Portaventura for 12 year old?

[LaFlottes]

Hi All - just wondering is anyone has been and if it's suitable for a 12year old? Wondering if DD is now too old for this? She loves water parks, Disney theme parks etc but if anyone had any thoughts on this place I'd be grateful.

Are the hotels on site nice? Worth paying for half board?

Thanks!!

Portaventura is nice but small compared to Disney etc.

A 12 year old would enjoy it.

The hotels are lovely. We stayed at the gold river for easy access to the parks (short visit non beach season). The theming was fun.

We went half board- the breakfast buffets are excellent.
If you're staying for a while I think food-wise it can be a bit limiting as it is a smaller park with not as much choice as Disney.

You aren't far from Salou or Barcelona though. Salou a bit grubby for my tastes but an ok beach for a day trip or you could do 50/50 portaventura/Barcelona.

Taking a 12 and 11 year old next week. They love it. The hotels are lovely but a bit expensive. If you get bored of the park it is easy to go into Salou or take a trip to Barcelona.

If you travel after May you can fly into Reus airport which is only 10 minutes from Portaventura so a nice stress free journey too !

Mine loved it aged 12. The food isn't great in the hotels by adult standards but they loved it. We've been for four years in a row but only for a few days each time.

I went on a school trip there when I was 14 (and I was an old 14 too) and loved it (as did the rest of my class) so would definitely recommend it for 12yo. We stayed in Barcelona so can't comment on the hotels sorry!

Thank you so much everyone. It sounds like she would love it then. I will look into those flights Sandgrown too...thanks or the tip! I'm sure she'd love the water park too. Maybe a few nights here and a couple in Barcelona. Thanks all!

I was there umm approx 20 years ago when it had no long opened. I know things have been added since then - but i would say that a 12 yo would love it. Some big rides for sure. :)

You are a v short bus ride into Salou, or a long walk. You could just stay in Salou or Cambrils. For me I don't think would want to stay at a theme park for a week - a couple of days would be enough.

Trainline runs to Barcelona- definitely worth a day trp or two there also. The trains are v good value, and easy.

Thanks everyone - we have booked our flights and are planning to split our time between Portaventura and Barcelona. We can't wait!

We are going for the 3 rd time in June , with a 3 year old and an 11 year old . We took her when she was younger and we all loved it . There is always something to do and the portaventura hotel is lovely . I got it free this year with my avios points so it's even better ????..

We stayed in the Hotel Portaventura in 2011 and out children loved it. We had a fantastic time. The park was super busy though, so we tended to go in the evening (if you stay in the hotels you get unlimited access to the parks) and it was quieter and cooler. Buffets were really good and had things we all wanted to eat. I don't know if its the same, but you used to be given a 'slot' for meals, which does take the spontaneity out of it a little. The characters would be at breakfast and dinner and the children loved meeting them.

Only issue for us is it isn't that close to the beach, but you can get a land train.