Help me please Salou/Palma Nova/Benidorm

[holsoclock]

I'm looking for a week in the October half term so which of these places would you recommend please?

Best weather? Guess Benidorm?

Worst weather? guess Palma Nova?

Stuff to do? Salou? (Port Aventura / water park)

Shortest transfer? Palma Nova or Salou

I am going round in circles as I haven't found a hotel that is a solid yes to make my mind up.

Preferably all inclusive but half board would be ok. Preferably a hotel with a separate bedroom and child in living area rather than all in twin room.

Possible hotels I've considered

Benidorm - Magic Natura

Salou - Estival in La Pineda

Palma Nova - Unsure maybe Cas Saboners or Royal Caliva Suites

Help me decide or narrow it down please?!

Think Majorca could be worse in. Weather
spain hopefully better weather
both options sound like good ideas with plenty to do
however check indoor facilities too in case it is not as good weather as you hoped for

Salou is pretty grotty, very Blackpool with better weather. The transfer time from Reus is very short, about 15 minutes, and PortAventura is excellent, so pros & cons!

Not been to the others.

Cambrills is just outside salou & is very picturesque. Tbh I wouldn't have thought either would have brilliant weather at that time of year, many of the pools are not heated either.

Benidorm would have the nicest weather.

Salou the weather would be a bit cooler but Portaventura is one of my favourite theme parks. Pools might be shut. Salou is very close to Reus.

I would go for Magic Natura.

Things will be shutting down in Spain end October, when does your half term fall? We have last week of October and first week November this year and I'd want to go further south.

Isn't Benidorm a more year round resort, and is far larger than the other too.

Which probably makes it a better choice than the other two places.

Airing towards Benidorm based on comments so far. Only thing about hotel is that magic natura is about 5k outside of main bit and I think you're 'trapped' in resort unless bus / taxi.

Any thought?

Benidorm will be better weather but I've been in that part of Spain mid September and things were already getting into low season mode - boat trips finishing last week sept for example. We had nice weather but the end of the holiday was noticeably cooler than the start and we had rain the last day.
Just something to be aware of.
You might be better off with Canaries, Cyprus or Turkey

Absolutely get your point but I have a 3 hour flight limit.

Where are you flying from?

You can get to Malaga for Costa del Sol from Leeds, Manchester or Liverpool in just under 3 hours flight and would probably find a nice AI hotel nearby (Benalmadena, Fuengirola or Torremolinos?). Weather likely to be still pretty good at that time of year and there's nice places to visit like Mijas or Malaga city if it's not beach weather.

We have Costa del Sol on Feb next year.

Sorry I'm being difficult now!

Yes, you are You couldn't possibly see all of it in a week.

I know, we have been there a few times already. I am tempted as we really love the place but also don't want to be boring keep going to the same location. I think that's why it's been hard to pick an alternative as I'm comparing it to Costa del soles.

My grandparents lived outside Benidorm for many years so I know it really well- it isa brilliant resort with slightly older children or teens as lots to do and a really great beach - and weather wise is usually lovely till November - I would say stay up the old town or on the poiniente side of town- as it's nearer to the old town- good tapas bars too ! I know all those places and the magic natura is a good choice- very close to the safari zoo and although a bit of a walk into town very doable - it's not the prettiest 'bit' but has great facilities. I don't mind Palma nova either but I think Benidorm will suit you more given your criteria-

For a family holiday with a child? I’ve been to 2 out of 3 of those on hen dos and DH went to the other on a stag… Are there other options?

But there's far more to Benidorm and Mallorca than stags and hens having piss ups. Both can be lovely places for family holidays, or cultural/sporting trips.

Plus I don't think it's boring to always go to the same area. I've been to one small town between Malaga and Granada three times now and I've still not seen everything I want to, done all the trips or eaten in all the little bars and restaurants.

Portugal is a better bet or Andalucia Spain.

It won't be beach or pool weather at that time of year. You might get mild sunshine.
They never heat pools properly now due to environmental restrictions.
You need to fly 4 + hours for definite summer holiday weather. However I appreciate you have a limit. DH refuses to fly more than 3 hours in summer but will stretch to 4 in winter. I don't see the difference in an extra hour or two but I compromise as he has no other requests.

I'm being swayed towards Benidorm. Never been only likely to go once.

Might also take a look at Portugal but I'm trying to narrow it down so don't want to confuse too much by looking at other areas.

La Pineda just outside Salou is nice, a bit quieter but very easy to get to Salou, the themepark and the waterpark.

Hotel Estival Park is the salou hotel im looking at, well just outside salou.

It's probably between this hotel and the Magic Natura to be honest.

Think they're both 4*, all inclusive, similarly reviewed on trip advisor.

The room situation is better at magic Natura and the zoo and waterpark is a bonus. But, Salou has the theme park too. Will have to look again at both of them.

Also similar cost.

This is a great choice too OP in Benidorm in a brilliant location- big aparthotel - very funky -

https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/benidorm-playa-poniente-apartamento-familiar.en-gb.html?aid=898224&apphotellid=9783661&checkin=2024-10-20&checkout=2024-10-27&fromsn=ios&grouppadults=2&groupchildren=0&label=roommdetails-2itPPB%401723752747&norooms=1&reqqadults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA%2C

Magic Natura is great, we've been several times. They have a free shuttle bus down to the town or you can get a taxi easy enough it's only 5 min journey.

The accommodation is great, we always get a little detached bungalow. The zoo and water park are adjacent and included in the AI wristband.
Benidorm has lots to do, water park, zoo park, aqualandia and Terra Mitica theme park.
The old town is great. I've been to Benidorm 8 or 9 times and still never been to the stag/hen do area with all the British pubs. There's far more to Beni than that.

I love Costa Del Sol, been there several times too. Hated Salou!

@HereLiesBetelgeuse Thanks for your feedback. I think we will end up doing this one as the salou hotel wants £500 extra for a one bedroom apartment otherwise there is no separation between adults and children.

I am very led by reviews and the Benidorm one has something like 5k reviews and is very well reviewed. But somehow I pay more attention to the minority negative reviews and this is what had been holding me back. I need to just go for it and I'm sure it will be fine.

Procrastination led my fear of making the wrong decision!