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Original poster

Port Aventura or Europa Park, opinions and help needed.

12 replies

Nomdejeur · 04/04/2025 21:01

Looking at theme parks abroad for August, comparing prices and also ease of travel/transfers. Does anybody have any experience of these parks? Any money saving tips? There’s two adults and two teens (who I guess are classed as adults for certain things). If anyone has any info at all, or can point me towards good websites, that would be most appreciated. I’ve tried googling and now my perimenopausal brain is fried. I’ve even thought, fuck it, Alton or Thorpe on a sunny day will suffice (it absolutely will not suffice, I need more than English sun).

OP posts:
Eixample · 04/04/2025 21:03

We often stay at a hotel in Port Aventura for less than the cost of the entrances without the hotel. The hotels have pools so you can also get the holiday feeling and take a break from the park. The homepage of the park itself has the hotel prices.

Original poster
Nomdejeur · 04/04/2025 21:07

@Eixamplethank you, is it easy to get from your hotel to the park? Walking distance, bus or taxi? Do you eat in the park or take food with you?

OP posts:
TheaDecker · 04/04/2025 21:14

I have been to Port Aventura a few times. It’s a short transfer from Reus airport. I bought the tickets both times at a travel agent at home as it was cheaper. If you stay in Salou there used to be a land train. We stayed at the back of resort and walked, it wasn’t far.

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Doingthework · 04/04/2025 21:22

Hi op love theme parks and both these are on my bucket list so be interested to see what people think.

If you’ve not considered it Energylandia in Poland is a great shout for value. 28 coasters and two highest in Europe. £30 in an uber from Krakow .

Nothanksiwillwalk · 04/04/2025 21:29

I've been to Europa-park and it was beyond amazing. Its really huge, we spent 2 full days at the theme park and still didn't see it all. I recommend it to everyone but barely anyone in the UK have heard of it. We flew cheap flights into Basel and stayed in an airbnb in the village Rust. It's a short stroll to the park and has lovely village square to have a meal/drink in the evening.

We got a hire car to drive from basel airport to the village - this took approx 1 hour. I think there is public transport running this now but it takes a couple of hours.

Original poster
Nomdejeur · 04/04/2025 21:51

Thank you, these are very helpful. Europa park does look amazing.
Poland is actually on our list this year @Doingthework , so we may look into combining them.

OP posts:
Doingthework · 04/04/2025 22:01

We went for the Octoberfest. Food and drink in the park was good. We actually bought a British groupon ticket for the park so that’s worth a look also has a water park in summer.

If you love coasters Zadra is possibly the best I’ve ever been on. We stayed in Krakow but the cowboys style wagon accommodation looked fun right near the park. There is also a daily coach transfer but the Uber was more convenient for not much more.

Eixample · 05/04/2025 20:35

Nomdejeur · 04/04/2025 21:07

@Eixamplethank you, is it easy to get from your hotel to the park? Walking distance, bus or taxi? Do you eat in the park or take food with you?

Some hotels are a short walk, others (bit more expensive) are inside the park. Staying at the cheapest hotel, I went back to the room 4/5 times in one day because we kept forgetting things and it wasn’t annoying at all.
We took sandwiches and snacks, breakfast was included, and there’s a few restaurants that are actually quite nice. There is a supermarket a short drive away if you are there with a car.

Thursa · 05/04/2025 21:27

Europa Park was lots of fun. We stayed overnight, so had two days there. Didn’t see it all.

Tomatocutwithazigzagedge · 05/04/2025 22:03

Hi OP, I live about 60 minutes from Europa Park. It's a great time to visit this year as its the 50th Anniversary. You can also combine with a day at Rulantica which is an absolutely amazing water park. There are hotels at both Rulantica and Europa Park, I've stayed in all of them on the park side, Bell Rock is amazing, but I personally love The Collosseo. Hotels all have swimming pools and spas etc. The breakfast buffets are amazing as are the evening ones.

Prices for food and drink are really reasonable in the Park compared to Disney or Legoland.

I also stayed at the campsite in a lodge with bunks one year which is great fun, but obviously you need to think on the communal bathrooms. Saying that, I think they are adding upgraded rooms there soon.

There's a bus service running regularly from Basel to the park.

There are B&Bs in the town, just search for Rust in Booking.com to see other options. There's also a Lidl/Aldi (sorry I can't remember which) behind the hotel if you need to budget.

Another option, which would need a hire car but is the sweetest park I've ever been to, is Tripsdrill where they have forest tree houses and shepherds huts for rent.

G5000 · 06/04/2025 08:21

Europapark is amazing, and yes I would do a day of Rulantica as well. Especially with teens, you can let them do their stuff and go to spa and sauna area, and also book a lovely beach sofa outside. If you stay in any of the park hotels (including Rulantica) you can get into the park an hour earlier and do all the most popular rides without any queues.

Doingthework · 06/04/2025 09:03

Tomatocutwithazigzagedge · 05/04/2025 22:03

Hi OP, I live about 60 minutes from Europa Park. It's a great time to visit this year as its the 50th Anniversary. You can also combine with a day at Rulantica which is an absolutely amazing water park. There are hotels at both Rulantica and Europa Park, I've stayed in all of them on the park side, Bell Rock is amazing, but I personally love The Collosseo. Hotels all have swimming pools and spas etc. The breakfast buffets are amazing as are the evening ones.

Prices for food and drink are really reasonable in the Park compared to Disney or Legoland.

I also stayed at the campsite in a lodge with bunks one year which is great fun, but obviously you need to think on the communal bathrooms. Saying that, I think they are adding upgraded rooms there soon.

There's a bus service running regularly from Basel to the park.

There are B&Bs in the town, just search for Rust in Booking.com to see other options. There's also a Lidl/Aldi (sorry I can't remember which) behind the hotel if you need to budget.

Another option, which would need a hire car but is the sweetest park I've ever been to, is Tripsdrill where they have forest tree houses and shepherds huts for rent.

Edited

This is amazing info thanks so much

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