Costa Dorada - Summer Family Holiday

[MrBig]

We need a relatively cheap family holiday this year, but we do want to get abroad for a bit of proper sun. I think we’ve decided on Costa Dorada area as we want to visit Barcelona for a day and I want to go to Ferrari world

I haven’t been to that part of Spain in decades so I’m after recommendations for areas to look at please?

I would rather find a decent area and look for an apartment to rent but I’m prepared to consider a hotel/complex if it comes with a recommendation. Access to a pool is a must, two kids under 10.

[x5tuu]

Salou used to be quite popular - not been in a long time now but it’s perfect for safety, beaches and proximity to Barca etc.

[Bill]

Cadaques is (Well, was 20 years ago...) lovely. Empuriabrava might be worth a look as more resorty. And look at flights to Girona - much cheaper than Barcelona when we were looking.

[98elise]

x5tuu said:

Salou used to be quite popular - not been in a long time now but it’s perfect for safety, beaches and proximity to Barca etc.

We preferred Cambrils over Salou. They are only a few miles apart. Cambrils has a marina with restaurants, but Salou does have a big promenade along the sea front. We rented an apartment between the two.

This would have been 20 years ago though.

Edit to add...

If you visit Cambrils it's worth knowing that there's a reasonably big underground car park under the Marina promenade it's very convenient and keeps the area free of parked cars.

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 17th February 08:52

[MrBig]

Some ideas to look at there, thank you. Looks like none of us have been there in a couple of decades!!

[Register1]

MrBig said:

We need a relatively cheap family holiday this year, but we do want to get abroad for a bit of proper sun. I think we’ve decided on Costa Dorada area as we want to visit Barcelona for a day and I want to go to Ferrari world

I haven’t been to that part of Spain in decades so I’m after recommendations for areas to look at please?

I would rather find a decent area and look for an apartment to rent but I’m prepared to consider a hotel/complex if it comes with a recommendation. Access to a pool is a must, two kids under 10.

camping el racó del mar

Just to south of Barca.
Stayed in the bungalows many times.
Pulled our caravan there twice, stayed for 3 months.

[andburg]

As a kid we stayed in la Pineda, quiet but reasonable transport links.

Would be 20 years since we went though

[anonymous-user]

Went to Salou with the kids (teens) 3 years ago couldn't fault it really had everything you need. Did visit Cambrils as well which is a bit more 'Authentic'

Had a mooch to Tarragona as well not to far away and has one of those hop on hop off tourist trains which was pretty reasonable. They also had one of them in Salou.

[Xenobian]

Bill said:

Cadaques is (Well, was 20 years ago...) lovely. Empuriabrava might be worth a look as more resorty. And look at flights to Girona - much cheaper than Barcelona when we were looking.

Cadaques is still wonderful (to me, at least). Definitely pricier nowadays, though. Flying into Girona, at least for Cadaques, is a great option and much cheaper. Assuming no covid related nonsense to bring extra cross-border hassles, keep in mind flying into Perpignan, France, also.

[Jugosaurus]

Salou is ok. It’s very much English and German’s abroad. Decent beaches, Irish bars and markets etc.
Easier to get transport to attractions such as Port Aventura and Ferrari land.

Cambrils is generally nicer, some gardens, a marina and more traditional restaurants and less neon lights.

Both quite convenient from Reus airport although Salou probably more so if you didn’t want to get a car.

Cap Salou is just around the corner and is where the moneyed folk from the area live. Nice little beaches/coves with local amenities.

Day trips or Barcelona are pretty easy to find

I did a summer in Salou about 16 years ago and had a blast. Re-visited a year or 2 back with the wife and kids and we had a lovely time, although stayed in Cambrils and explored the area.

[MrBig]

Just to update this in case its useful for others.

We ended up renting an apartment on a golf development just outside of Miami Platja, which turned out to be a great little town. (I don't play golf btw)

Cambils was very nice and I was surprised at how nice Salou was. Obviously its still a typical spanish seaside resort and is aimed at a certain demographic but its obviously had some money thrown at it in recent years.

Did a day trip to Barcelona. Bit of a long drive, and parking was €18 for about 4 hours, but I went for a secure shopping centre car park as the reviews for many of the other city centre car parks featured words such as "crook", "thief" and "corrupt". Cathedral is very spectacular, and the architecture is superb.

We didn't visit Port Aventura as my youngest isn't big enough for many of the rides, but we did go to neighbouring Ferrari Land which is a great day out. Only 20€ each and if you want to get around the rides quickly the fast pass is an additional 25€. The main attraction is Red Force which is fking quick They have replicated some famous Italian buildings and Enzo's house too which is a bit cheesy but very well done.

Spent the rest of the time at the beach or the pool. Just what we needed after 3 years without a proper holiday

Flew Ryanair BHX - REU. Reus is a great little airport. There were about 6 flights departing between 4pm and midnight so it was virtually deserted. No queues for a hire car or security coming back. As usual, paid very little for Ryanair flights, but crew were friendly, efficient and helpful.

Edited by MrBig on Wednesday 20th July 15:14

[gazza5]

Good to hear, we were contemplating salou, decided to wait for our youngest to get a bit bigger, we last went about 10 years ago pre kids, a week cost us about £300 each, all I remember is we stayed in a H10 hotel, and went to port adventura for the day, other than that flopped by the pool (hotel was half board).

I remember a few rowdy pubs, but generally nothing out of the ordinary, and its not a bad place for a bit of cheap sun. We went about the 3rd week in september.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the update glad u had a good time.

The Sagrada Familia really is spectacular with all that carving etc, long time any since i walked the little bridges between the turrets, not sure if it's still possible