Port Aventura near Barcelona - what's the low down?

[BitOutOfPractice]

Have you been? What tips have you got?

Don't bother telling me not to go because it's booked

It's lovely ?.. Very authentic and calm .

No ? Needed sorry

I'm looking at thompson flying from from Belfast, or falcon flying from Shannon, I live in Ireland. There's 5 of us, me dh, 2 teens and one near teen working out at €3,300 for a week in hotel Portaventura.

Portaventura, is a lovely hotel it really is relaxing. I think out of them all the El Paso probably is the least relaxing due to the all inclusive option, people will be more inclined to hang around.

The caribe is amazing it's just like a little piece of heaven, very very well themed and relaxing, what I picture the Caribbean to be like on a larger scale lol.
But the direct access swings it for us.

Well the main part was a bit mad at night with clubbing, but I think most places are, are they not? When I say I was young, the last time I was about 13. I remember it had really nice beaches...

Dee Nice to know that about the hotel, to us it's a total fortune to spend and I have been reading some crap reviews.

I have stayed at the hotel portaventura a few times Schro and it is great, the pools are great for a little ones as well. We were half board last year and the food was good. We used the dine around option as well so you get vouchers to use at the one the park restaurants.

We had a room overlooking the large pool on the ground floor and the door opened up next to the pool. The hotel corridors can seem to be a bit of a warren though, you soon find your way around though.

We went and looked at all the hotels and the caribe is indeed beautiful but having small children makes the direct access much more appealing .

Schro, the reviews perplex me, I was so afraid the first time we booked that I'd made a huge mistake, like you it's a lot of money to us. I'm not sure what people expect.
I would consider myself fussy enough when it comes to cleanliness and it's never been an issue. We've found staff usually helpful, for instance when one of the kids was feeling ill, they called a doctor ( we paid) and they checked with us the following morning as to how she was. Another occasion did to the nature of our flights we would miss one of our evening meals so I asked at guest services and they gave us a free lunch in a really nice park restaurant.
The dine around option is great, you book with guest services in the morning and you can eat in one of the other hotels buffet restaurants at no extra cost or at one of any of the hotels restaurants or park restaurants, they'll give you a voucher and you pay the balance which is very little.

The caribe is beautiful, it has a shuttle bus to and from the park, I'd love to stay there again but as we love the park and go in and out through the day direct access is handier. I'd say if the family weren't park obsessed, you'd get a more balanced holiday in the caribe.

We've only gone in May, June and October so I can't speak for peak season but when we go the hotels are so peaceful during the day and pools are quiet as everyone is in the park.

Eeeek I literally can't wait!

You can't even take fruit in?
That's a bit OTT isn't it? Is the food available healthy/affordable at all?

We've often brought stuff in, it depends if they check or not. Try not to be obvious about it. To be honest it's so hot and you're doing so much walking around, things get a bit battered so we don't bring much, but most people bring some bits, others will bring a full days eating!!

It's good to know there is the dine around option, I wonder if this is still the case late September (when we're going).

It's good to see positive reviews, the place costs a fortune and I was really starting to worry . :o

Don't worry it is lovely ..

We've been 3 times and the dcs are pressing to go again to try out the newest rollercoaster (and because ds is now over 1m 40 and so can go on everything).

As has been said, go to the waterpark in the day and the park at night - queues are smaller, or at least you're not waiting in the searing heat (but bear in mind you will dry more slowly after the wet rides!). Plan which shows you want to see on day 1 and spread them out over the time you're there.

Avoid Salou but try and go to Cambrils which is only a short bus ride away and far less tacky - the beaches are lovely and wayyy emptier, and you can also go on boat trips from there. They also have a really good market (can't remember what day) and great authentic seafood restaurants.

And do stay until midnight in the park for the fireworks and show - it's spectacular (although the music grated a bit after several nights [mm]).

Enjoy!

I'm starting to sound obsessed and wasn't planning on posting again lol but I have to comment on the late September visit. From around the last weekend in sept, about 23/24, PA celebrates Halloween, it's the best time to go IMO. The dine around is available if the park is open or the other hotels, so you may be restricted a bit, but you'll still have some choice. The Portaventura hotel stays open all season so that's a def option, possibly the park will be ruled out but the gold rivers al la carte restaurant, portaventuras buffet, and al la carte and possibly the Caribes will be an option.

That should be a

So, how was it OP? I am going a week tomorrow! Can't bloody wait!