Holiday help!

[mentalloader]

After much scrimping and saving over the last couple of years I think we can (finally!) afford a holiday abroad this year!
I haven’t booked many as never really been able to afford them so I want it to not be a disaster and I’m paranoid about booking something that turns out to be awful. This isn’t going to be some crazy holiday of a lifetime or anything, we just want 10 days away in the sun 😂

So, people in my phone, I wondered if you could offer some recommendations/ tips?

Here’s our criteria:
2 adults, 2 teenagers (15 and 13)

Ideally a hotel with nice pool facilities and a waterpark on site or close by

within walking distance to a beach

budget (including flights) £4500

looking to go around 18th Aug for 10 days

all inclusive ideally!

we were hoping to go somewhere within an hours bus journey to Barcelona as it’s a city the kids are keen to visit but also open to other locations

any recommendations?

Barcelona is an amazing city but August will be really really busy, so be prepared for the crowds and queues. Also if you want to visit any of the main attractions you will need to book them at least two weeks before you travel. We went in November last year (pre-booked all our experiences beforehand) and they were all sold out on the day. We stayed in Barcelona itself (so no help here with hotel recommendations).

We have also stayed in the Costa Daurada region (in May) which is southwest of Barcelona. The coastline is beautiful with fairly calm, shallow waters and we enjoyed snorkelling. Tarragona, the main city in the area has a number of Roman ruins and is well worth a visit. However, the hotel we stayed in is nearly two hours away from Barcelona.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time and hopefully someone else can give you a hotel recommendation.

Have a look at Cambrils and Salou. Both have good beaches and Port Aventura adventure/water park is nearby. Barcelona a day trip away on the train. Long day though!

Tui Blu and holiday village, Port des Torrents. Ibiza. Water park between the both. Beautiful beach.

budget might be an issue if you need two rooms.

I think I would go more beach resort if I were you and save Barcelona as a pure city break for next time you can afford a trip abroad.
Weather will be warm in southern Spain/Balearics/Greek islands and a bit busy but also very beachy and proper abroad.
I would advise trying to use Jet2, Easyet Holidays and Tui to filter down to hotels/resorts that you like and then see if you can do separately cheaper (likely you will be able to!). You probably need interconnecting rooms or 2 bed apartment type rooms for 13 and 15.
I hope you find somewhere amazing!

Have you considered euro camp style? We’re staying at Cala Gogo this year and find it better for us due to fussy, always hungry teenagers along with dietary needs that make all inclusive pointless.

We stayed in Sitjes which is around 30 mins from Barcelona on the train. I really liked it there - but we stayed in an apartment so no hotel recommendations.’

Loret de mar is beach front and you can do Barcelona in a day by train. It’s been many years since I was there but the area might be worth a look. No water park though.

We do euro camp which is a fraction of that cost. Obv not hotel or AI though.
we like Tarragona which is on the train line into Barcelona, flying into Barcelona Reus. Be sure if you do which airport you fly into - there are often a lot of unhappy people at Reus believing they were going to be in Barcelona city