beach and a castellated promontory to wander round.
In addition, a stone throw's inland are fabulous roads and towns built on rock outcrops which are amazing.
Can't help with hotels as we always rent villas or apartments.
Thanks for this. Sounds like Mallorca is a good place to start my search.COSTA BLANCA
The one I least enjoyed was Javea - lots of traffic and it's nothing special. In general, I'm not that keen on the Costa Blanca but Calpe is a nice place but a bit sprawling overall. Inland, we have hired villas in Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer which were lovely and quiet at night and within minutes of the main road to go places without getting caught in traffic. Similarly, Moraira is OK but over-rated.
COSTA ALMERIA
This is down south around Almeria, Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar. I quite like this area especially the Cabo de Gata National Park but many of the beaches are that gravelly/shelly sand. Mojacar has a nice beach but it gets very busy.
MURCIA
Lovely coastline but the resorts are a bit barren and quiet.
The two places I would unerringly recommend are Mallorca which is fabulous (I've recommended it too many times for it's variety) and easy to get to and on an equal footing, Peniscola. Not many people have heard of Peniscola because it's just out of reach of Alicante and Barcelona airports. Nearest airport is Reus. That is of course a good thing because it means very few Brits go there. We flew to Barcelona and drove the 200km down and booked an apartment on the Nerea development which has a community adult pool and a childs pool warmer than a kettle. It was bliss. A mile down the road is Peniscola where Ben Hur was filmed. it has a great beach and a castellated promontory to wander round.
In addition, a stone throw's inland are fabulous roads and towns built on rock outcrops which are amazing.
Can't help with hotels as we always rent villas or apartments.
Robsti said:
Cala Dor was very nice a few years back but accommodation had to be chosen carefully!
I always use Cala d'Or. Cala Egos is ideal as it has shops, restaurants, nearby beaches and it's quieter and a slight way from the main touristy part of Cala d'Or and they have those slot go-karts for the kids. Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff