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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Cambrils-Salou-Barcelona

21 replies

Skribble · 16/01/2006 18:37

Skribble has finaly booked a holiday yipee

So any advice, experiences, must sees, don't do's would be most welcome. TIA.

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trefusis · 16/01/2006 18:52

This reply has been deleted

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KathH · 16/01/2006 19:53

Went to Salou a couple of years ago in July - bit busy for us (obviously not as young as I would like to think!) we stayed just outside in Cap Salou which I thought was really nice - could walk into Salou in about half an hr, dh thought it was too quiet tho! What time of year are you going? We went to Barcelona for the day and it was really hot and really busy, the worst day of my life ever!

Whizzz · 16/01/2006 20:10

Barcelona is fab! Harbour area is great with the aquarium for kids. Cable car ride was good up near the Olympic stadium too. Sagrada Familia church was just too busy & too hot to queue to go in but still an amazing sight

Gingerbear · 16/01/2006 20:13

At last! Did you go for the campsite? Barcelona is great, don't know Salou or Cambrils. Spacedonkey is your gal for that I reckon. Do the tourist bus to get your bearings in Barcelona, then hop off and on as many times as you like. A good way to see all the best bits.
The aquarium was fab.

Original poster

Skribble · 16/01/2006 20:27

Thanks sorry I was getting dinner, Yes we went for the camp site near Gambrils, it is only 14 miles from the airport that we got flights to with Ryanair so we don't even have to worry about hiring a car.

I thought that Salou looked like it would be busy in the summer but I think in April it should be OK, I think there is a local or national holiday or festival 12th to the 15th as all the campsites price this as high season for this week but the rest of April is low.

Looking forward to Barcelona DH's friend recommended the hop on hop off bus too. The aquarium and cable car sound like great ideas. DS is really into architecture and was really taken by the pics of the buildings i have shown him.

Not sure of the best way to get into Barcelona, I think probably the train as there is a station nr the campsite. We might hire a car for a couple of days but we will take the chance to get to some more remote areas.

DD really wants to go riding, I think there are stables in cambril.

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Aimsmum · 16/01/2006 20:36

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Original poster

Skribble · 16/01/2006 20:43

Thanks Its reassuring to hear that its easy enough to get in to Barcelona by train.

I have checked and the water park will only have the indoor bit open, but that still looks like good fun.

You can hire bikes in the town so we will probably do that, were you on the main rads or is there paths/ tracks. I would love to go along the coast a bit but not on bikes on the main road with the kids.

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Whizzz · 16/01/2006 20:50

Driving through / round Barcelona was a bit scary - you have to be brave! The underground car parks were an adventure too I think if you could ger the train in & then bus around it would be less stressful !
If you are driving further afield - Monserrat is stunning. We also visited Cardona & Tarragona - too
I want to go back & see more. Have a great time

Whizzz · 16/01/2006 20:51

Do be careful on the roads especially if you are on bikes - drivers are mad!

Aimsmum · 16/01/2006 20:55

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KathH · 16/01/2006 21:10

It's dead easy to get to Barcelona by train - cost about £3. Definately go on one of the tourist buses, that was the mistake we made, not going on them - dh was too tight! Went to Cambrils for the day whilst we were at Salou & it was lovely. We did get a bit confused in Barcelona there are 3 stations and (again down to dh's tight fistedness, he would buy a map) we didnt know where to get off or get back on again! Barcelona was really beautiful tho & would definately go back just not in July! Las Ramblas (not sure of spelling) was brill, kids thought we could bring Grandad a baby ostrich back. The famous cathedral was worth seeing to, I just didnt realise there were would be so many cranes round it.

spacedonkey · 16/01/2006 21:28

I agree with the others re: getting the train to Barcelona - driving would be a nightmare!

I recommend a trip to Camp Nou (Barcelona FC's stadium), even if you're not interested in football. It is as awe-inspiring as La Sagrada Familia in its own way, and has a really interesting museum of football attached to it (you buy a ticket that gets you into the stadium and the museum). Great memorabilia in the shop there too. FC Barcelona website

If your ds is interested in architecture, he's going to love it there. I'd recommend a trip to the Palau de la Musica, which is easy to get to in the heart of the old town. You can only look around it if you buy tickets for the hourly guided tours - it is SO worth doing. The place is utterly amazing and if you can get tickets to a concert there, even better. Palau de la Musica website

Do not miss La Sagrada Familia! And as others have suggested, Montjuic is a good day out and you can get a cable car from there down to the harbour area, where there's an imax cinema and aquarium.

i love Barcelona!

Original poster

Skribble · 16/01/2006 22:12

Oh thanks thanks and thanks, funy DH has already stated that he wants to go to the stadium "Well it is the biggest in Europe you know" . You think he would be fed up with then seesing as he works in them. Thanks for the ideas on othe places to visit Monserrat sounds good.

Cycling sounds good if its off the main road, looking on google earth I think there is a path along the beach between the beach and the road, I will suss that out once we are there as DD is a novice, only just got the stabilisers off.

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galaxy · 16/01/2006 22:13

I went to Port Adevntura which is a great theme park near Salou. I was child free at the time so don't know what it's like for kid's rides. Being advertised on the TV at the moment.

Original poster

Skribble · 16/01/2006 22:19

I meant to ask about PortaVentura, DD is only six but loves thrill rides. I checked the times and will have to go here at least one day. Is it true that it is nothing like universal with no charactor/ film references?? Not that we have been to universal so no expectations.

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Aimsmum · 16/01/2006 22:21

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Original poster

Skribble · 16/01/2006 22:22

Woohoo a football museum .

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Aimsmum · 16/01/2006 22:22

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Original poster

Skribble · 17/01/2006 21:03

Thats OK I am just being sarcastic because I hate football and can't seem to get away from it.

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galaxy · 18/01/2006 21:18

Skribble. I went back in 1998 and it was totally Disney/Universal free. The park is zoned into different geographical areas e.g. Tahiti, South America with lots of rides/shows within each zone. Also, the eating establishments within each area which again are based on the cuisine of each area.

Here's the website

Original poster

Skribble · 18/01/2006 22:31

Thanks Galaxy.

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