Journey to Joy: Our Fabulous Salou Escape

Day 1: Spanish Adventures Begin

Yes, we find ourselves in Spain once again! The allure? Affordability and proximity. While I contemplate a long-haul holiday with the little one in the future, for now, short-haul seems optimal for her age. This marked our briefest flight yet, a mere 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Choosing TUI for our family package holiday proved to be a wise decision. Their services cater well to families, making the entire experience enjoyable.

Opting for the coach instead of a taxi to the airport was a novel decision and a cost-effective one at that, setting us back only £6 from Victoria Coach Station. A stark contrast to my usual £50 taxi fare, this choice was a delightful saving!

To ensure a smooth start, I booked an early morning flight at 6 am. Rising at 1 am, catching the coach at 2 am, and arriving at Gatwick just after 3 am, the efficiency of early morning flights played in our favor. Little miss dozed off for the entirety of the journey, although the transition to her own seat, now that she’s 2, posed a challenge. Negotiating cuddles and comfort with the seatbelt sign on proved tricky, but a minor tantrum was swiftly pacified, and she was soon sound asleep.

We experienced an exceptionally swift flight and a seamless transfer, both conveniently included in the overall package.

Upon reaching the hotel at around 11 am, we were informed that room access wasn’t available until 12:30 pm. Utilizing this time, I decided to explore the surroundings and sought out a buggy for hire. Opting not to bring ours, as our four-wheel suitcase served as a practical alternative, avoiding the challenge of pushing both suitcase and buggy simultaneously. Fortunately, a shop right across from our hotel offered buggy rentals. I secured one for 7 days, paying 28€ and providing a 50€ deposit.

After obtaining our room key, we swiftly unpacked and headed straight to the kids’ pool. It proved to be a paradise for little miss, offering a plethora of activities. Interestingly, our hotel boasts three pools, and we plan to explore the remaining two over the course of the week.

We also enjoyed a brief excursion to the beach, conveniently located right at the hotel’s doorstep!

Opting for the half-board option this year (including breakfast and dinner) turned out to be a cost-effective choice compared to self-catering. My little one, who can be quite selective, found solace in the universal appeal of chips 🤣, enjoying a whole plate and two apples for dessert!

The evening entertainment was fantastic, featuring a mini disco tailored for the little ones. Despite it being October during term time, the presence of numerous kids of all ages added to the fun. It’s reassuring to see that little miss has plenty of playmates!

Day 2:

Our second day in Salou has been fantastic! To kickstart the day, we had a helpful chat with our TUI holiday representative, who provided valuable information about excursions and directions to various parts of Salou.

Choosing to take a leisurely stroll to the main part of Salou proved to be a delightful decision. The 30-minute walk offered us picturesque views of the sea and different beaches, enhancing our overall experience.

Upon our arrival, we indulged in a bit of shopping. The universal fascination with unicorns became apparent, with literally every shop featuring a dedicated unicorn section. Naturally, we found ourselves perusing the same unicorn-themed items in every store, all thanks to my little one’s fondness for them 🤣.

One thing I appreciate about Spain is that on each visit, we’ve consistently found black dolls, a rarity in the U.K. Little miss was delighted to spot dolls resembling her and expressed a wish for a boy this time. Naturally, I happily purchased one for her.

Exploring the main part of Salou proved to be a beautiful experience, with today’s adventure yielding some fantastic pictures. We learned about a magic fountain show scheduled for the weekend evenings, and we’re looking forward to returning to witness that enchanting spectacle!

Despite the pleasant walk there, the idea of walking back to the hotel was out of the question for me 🤣. Opting for convenience, I chose to take the little tourist train ride back, which only took around 10 minutes and cost just 6€ for myself, with the added perk of being free for under 3s.

Following dinner, I thought it would be a lovely idea for us to enjoy the sunset at the beach. It turned out to be a stunning and serene experience!

We wrapped up the evening with another session of the kids’ mini disco. Little miss not only made new friends but also exhibited a newfound confidence, shedding the shyness she had shown yesterday. Witnessing her break out of her shell was truly heartwarming!

Day 3:

Today, we embarked on a day trip to Barcelona City Centre! Opting for a bus journey at 19€, we had a generous 6 hours of free time before the return journey, just over an hour’s drive from Salou.

Barcelona boasts its charm, offering various attractions like the beach, aquarium, and zoo. Opting out of these on this occasion, as little miss is set to visit the London Aquarium for her birthday, and we’ve already encountered numerous zoo animals on recent trips. Instead, we focused on sightseeing, capturing some beautiful moments – check out the stunning pics below 😊.

Day 4:

The morning was dedicated to beach and pool time, which proved to be enjoyable. However, it highlighted the importance of finding swimming lessons for little miss. It’s a realization that has prompted me to prioritize arranging swimming lessons for her as soon as we return!

In the afternoon, we opted for a bus trip to Tarragona for some shopping. I prefer to get all my gifts sorted and packed in the suitcase. Being quite organized, I despise waiting until the last minute to pack everything!

While Tarragona didn’t offer much in terms of activities for kids, there were a few small rides in the big shopping center, and a sizable park with a modest playground. My little one seemed to enjoy the bus journey there and back, which was an unexpected bonus.

I often experience anxiety when boarding buses in foreign countries, mainly because I struggle with the language. The extent of my vocabulary usually includes simple phrases like “hello” or “does this have nuts?” due to my allergy. However, today, I gathered the courage to get on a bus, and I’m feeling incredibly proud 😊.

To make my travels more convenient, I ended up purchasing a bus card, essentially a Spanish version of London’s Oyster, costing around 13€ for 5 trips (with a round trip counting as one).

We concluded the day by taking the bus once again, this time to witness a charming magic fountain show. It was a beautiful way to end the day!

Day 5

Today was relatively low-key; we spent our time at the beach and indulged in some arcade games at a different section of Salou called La Pineda.

If Salou is on your radar after reading my blog 😄, make sure to check out the fantastic water park in the area called Aquopolis. Don’t forget to switch the language settings to English for convenience 😊.

Day 6 & 7:

Our final days were quite relaxed. On Sunday, we explored the Bonavista market. Being forewarned about pickpockets, I stayed extra vigilant! While the market had a few decent items, it wasn’t particularly engaging for a 2-year-old, so we headed back to the hotel after about 30 minutes and enjoyed a laid-back pool day!

Our last day turned out to be another relaxed one. The plan was to spend the day at the beach in the main part of Salou, but in a moment of oversight, I hopped on the wrong bus to Reus 🤣. Since there wasn’t much to do there, I discovered a playground and let little miss play around for a bit before heading back to the hotel. We eventually spent the remainder of the day at the beach.

Our trip to Salou has been fantastic, and we thoroughly enjoyed our week here!

To wrap up this post, I’d like to share the key factors I consider when booking a holiday:

Package Holidays: I exclusively opt for package holidays. Despite trying the DIY approach, packages have consistently been more cost-effective. Everything is covered – hotel, luggage, flights, and transfers. It ensures a stress-free experience!

Transfer Time: I prioritize holidays with airport transfers under an hour. Both I and my little one would prefer a journey that keeps us relaxed, ensuring a smooth start and end to the vacation.

Join a Facebook Group: Many holiday destinations have Facebook groups where seasoned visitors share advice and reviews. When inquiring about hiring buggies, the group provided valuable insights, assuring me of numerous places offering weekly rentals.

Travel During Term Time: If your kids are not of school age, consider traveling during term time. It tends to be more budget-friendly, allowing you to enjoy a cost-effective vacation.