Port Aventura March 2006

caroline_pimms

I am taking my 13 year old to the Salou area (flying into Reus) and hope to visit Port Aventura, Barcelona and go to the beach. Where is the best place to locate and can anyone recommend a hotel with pool. Are the buses good or would you recommend a car?

feival

Tricky one because a place like Salou which was a bit of a dump (loads of youths drinking to excess) may be OK at that time of year and meanwhile somewhere like La Pineda which is quiet and very pleasant may be very boiring at that time of year. In terms of public transport there are good links along the coast, to Barcelona by bus (and train from Salour - the train is also MUCH cheaper and quicker!!) and of course everywhere connects to Port Aventura. One thing from last sumer was that car hire in that region was more than twice as expensive than in Barcelona and I was comparing the same company (Europcar)

Suggs

Can I take a moment and point you in this direction??

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=58268

I went last May half term taking my three children, stayed at the Hotel Caspel, which was a five minute uphill walk out of town, but in a quieter neck of the area. Bus run to Port Aventura from the town and cost about 5 euros for 4 people each way.

I would argee that La Pineda and Cap Salou maybe be a better bet, but if your out of the main season, things may not be fully open.

Further details and more links are in the thread I copied for you. i am sure there are plenty of other threads if you search the forum.

Good Luck, feel free to ask any questions.

travelchick

Hi Caroline,
Depending on what you want to do at night should be your first port of call. Salou itself can be a bit overcrouded in the summer but its ok in the winter but if you was more or a relaxing quieter area then Cap Salou is better but you wll be about a 5 min taxi ride out of salou itself however taxis to Cap salou are only about £3-£4 but as most places will be closed at night you need to read about hotel entertainment make sure they cater for you and your daughter.
Portaventura is great any time of the year but some of the biger rides close early and some of the shows are amazing to watch so i would go onto their website and plan what you want to do when I as there in Oct if you got a ticket one day you could return the following day for half price if the ticket was purchased at the same time they are very friendly and helpful so if you cant find what you need online email them and ask for extra help.
http://www.portaventura.es/
Barcalona is fantastic but if you are only going for one day plan it well ahead of time the zoo is a very good place to go and the metro system is very easy to get around with (same as london tubes) later in the night the street markets are fantastic for weird and wonderful things to buy.
If you the train from Salou train station (approx €15) it will take you straight to Barcalona along the coast and when you get off the train I would get a good tourest map although there are lots of city maps all around the city itself.
I hope you have a good holiday ignore people telling you its a dump its what you make of it and if its sunny the beaches are beautiful but it may well be wet.
Kind regards
Travelchick
Ps if you need any extra advice im also a travel agent so feel free to send me a message

Jaxt

HI Caroline I stayed in the Hotel Calyso in Salou and its a Thomsons Superfamily hotel but you can book it from lots of people including Thomsons.Loads to do there and really good hotel>I only paid 225 quid for a week in May for 2 adults and one child.Just booked my brother aand his family into this hotel with Hotelopia.But try other sites as prices do differ.Hope this helps.

MKS

feival wrote:

Tricky one because a place like Salou which was a bit of a dump (loads of youths drinking to excess) may be OK at that time of year and meanwhile somewhere like La Pineda which is quiet and very pleasant may be very boiring at that time of year. In terms of public transport there are good links along the coast, to Barcelona by bus (and train from Salour - the train is also MUCH cheaper and quicker!!) and of course everywhere connects to Port Aventura. One thing from last sumer was that car hire in that region was more than twice as expensive than in Barcelona and I was comparing the same company (Europcar)

For car hire, try Solmar or doyouspain.

barron_2

maybe a bit late.

Best Hotels Oasis Park,Stayed there last october,pretty good.

across the road is the bus ticket kiosk,see the man there(cant remember his name)He does portaventura tickets at cheap cheap prices,you have to return them to him after your visit,they are usually 7 day passes,which i think he buys,then sells them as day passes.

Some idiots spoil it by selling them on to other people,but the guy is genuine,weve used him on 3 visits now,saving hundreds of euro's.

it's best to let him know the day before going ,and then meet him next morning.

Be careful in tarragona bus station,loads of pickpockets.

link for oasis park.

https://www.besthotels.es