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Original poster

Would you recommend Salou?

53 replies

TheLionAndTheRose · 03/01/2019 19:08

Just as the title suggests, would you recommend Salou for a summer holiday? We will have DC 7 & 6 with us.
Any hotel recommendations? And is there plenty to do when you are there?
Never been before but I’ve found a deal online, just over 2k for the 4 of us for 2 weeks self catering which is decent, but would love some personal stories/recommendations before I go ahead and book.
Thanks in advance Smile

OP posts:
Playdonut · 03/01/2019 19:51

It's lovely I've taken my kids twice. We went half board because the pound is weak atm so food seems expensive. We liked our hotels, the beach was lovely, they have McDonald's, burger king, kfc and a park too. Everyone speaks English, and apparently the public transport is good, but I didn't personally try it. Best of all if you fly to reus it's only a 15 min taxi to your hotel. Would HIGHLY recommend it. Have fun x

MrsJayy · 03/01/2019 19:52

I would definately go back we liked it you get bothered by the sellers but you get them all over spain ,

Playdonut · 03/01/2019 19:55

Oh I didn't find the sellers too bad at all tbh. They were reasonably polite and smiley

Original poster
TheLionAndTheRose · 03/01/2019 19:56

Thanks all, for your advice and recommendations, I really appreciate it!

We would definitely go to Portaventura, the Dc are thrill seekers. At night we would be more than likely in our hotel with the DC being the age they are, maybe out for dinner but nothing late and certainly not on the main strip.

I always struggle with all inclusive over self catering. I would go half board/AI if I was guaranteed a working kitchen in the apartment but most places that offer half board etc is room only. I do like to have breakfast on the balcony but that’s impossible with no kitchen

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 03/01/2019 19:58

Oh I didn't find the sellers too bad at all tbh. They were reasonably polite and smiley

Oh yeah they were fine with you saying I didn't mean bothered,botheredSmile

Frouby · 03/01/2019 19:59

Following as we are maybe contemplating Salou next year. We usually stay at los cris in Tenerife and really love it. Is salou similar?

We did benidorm one year and hated it, loved alcudia, bit meh about Malia and Greece in general (been to corfu and crete).

We aren't snobs, actually quite like the brits abroad vibe while the dcs are small, like a nice beach, nice town to mooch round and like decent food, but a nice curry or chinese as well as more local dishes.

We aren't out late at night due to dcs, so a party atmosphere doesn't bother us but wouldn't want to be slap bang in the middle of all the action.

Any recommendations for a decent area/hotel to stay self catering.

Playdonut · 03/01/2019 19:59

The main strip is fine actually. Loads of families at all times. We went out on it at 10pm when my kids were a little younger than yours and we had no problems apart from the kids demanding light up tat from the market!

QueenNovo · 03/01/2019 20:04

I second La Pineda, we have stayed there before and it's a lot quieter than Salou itself but still has a few restaurants, shops etc and a weekly market, easy beach access too. The water park in La Pineda is good for kids and you can easily get a bus to Port Aventura.

MrsJayy · 03/01/2019 20:06

We went out of term time so it was the middle aged the elderly and Families with toddlers we saw nothing rowdy

elQuintoConyo · 03/01/2019 20:22

The uni students go around Easter time and I think they may have been banned recently (think!).

Pineda (next resort up-coast) is smaller and quieter, Cambrils(next resort down-coast) is classier, has nice shops.

Salou itself is fine, buzzing in summer. The beach is very wide and very long, and very clean. You can hire bikes and cycle down the cycle lanes all the way to Cambrils. Port Aventura is huge. Ferrari land is relatively new, but I don't know much about it. Port Aventura has a huge waterpark - Costa Caribe I think it is called. And Pineda has a smaller waterpark. Pineda also has Estival Park hotel complex with Aquum spa (no DC) if you fancy an escape Grin

Salou has a cool water fountain that you can run in and out of, port-end.

Tarragona is 30 minute bus or 10 minute train away, it has Roman ruins galore and nice restaurants.

MrsJayy · 03/01/2019 20:27

We loved the Roman ruins and wandered for ages then went for Tapas and cava was dead cultured that dayGrin

firawla · 03/01/2019 20:31

Haven’t been but was looking at eurocamp sanguli resort there, I’ve heard only good reviews for that - it looks lovely! I was thinking of doing maybe 5 nights there and a couple in one of the portuventura hotels which also looked good

NameChanger22 · 03/01/2019 20:36

It was one of our best and most fun holidays. We went all inclusive, in the old part of Salou. I can't remember the name of the hotel but it was very nice. There was a lot to do there - Porta Ventura, a great water park, lovely beach, lots of shops and restaurants, day trips to Barcelona etc. I would highly recommend it for a family holiday.

Youmadorwhat · 03/01/2019 20:39

I wouldn’t say it’s an amazing really but if all you want is an easy, cheap (enough) hotel holiday where the kids are catered for them yeah it fits the bill. We did a last minute in may and stayed at the Golden Avenida suites hotel. Booked through TUI. We went on a few days out and tied in Barcelona at the end. But mostly just let the kids be kids at the hotel...(they are both under 6). It was all inclusive and our suite had a two bedrooms (as do all rooms I think) so we could chill in the night while the kids slept. Food catered for everyone, no complaints at all. I was pleasantly surprised as I am more of a book it all myself and explore exotic places kinda gal and my hubby is the same, we have been most places around the world. But when you have kids, they need some normalcy and all they want is a pool and ice creams and fun!! It was exactly that, easy and fun!!

Youmadorwhat · 03/01/2019 20:40

Totally forgot I was on man and used terms like kids and hubby there 🙈🤣🤣🤣

Tiredeyes21 · 03/01/2019 20:44

We had the best time, we stayed all inc at a hotel attached to Portaventura.
Unlimited access to the theme park for the whole stay and half price tickets to the water park.
Our all inclusive meant we could also get a meal for free with a drink in the park per day as well so we didn’t miss out if there at lunch.
We hired bikes and went down the centre and biked a long the seafront... the beach was nice.
Really easy holiday, not too busy (June) and we would deffo go back.
Ferrari world has opened now which looks pretty great!

Original poster
TheLionAndTheRose · 03/01/2019 20:54

Fantastic advice thank you so much everyone. It’s sounding like it might be up our street - we also don’t mind a bit of Brits abroad type vibes!

OP posts:
Bluebellsarebells · 03/01/2019 21:38

If you do go to salou definitely do prt a ventura and salou downhill bikes.
They bikes they take you up the mountain in a van, then coast down with a little peddling in places, lots of wildlife and beautiful views to see.
Tarragona is also lovely, no far on the bus, Barcelona is close but was abit too daunting for me with a young child.
The resort itself is not the nicest place but there are parks and the beach is good.
There's a little fairground, lots for kids to enjoy.
The food is lacking for choice and quality unfortunately.
Blanes is nearby, quiet little place, lovely beach, better food and big botanical gardens maybe something do one day if there for 2weeks.

southnownorth · 03/01/2019 22:00

Glad you are thinking of going, we are hopefully going in May for a few days for Portaventura, one of my favourite theme parks.

Xmasfairy86 · 03/01/2019 22:06

We also stayed in the golden Avenida suites. Couldn’t really fault it as far as all inclusive goes

elQuintoConyo · 04/01/2019 00:00

Blanes is nowhere near Salou..! It's the other side of Barcelona heading for Lloret and Tossa.

SpaceCadet4000 · 04/01/2019 01:56

Adding another recommendation for staying in La Pineda instead of Salou.

GandolfBold · 04/01/2019 08:08

We did the Portaventura Hotel a few years ago and had a brilliant time. It was good to go to the park at night as the queues for rides were non existent and the temperature was lower. Would definitely go again!

whosafraidofabigduckfart · 04/01/2019 21:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oct18mummy · 04/01/2019 21:19

No it was a dump, full of English pubs and chavs