Universal - Port Aventura - Spain

[BevS97]

we are just thinking about a holiday for next year, and unfortunatly I don't think we can swing Disney for a third year in a row.

We both quite fancy trying Salou, and Port Aventura - maybe even staying onsite.  There's a little bit of info on the website, but a lot of the pages won't load up,  and there's nothing in the brochures I've got (thomson's etc)

Anyone know anything about it,  and/or which holiday companys have packages there?

Bev

[SandraM]

Hi Bev,
Don't know a lot about Port Aventura, but I believe they are now calling themselves Universal Mediterrranea.
I've tried looking at the website, and I think if you go and make a cup of tea while each page is loading, you'll eventually get the info you want.  Glad to hear it's not just my computer that can't cope with their website!
I only wish it was warm enough to go to Salou for Christmas as I'm trying to book a sun holiday but can't stretch to Florida!
My brother in law went to what was then "Port Aventura" summer before last with wife and 4 kids and they had a total blast.
I have an Irish brochure which gives Euro prices so that's not a lot of use to you (BTW - hi-season tickets are 14 day €83 adult, €56 child; 7 day €65 adult, €48 child, 3 day €60 adult, €44 child and 2 day €45 adult and €35 child), but I believe that these tickets are via Keith Prowse so you could try there.
Good luck
Sandra

[Matts Mom]

Bev,

First Choice is the brochure you need. It features bth on site hotels, and also gives you length of stay admission, 1 day at their waterpark and a dine around option, but they're not cheap.

Janice .  .

[Mazzy]

Universal in Spain was shown on the holiday programme Wish you were here on Sunday - did you see the programme Bev?  Sorry to say, if you missed it, you have also missed the repeat shown early Tuesday morning .

The on-site hotel looked pretty impressive and we were thinking of visiting next Summer maybe.  At the summing up of the report they did mention that there had been complaints about service and facilities at the hotel, which only opened in May?  Quite a few visitors have complaints going on with their tour operators as apparently they didn't think the hotel was up to scratch or ready for visitors - sorry don't have more info - maybe there is a website for ITV?

Hopefully these problems will be corrected in time once things are up and running, but it sounds like they made a poor first impression.  The hotel did look lovely though, but I guess it's similar to Disneyland Paris - things look the same but you have to remember you won't get the US standard of service!

HTH .

[keith&carol]

Hi Bev,
Our eldest DD & Family have just been. I put a post on the Community Board about one of the rides but they are in the process of moving and aren't on-line again yet so I'll try to get more info for you when they are back in touch.
Regards,
Carol .

[Mazzy]

Bev, just found the website - its www.wishyouwerehere.com  I would imagine the info will be there until Friday evening, as they will probably put next week's info in them.  It gives you a bit more info on the hotel teething problems.

The Betty Boop and Popeye character breakfast sounds fun! .

The place is not cheap is it?  £1000 for 3 nights for 2 adults and 2 kids in MAY!!  Wonder what the August prices are like?

HTH .

[BevS97]

£1000 for 3 nights - maybe we need a rethink!

I'll have a look at the website,  thanks Mazzy

[BevS97]

I;ve managedto get an airtours brochure with the hotels in, and it's not as bad as £1000 for 3 days sounded.

for 2 weeks in May (19th - 2 June) it's £779 / adult, £219 / child for half board at the Port Aventura hotel

or £639/£219 half board at the El Paso which is due to open soon.

of course there's allthe supplements etc to add on and discounts to take off, so you could end up paying basically anything!  But it's still in the 'maybe' category.

Just wish Airtours website would work so I could get a real price

Bev

[Mazzy]

Bev, I wonder if you could check the brochure to see what age child prices cover please?  Sam will be 12/13 next year and if she is adult price it is going to be a no-no!!!

Thanks .

[coxan56]

Hi

Why not stay off site, we stayed in Salou and went there, not far outside of salou, while we were there we went to Bacelona and did a bus trip and got a voucher for buy one get one free. We found it OK but if you start comparing it doesn't match up.  My daughter who hasnt been to Universal thought it was great.

ANNIE  .

[BevS97]

Annie,

that is the current plan.  It's just that after staying on-site in the states and at DLP we quite like the idea of being onsite - but we probably would only visit the park once or twice,  so it's probably daft to stay there for a fortnight.

Saying that....  if we stay off-site, then I would want to stay at a 'family' hotel with a kids club, and they aren't much cheaper.

Mazzy - I don't have the brochure to hand,  but I'll have a look when I get home tonight for the kids ages,  or it may be on the airtours website (www.mytravel.co.uk) but I have never had any luck getting the airtours website to work for me.

Bev

[Kazzie]

Hi,

We are booked to go on August 21st so can tell you all about it soon.

I received a letter a few days ago detailing all the changes to the brochure description and I was very upset to see one of them which had been one of my main reasons for booking the holiday.
There was to be a private beach club,that is a private beach and an outdoor pool for hotel guests use only,taken/picked up by a shuttle bus.The beach club is not being built as the council have refused permission,and the bus takes you now only to the public beach.I called the tour operator who told me because in the brochure all the descriptions said 'planned', eg planned beach club,they weren't responsible for any changes made,and wouldn't reduce the cost ofthe holiday at all.

I think its disgusting .  JMC are cleverly covered legally but it isn't good customer services.How is it they only just sent the letter coincidentally after I've paid my balance in full?I have written to them to tell them all this and to say they should give me a reduction on the holiday as a gesture of goodwill,I don't hold out much hope .

I hope this doesn't spoil the holiday at all .

[Kazzie]

I looked for the wish you were here info and it's gone Mazzy .  

Could you tell about the character breakfast please .

[BevS97]

that's quite interesting kazzie, as the beach club is still on their website, although it just says 'Universal Beach Area'  it doesn't actually state that it's a private beach club.

I'd love to hear what you think about it when you get back, as we are very keen at the moment, although  pricewise we are leaning towards a normal hotel in Salou, so wondering if it's worth the difference or not.

Bev

[Kazzie]

Bev,

Very interesting it's on there,there is no beach club.......only a courtesy bus to the public beach.

I'll let you know all about it when we're back.
BTW I've got a TA 'truth guide' on hotels in Costa Dorada,feel free to ask me to check, if you're interested in a particular one .

[Mazzy]

Kazzie

Sorry to hear you aren't going to have the private beach, it must be disappointing, I hope you enjoy your holiday anyway .

Regarding the character breakfast all I can remember is that they mentioned Popeye but can't remember the prices sorry!  Yes the info on Wish you were here changes weekly, so it won't be up now.

How old are your children?  Just trying to find out what ages the child prices cover?

Thanks .

[BevS97]

Mazzy -

sorry I forgot to post,  the brochure I was looking at (thomson's I think) has kids upto 12.

Bev

[Kazzie]

Just to add on the child prices,only Mattie was a child price and he's 12,the others were adults .

I sound really snobby,like I don't want to go on the public beach! It was just that a private beach with outdoor pool did sound very appealing .

[BevS97]

I wouldn't worry about feeling snobby Kazzie - if the brochure says you are going to get something, then you expect it,  and it's disappointing to find out it won't be included, regardless of whether the public beach is nice or not.

bev

[Mazzy]

Thanks for the price info - Sam will be 13 in June so that's 3 adults to pay for!  I thought charter airlines had child prices up to 16 usually?  I guess it's to do with the ticket prices?

Maybe Orlando would work out just the same as Virgin has teen prices now, I'll hav eto look into it.

[Carolyn]

Hi Bev
Went there Sept 02 with my 8 yr old, back one week and i booked again. Just come back. Fab. Am at work at minute so am hurrying with this. On Monday I will send as much info as poss. Stayed at El Paso (on site) Sept 02 and Port Aventura (on site) June 03.

Speak Monday
Carolyn

[DaveR]

Bev
I went in June this year for a week, we stayed at Hotel Caribe Resort, went with First choice and got a great deal when I booked in March on the internet. The hotel was very nice and we got unlimited access to the park with our room card (not sure if it is classed as an on-site hotel though) we also got one day access to the water park. This hotel has great pools one with a beach.

The park is good but there is not enough rides to make you go more than twice, also the spanish kids are always screaming, shouting and que jumping (which gets very annoying).

I was considering going back again next year, but the price was double what i paid so i decided to go to florida instead. For cheap prices i always check out first choice website and look at there special offers, even if they have no offers for the on-site hotels the other hotels are very close by anyway, and you can buy multi day tickets cheap over there.

[Carolyn]

Hi
Apart from no private beach, you have to pay for your cooked breakfast now (3 euros) When I first went last Sept it was included. The shuttle bus goes once an hour and the beach is lovely but very small. At the top is a kiosk selling drinks n crisps. I didnt even bother to go there this time (June) so it may have changed. I went with Cosmos both times and got great deals. Please e-mail for any information required. I still loved it but next year its WDW for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kazzie]

Ryanair have confirmed they will be flying to Reus from the autumn.

This will be a brilliant way to book these flights and the hotel seperately,it should be masses cheaper as at the moment hardly anyone flys there and only twicwe a week at that:D