Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Salou, Costa Dorada
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 14:33
Hello all!
I’ve never been to Salou and am just wanting to hear some of your experiences of it please? Found a hotel in Costa Dorada for the beginning of May. Will it be chilly?
Thanks all 
Originalusernameunavailable · 03/02/2020 14:38
Don’t know about the weather but I went there about 12 years ago and it was really nice. There’s loads to do, nice shops and beach. We went in some trips to Barcelona (went to the football stadium too) and there’s port adventura too.
Mrsjayy · 03/02/2020 14:42
We went to La pinida just round a bit from main resort a few years ago start of Maywe loved it weather was around 25 loads to do buses regular to pop on and off I think maybe main resort isa bit busier to where we were,
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 14:49
We haven’t taken the little one away yet so it’s really appealing as its a short flight, hotel not too far from the airport and hopefully warm (not boiling), we don’t want anywhere too busy either. Just worrying that the weather may be a bit too cool beginning of May?
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 14:50
@Mrsjayy Sorry I’ve just seen you said it was 25. Would you recommend still packing trousers and jackets for the evening? Does it get cold at night?
Everythingmagnolia · 03/02/2020 14:53
We went last year at Easter and it was overcast and raining at the beginning of the week, and then sunny and dry. My kids used the pool I the last day but where only in there a few minutes!
Tarragona is a lovely day out, we had a nice walk around the marina googling the multi million pound yachts! We also spent a few days at Port Aventura and Farrari Land which were both very good.
Mrsjayy · 03/02/2020 14:53
I had 3/4 trousers for night it was breezy our hotel was near the sea it never went below 25 during the day.
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 15:01
The marina sounds lovely! I’ll check out port aventura and Farrari land on google. The hotel I’ve found has an indoor pool as well which will be good for our toddler.
Mrsjayy · 03/02/2020 15:04
Tarragonia is lovely and it has a big shopping centre that you can mooch about.
Nquartz · 03/02/2020 15:06
We liked it, you can walk along the promenade/beach for miles & there's lots of little play structures along the way
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 15:16
You’re all really selling it to me! DH is a bit dubious because a few people in work said that salou is really rough? Is that not the case then? From what you’ve all said it sounds nice
Mrsjayy · 03/02/2020 15:23
Port salou is rough as a badgers...
so just avoid any hotels there, but the rest of it is nice. Go on trip advisor see whats what I think it went down hill but it really is picking up and we liked it we have no little kids but there was loads of families with toddlers . The only bother we had were the beach "sellers" but you say no thank you and keep walking and you get them wherever you go in Spain.
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 15:27
We normally go to the Caribbean and are very used to the beach sellers, they seemed to have loads!! Like you say though, tell them no thanks and they leave you alone.
I’ve just realised the hotel is in Cap Salou.
backaftera2yearbreak · 03/02/2020 15:30
I went last year. Not a fan. It’s like Blackpool with some sun.
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 15:33
Oh noooooo, it’s cap salou that the hotel is in! I’d got myself so excited as well, gutted it’s rough 
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 17:01
I’ll have a look at other areas. It’s the short flight time that’s appealing!
Northernsoullover · 03/02/2020 17:03
We enjoyed it but the purpose of our holiday was portaventura. There are nicer resorts. La pineda or Cambrils.
lalafafa · 03/02/2020 17:06
Salou is a shit hole, Cambrills is far nicer weather won’t be boiling in May.
PinkDaydreams · 03/02/2020 17:15
La Pineda keeps being recommended on trip advisor
Floralnomad · 03/02/2020 17:17
We went to Port Aventura in the May half term a few years ago and it was cold and wet practically all week , it is a nice theme park .
Teateaandmoretea · 03/02/2020 17:18
I've been to Salou and it's not the nicest place tbh OP. I don't know what type of holiday you are after but Alicante is actually nice, short flight and right next to the airport. I haven't been to any of the other resorts mentioned
Mrsjayy · 03/02/2020 17:20
La pineda is lovely quieter we stayed at the Golden Donaire it is on thebeach .and you can (or could) buy a 10 journey bus ticket that would take you round to salou.
Originalusernameunavailable · 07/02/2020 09:32
Actually now La Pineada has been mentioned I remember being there for a bit and wishing we had booked there instead of main Salou.
stoplickingthetelly · 07/02/2020 09:39
I think it depends on what you want from a holiday. My dad loves Salou - he basically wants UK seaside in the sun. Loves all the British bars, souvenir shops etc. We went quite a few times when I was younger. I last went when I was about 17. Very similar to Benidorm. It’s really not my thing and I’d never go with my own family now, but many do like it.
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