Salou Holidays
Sitting on Spain's north eastern coast is the Costa Dorada. Famous for is miles of golden beaches, amenities that even the pickiest traveller would be happy with and a great choice of hotels, with some amazing deals. In its heart is the resort town of Salou. It's easy to see why so many families choose Salou as their holiday destination.
When to Go
Salou has a mild climate year-round, but it can be chilly from November and into April. If you want a beach holiday, you should visit from May through September; October can be decent too. In July and August temperatures tend to hoover around the 30C mark, with minimal rain. This is the peak time for a holiday in Salou. Winter temperatures can reach 15C, but can drop to 5C. For deals look for Salou holidays in the weeks bordering peak times. You can visit in June and September on a cheap deal and still get plenty of sizzling weather to enjoy the beach.
How to Go
The nearest airport to Salou is Reus, making it an ideal destination for those travelling from Ireland. Reus airport is primarily served by the budget Irish airline Ryanair. There is a regular bus service from the airport to Salou
if you prefer not to rent a car.
What to See
Salou is mostly geared towards entertainment, fun, and relaxation, and there are plenty of activities to keep your holiday packed. It does have one historic site of interest worth visiting; the Old Tower, or Torre de Carlos V. The tower was built in 1530 to help guard against attacks from sea that were common during that time. In addition to the interesting architecture, the tower hows regular free art exhibits. Visiting is a welcome escape from the busy tourist centre of Salou. Another fantastic historical attraction is Vil.la romana de Barenys, the ruins of a Roman villa that dates back to the first century BC.
Adults and kids alike will want to make their way to the Dancing Fountain or Font Illuminosa after the sun goes down at around 10pm. This is when the fountain comes to light with a dazzling show of light that is free to watch and lasts around 20-minutes. Make sure to include some time to grab an ice-cream from the shop next to the fountain.
Take a stroll down Avenida Jaume I, which is always buzzing. Running along the beach, the street is full of shops, restaurants, and cafés. It has a mix of up-scale shops and of course kitsch souvenir vendors. There are palm trees lining the avenue with interesting statues and play areas for kids.
Beaches
Salou's biggest attraction is its beautiful beaches. Each year scores of people flock to this northern Spanish coast for their holiday, whether in search of cheap and cheerful or all-inclusive luxury. Salou's main and longest beach is Llevant. You can't miss it, sitting along Avenida Jaume I, right in the heart of town. There are plenty of facilities here, including activities such as surfing and sailing. It also has sun umbrellas and loungers for those in search of a slightly more sedate holiday. The beach has safe swimming and life guards.
Heading out of town, linking Salou with its neighbour Cambrils resort is the 1-kilometre long Ponent Beach. Like Llevant, Ponent has excellent golden sand and clean, shallow swimming, with plenty of amenities.
Away from the main beaches are three smaller and quieter beaches, Cala Llenguadets, Capellans, and Llarga. To get to Cala Llenguadets, you need to walk along a cliffside footpath. The most secluded of the three is Llarga, framed with pine trees and away from the main tourist zone.
Where to Stay
PortAventura is a fun packed resort and theme park that is the most popular in Spain. The resort contains four hotels, a water park, and thrill ride park. PortAventura Park is home to Furiuys Baco, a heart stopping roller coaster that can reach just over 80 mph in the Catalonia themed section of the park. Another section of the park has a wild west theme, complete with rapids. In the Mexico area, you'll find the Hurakan Condor, a ride that will make even the most hardcore thrill seeker scream. The park also has regular shows and plenty of shops and restaurants.
The Costa Caribe Aquatic Park is also part of the resort. Here all rides are water themed, including the tallest, free fall waterslide in Europe, King Khajuna, and a fun lazy river. There are also several rides just for younger travellers.
Each of the four resort hotels have a theme, adding that extra bit of uniqueness to your Salou holiday. If you're travelling with your family, this is the best place in Salou to stay.
Nearby resorts that have no shortage of activities are Cambrils and La Pineda. Cambrils has camping, swimming pools, and amusements for kids. South of Salou is La Pineda, a pretty seaside resort that is a little quieter than its neighbours. La Pineda is wonderful for families, with safe beaches and most facilities being child friendly.
If you want a holiday with more than enough to keep your whole family happy then Salou is an excellent choice. Close to the airport, with everything you need within easy reach, you can't go wrong.