📅 Last updated: August 2026. We regularly review this guide to keep our Salou Costa Dorada recommendations, attractions and travel advice accurate for UK families.

Looking for a family holiday that combines sunshine, beaches, huge theme parks and plenty to do beyond the pool? Salou and the Costa Dorada should be high on your list.

Located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, around an hour from Barcelona, family holidays to Costa Dorada combine beautiful beaches, warm Mediterranean weather and some of Spain’s best family attractions. Salou sits at the heart of the action, with sandy beaches, restaurants and family-friendly hotels — while PortAventura World is right on the doorstep.

For UK families, that’s what makes this part of Spain particularly interesting. You can spend one day relaxing on the beach, the next riding roller coasters at PortAventura, cool off at a water park and still have places such as Tarragona, Cambrils and Barcelona within reach.

This Salou Costa Dorada guide for UK families covers everything you need to plan your trip, including where to stay, when to visit, PortAventura World, beaches, water parks, airport transfers and getting around. For even more inspiration, we’ve also rounded up the 10 best things to do in Salou with kids, from theme parks and boat trips to beaches and free family activities.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Verdict: If your family loves the theme parks and excitement of Orlando but wants a shorter, easier European holiday with a beach thrown in, Salou and the Costa Dorada are an excellent fit.

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Salou & Costa Dorada at a Glance

Is Salou Good for Families?

Yes, Salou is good for families, particularly if you want to combine a beach holiday with theme parks, water parks and plenty of things to do with children and teenagers.

Salou has long stretches of golden sand, a lively seafront, plenty of restaurants and a huge choice of family accommodation. Just outside the resort is PortAventura World, home to PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park, giving thrill-seekers enough to fill several days.

For families who want more than theme parks, there’s plenty nearby too. You can visit the historic city of Tarragona, spend an evening in neighbouring Cambrils, enjoy another water-park day at Aquopolis Costa Dorada or take a day trip into Barcelona.

Still deciding where to stay? Our Salou vs Cambrils vs La Pineda comparison explains which resort is best for beaches, PortAventura, younger children, teenagers, restaurants and relaxed family holidays.

Another major advantage for UK families is convenience. The flight is much shorter than travelling to Florida, there’s no significant jet lag, and you can comfortably enjoy the area on a one-week holiday.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Opinion

Salou Costa Dorada is one of the best European destinations for families who want more than a traditional beach holiday. If your children or teenagers love rides, water parks and days out, you’ll struggle to get bored here.

Best Time to Visit Salou & Costa Dorada

For most UK families, the best time to visit Salou Costa Dorada is between May and September, when the weather is warm, the resort is lively and the major attractions are operating at their fullest.

However, the best month for your family depends on whether you prioritise hot weather, lower prices or smaller crowds.

🌸 May & May Half-Term

May can be a great choice for families who want pleasant weather without peak-summer crowds. Daytime temperatures are generally comfortable for sightseeing and theme parks, although the sea and outdoor pools can still feel cool.

Best for: PortAventura, sightseeing and avoiding peak-season crowds.

☀️ June

June is one of our favourite times to visit. The weather is usually warm, the days are long and Salou is fully coming to life, but you’re still ahead of the busiest UK school-holiday period.

Best for: A good balance of weather, crowds and price.

🔥 July & August

This is peak season. Expect the hottest weather, busiest beaches and largest crowds at PortAventura World.

For families tied to the UK summer holidays, it’s still a fantastic time to visit — just plan theme-park days carefully, book popular attractions in advance and be prepared for the heat during the middle of the day.

Best for: Guaranteed summer atmosphere, beaches and water parks.

🍂 September

September can be an excellent option if you’re able to travel outside UK school holidays. Temperatures remain warm, while crowds generally begin to ease as the month progresses.

Best for: Couples and families who aren’t restricted to school dates.

🎃 October & October Half-Term

October is much less predictable for a traditional beach holiday, but it can still be very appealing for PortAventura World, particularly with its seasonal Halloween events.

Expect milder temperatures and a greater chance of unsettled weather than during summer, so we’d choose October primarily for theme parks and exploring rather than guaranteed pool-and-beach weather.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Pick

For families restricted to UK school holidays, we’d look particularly closely at May half-term for lower crowds or the summer holidays for the complete beach-and-water-park experience.

If you have flexibility, June is arguably the sweet spot.

Getting to Salou & Costa Dorada from the UK

Getting to Salou from the UK is relatively straightforward, with Reus Airport and Barcelona-El Prat Airport being the two main options for most families.

✈️ Reus Airport – The Easiest Option

If you can find suitable flights, Reus Airport is our first choice for a Salou holiday.

It’s the closest airport to Salou, so transfers are much shorter than travelling from Barcelona. This is particularly useful when travelling with children or arriving on a late flight.

The downside is that flights to Reus can be more seasonal and there may be fewer choices from your preferred UK airport.

Holiday Blueprint verdict: ⭐ Choose Reus when the flight times and prices make sense.

✈️ Barcelona-El Prat Airport – More Flight Choice

Barcelona Airport is much further from Salou, but it normally gives UK travellers a much wider choice of flights, airlines and departure airports.

The journey to Salou takes longer, so remember to compare the total cost of the trip, rather than choosing a Barcelona flight simply because the airfare is cheaper.

Barcelona can also be a great option if you want to combine your Costa Dorada holiday with a night or two in Barcelona.

Holiday Blueprint verdict: ⭐ Best for flight choice or a Barcelona + Salou split trip.

🚕 How Do You Get from the Airport to Salou?

Families generally have four options:

• Private transfer – easiest door-to-door option, particularly with luggage and children.
• Shared shuttle – usually cheaper, but expect additional stops.
• Public transport – potentially the cheapest option, but less convenient with lots of luggage.
• Car hire – worth considering if you’re planning to explore Tarragona, Barcelona or more of the Costa Dorada.

Want the easiest option? Compare pre-booked airport transfers from Barcelona or Reus Airport to Salou before you travel, so your journey is arranged before you arrive.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip

Don’t automatically book the cheapest flight. Compare the flight + luggage + airport transfer together. A slightly more expensive flight into Reus can sometimes produce an easier and better-value journey overall.

Where to Stay in Salou & Costa Dorada 🏨

hoosing the right base can completely change your Costa Dorada holiday. For most UK families, we’d narrow the choice down to Salou, PortAventura World, Cambrils or La Pineda.

🏖️ Salou – Best All-Round Choice

For a first family holiday, Salou would be our overall pick.

You’ll have beaches, restaurants, shops and plenty happening in the evenings, while still being extremely close to PortAventura World.

There’s also a huge range of accommodation, from budget apartments to larger family-friendly hotels with pools and entertainment.

Best for: Families who want the easiest mix of beach + theme parks + restaurants + nightlife.

🎢 PortAventura World Hotels – Best for Theme Park Fans

If PortAventura is the main reason for your holiday, staying at one of the resort’s own hotels can be very appealing.

You’ll be right beside the parks and some hotel packages include park admission, so it’s worth comparing the complete hotel + ticket price rather than looking at the room rate alone.

The trade-off is that you won’t have the same traditional beach-resort atmosphere immediately outside your hotel.

Best for: Families planning several days at PortAventura World.

🌴 Cambrils – Best for a More Relaxed Holiday

Cambrils has a more relaxed feel than central Salou, with an attractive waterfront, beaches and plenty of places to eat.

It’s a good option if the adults want more of a traditional Mediterranean holiday while the children still want easy access to PortAventura and the surrounding attractions.

Best for: Beach-focused families wanting somewhere slightly quieter.

💦 La Pineda – Best for Beach + Water Park

La Pineda is another family-friendly option with a long beach and Aquopolis Costa Dorada nearby.

It’s generally quieter than Salou but still close enough to reach PortAventura without turning it into a major journey.

Best for: Families who prioritise beaches, pools and water parks.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Pick

For most first-time UK families, we’d stay in Salou.

It gives you the best balance and means you aren’t committing the entire holiday to either the beach or PortAventura.

💰 Compare Salou & Costa Dorada Hotel Prices

Hotel prices can vary considerably between Salou, PortAventura, Cambrils and La Pineda, so compare accommodation across the area before deciding where to stay.

PortAventura World – The Star Attraction 🎢

For many families, PortAventura World is the biggest reason to choose Salou and the Costa Dorada over a traditional Spanish beach resort.

If you’re also considering Florida, see our [Disney vs Universal guide] to compare two of Orlando’s biggest theme park options.

Located just outside Salou, the resort combines three separate parks — PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park — making it possible to build several completely different days into one holiday.

🎢 PortAventura Park

This is the main theme park and the one we’d prioritise if you only have time for one.

The park is divided into themed areas including Mediterrània, Polynesia, China, México, Far West and SésamoAventura, with everything from children’s attractions and family rides to major roller coasters.

Thrill-seekers will find rides including Shambhala, Dragon Khan and Furius Baco, while younger children have plenty to do too.

🏎️ Ferrari Land

Ferrari Land is a separate park themed around the famous Italian car brand.

Its headline attraction is Red Force, an accelerator coaster that reaches around 180 km/h, making it one of the standout thrill rides in Europe.

Ferrari Land is smaller than PortAventura Park, so we’d normally combine it with another park rather than dedicate an entire holiday day to it.

💦 Caribe Aquatic Park

For a break from roller coasters, Caribe Aquatic Park gives families a full water-park experience with slides, pools, children’s areas and more relaxing attractions.

During the hottest summer months, we’d seriously consider including a water-park day rather than trying to spend every day walking around theme parks in the heat.

⭐ How Many Days Do You Need at PortAventura?

For most families, we’d allow at least two days for PortAventura World.

If theme parks are one of the main reasons you’re visiting — particularly with older children or teenagers — three days across the resort can easily make sense.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip

Don’t try to cram PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land into a rushed half-day simply to tick them off. Build some breathing room into your itinerary, especially during busy school-holiday periods.

Best Beaches in Salou & Costa Dorada 🏖️

One of the biggest advantages Salou has over many theme-park destinations is that you can spend the morning riding roller coasters and the afternoon relaxing on a Mediterranean beach.

Salou has everything from long, family-friendly stretches of sand to smaller coves around Cap Salou. For a full comparison, see our guide to the best beaches in Salou for families.

🏖️ Llevant Beach – Best All-Round Beach

Llevant Beach (Platja de Llevant) is Salou’s main beach and the easiest choice for most families staying in the centre of the resort.

It’s a long, sandy beach backed by the promenade, with restaurants, shops and facilities nearby.

Best for: Families wanting everything within easy reach.

🌴 Ponent Beach – Good for Families

At the western end of Salou you’ll find Ponent Beach, another long stretch of sand that continues towards neighbouring Cambrils.

It can be a good alternative if you’re staying towards this side of Salou or want a change from Llevant.

Best for: Relaxed family beach days.

🌊 Capellans Beach – Smaller & More Sheltered

Capellans Beach is considerably smaller than Salou’s main beaches and has a more enclosed feel.

It’s worth knowing about if you want somewhere different without travelling far outside Salou.

Best for: A shorter beach visit rather than necessarily an entire day.

🌅 Beaches Beyond Salou

If you’re prepared to explore, the wider Costa Dorada gives you plenty more coastline.

Cambrils is particularly worth considering for a beach day combined with lunch or dinner around the town, while La Pineda has another large sandy beach and works particularly well for families combining the beach with Aquopolis Costa Dorada.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip

Don’t schedule every single day before you travel.

Keeping one flexible beach or pool day in your itinerary gives everyone a chance to recover after several days of theme parks and sightseeing — especially during the hotter summer months.

Best Water Parks in Salou & Costa Dorada 💦

If you’re visiting during the warmer months, a water-park day is a great way to break up several days of sightseeing and theme parks. The two main choices for families staying around Salou are Caribe Aquatic Park and Aquopolis Costa Dorada.

🌴 Caribe Aquatic Park – Best for PortAventura Fans

Part of PortAventura World, Caribe Aquatic Park is the obvious choice if PortAventura is already a major part of your holiday.

The Caribbean-themed park has a mixture of thrill slides, family attractions, children’s areas and pools, making it suitable for different ages.

Its biggest advantage is convenience — particularly if you’re staying at a PortAventura hotel or buying a multi-park ticket that includes the water park.

Best for: Families building their holiday around PortAventura World.

💦 Aquopolis Costa Dorada – Best Alternative Water Park

Located in La Pineda, Aquopolis gives you a completely separate water-park day away from PortAventura World.

There’s a mixture of faster slides, family attractions and areas for younger children, and its location means you can potentially combine part of the day with La Pineda’s beach.

Best for: Families staying in Salou or La Pineda who want another major water park.

🏆 Caribe Aquatic Park vs Aquopolis – Which Would We Choose?

If you’re already spending several days at PortAventura World, we’d probably choose Caribe Aquatic Park because it fits naturally into the same part of the holiday.

However, if you’re only visiting PortAventura Park for a day or two — or want more variety — Aquopolis is a very worthwhile alternative.

And for a 7–10 night summer holiday with children who absolutely love water parks?

There’s nothing wrong with doing both. 😎

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Pick

Caribe Aquatic Park for the complete PortAventura experience. Aquopolis for variety.

Things to Do Beyond the Theme Parks 🌍

One of the reasons we like the Salou Costa Dorada area for a longer family holiday is that PortAventura doesn’t have to dominate every day. There are some excellent places to explore when everyone needs a break from rides and water slides.

🏛️ Tarragona – Best for History & Sightseeing

Around a short journey from Salou, Tarragona is one of the easiest day trips to add to your holiday.

The city is particularly famous for its Roman heritage, including the impressive amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean. Its Roman archaeological ensemble is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Combine the historic sights with wandering through the old town, stopping for lunch and enjoying the seafront.

Best for: A slower sightseeing day between theme-park visits.

⚓ Cambrils – Best for an Evening Out

Neighbouring Cambrils is particularly good when you want a change from Salou without committing to a full day trip.

Its waterfront and restaurant scene make it an easy place to visit for an afternoon followed by dinner.

Best for: A relaxed afternoon or evening away from central Salou.

🏙️ Barcelona – Best Big Day Trip

Barcelona opens up a completely different type of day.

Families can explore famous sights such as Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the city’s historic centre, although we’d avoid trying to cram everything into a single visit.

If Barcelona is high on your wish list, we’d seriously consider spending one or two nights there at the beginning or end of your Costa Dorada holiday rather than repeatedly travelling back and forth.

Best for: Families wanting to combine a beach and theme-park holiday with one of Europe’s great city breaks.

🚶 Salou Itself

Don’t overlook Salou while planning all your excursions.

Allow some time simply to explore the promenade, eat out, wander around in the evening and enjoy the resort rather than treating it purely as somewhere to sleep between attraction days.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip

For a 7-night holiday, we’d probably choose one major day trip. For 10–14 nights, you have enough time to explore more of the Costa Dorada without making the holiday feel rushed.

Getting Around Salou & Costa Dorada 🚗

One of the good things about staying in Salou is that you don’t necessarily need to hire a car.

If your holiday mainly consists of Salou’s beaches, PortAventura World and the surrounding resort areas, you can comfortably manage using a mixture of walking, local buses, taxis and transfers.

🚶 Getting Around Salou

Central Salou is relatively easy to explore on foot, particularly if you’re staying close to the beach and main tourist areas.

For journeys further along the coast, local public transport connects Salou with places including Cambrils, La Pineda and Tarragona, so hiring a car purely for getting around the immediate area isn’t essential.

🎢 Getting to PortAventura World

PortAventura World is extremely close to Salou, which is one of the destination’s biggest advantages.

Depending on where you’re staying, you may be able to walk, use public transport or take a short taxi journey rather than worrying about driving and parking every day.

🚗 When Is Car Hire Worth It?

A hire car starts to make more sense if you’re planning to explore beyond the main Salou resort area.

Families wanting to discover quieter beaches, smaller towns or more of Catalonia may appreciate having the freedom of their own vehicle.

Planning to explore beyond Salou? If you’re considering hiring a car, compare prices and what’s included before booking — particularly if you’re collecting from Reus or Barcelona Airport.

It’s also worth comparing car hire with the combined cost of airport transfers, taxis and excursions — particularly on a longer 10–14 night holiday.

❌ When We’d Skip the Car

If you’re staying centrally in Salou for seven nights and your plans mainly involve:

PortAventura + beach + water park + one organised excursion

we’d probably skip the hire car.

There’s little point paying for a vehicle to sit outside your hotel for most of the week.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Verdict

Car hire is useful in Costa Dorada, but definitely not essential.

Decide what you actually want to do first — then choose your transport rather than automatically adding a rental car to the holiday.

How Long Do You Need in Salou & Costa Dorada? 📅

For most UK families, 7 nights is enough to enjoy the highlights of Salou and the Costa Dorada without feeling as though you’re constantly rushing from one attraction to another.

Unlike Orlando, where two weeks can disappear remarkably quickly, the attractions around Salou are much closer together. That makes it easier to combine theme parks, beaches, water parks and sightseeing in a relatively short holiday.

7 Nights – Our Pick for Most Families

A week gives you enough time for:

• 2 days at PortAventura World
• 1 water-park day
• 1 beach or pool day
• 1 day trip or sightseeing day
• Plenty of time to enjoy Salou itself

This would be our starting point for a first Costa Dorada holiday.

☀️ 10 Nights – The Sweet Spot

If the budget allows, 10 nights gives the holiday a noticeably more relaxed pace.

You can add another PortAventura day, visit both major water parks, spend more time at the beach and explore somewhere such as Tarragona or Cambrils without sacrificing your downtime.

For families who like busy holidays but don’t want to come home needing another holiday, 10 nights could be the sweet spot.

🌍 14 Nights – Best for Exploring

Two weeks makes more sense if you plan to explore beyond Salou.

You could combine Costa Dorada with Barcelona, hire a car for part of the holiday, discover more of Catalonia and still have plenty of completely unplanned pool and beach days.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Verdict

7 nights: Plenty for the main highlights.
10 nights: Our favourite balance.
14 nights: Best if Costa Dorada forms part of a wider Catalonia holiday.

Our 7-Day Salou & Costa Dorada Family Itinerary ☀️

If we were planning a first Salou and Costa Dorada holiday for a UK family, this is how we’d spend seven days. It combines the area’s biggest attractions with enough downtime to actually feel like you’re on holiday.

Day 1 – Arrive & Explore Salou 🏖️

Check into your hotel, unpack and keep the first day easy.

Head down to the seafront, explore the promenade and find somewhere for dinner. If you’ve arrived early enough, spend a couple of hours at Llevant Beach or around the hotel pool.

Holiday Blueprint plan: Don’t waste your first evening rushing to an attraction — save your energy for tomorrow.

Day 2 – PortAventura Park 🎢

Make your first full day the main PortAventura Park day.

Arrive early and concentrate on the attractions your family most wants to experience before queues build. Thrill-seekers will probably have Shambhala, Dragon Khan and Furius Baco high on their list, while families with younger children can spend more time exploring the gentler attractions and SésamoAventura.

Don’t make the mistake of treating PortAventura as somewhere you need to race around ticking off rides. Give yourself time to explore the different themed areas, stop for food and enjoy the atmosphere.

If everyone still has energy, stay into the evening — but remember we’ve deliberately given PortAventura another day later in the itinerary, so you don’t need to conquer everything today.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Choose your family’s three must-do attractions before you arrive and prioritise those. Anything else is a bonus.

Day 3 – Beach, Pool & Salou 🏖️

After yesterday’s full theme-park day, slow things down and enjoy the other side of a Costa Dorada holiday.

Spend the morning at Llevant Beach, relax around your hotel pool or split the day between both. This is deliberately a lighter day — particularly important if you’re visiting during July or August when the heat can make consecutive full park days exhausting.

Later in the afternoon, explore more of Salou, wander along the promenade and stop somewhere for a drink or ice cream.

Keep the evening free for a relaxed family meal. There’s no need for an early night unless you want one, because tomorrow’s water-park day can be approached at a much easier pace than PortAventura.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t feel guilty about having a proper beach or pool day. You’ve paid to come to the Mediterranean — make sure you actually enjoy it!

Day 4 – Caribe Aquatic Park 💦

After a slower Day 3, it’s time to turn the energy back up with a day at Caribe Aquatic Park.

Because it’s part of PortAventura World, Caribe Aquatic Park fits naturally into this itinerary and gives you a completely different experience from the main theme park. Expect a mixture of faster water slides, family attractions, pools and areas designed for younger children.

During the hotter summer months, a water-park day can also provide a welcome change from spending another full day walking around a theme park.

You don’t necessarily need to stay from opening until closing. If everyone has had enough by late afternoon, head back to Salou, shower and enjoy a relaxed evening around the resort.

If Aquopolis Costa Dorada appeals to your family more, simply swap it in for this day — there’s no need to squeeze both water parks into a seven-night holiday.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Water parks can be surprisingly tiring. Keep the evening easy because tomorrow we’re heading back to PortAventura World.

Day 5 – PortAventura Park + Ferrari Land 🏎️🎢

Today gives you a second chance to enjoy PortAventura World without the pressure of trying to fit everything into your first visit.

Start back at PortAventura Park and concentrate on anything you missed on Day 2. You can also revisit the attractions your family loved most — one of the advantages of allowing two PortAventura days rather than trying to cram the entire park into one.

Later, head into Ferrari Land. It’s considerably smaller than PortAventura Park, which is why we prefer combining the two rather than allocating Ferrari Land an entire day.

For thrill-seekers, the headline attraction is Red Force, which accelerates from 0 to 180 km/h in around five seconds and reaches a height of 112 metres.

Don’t feel you need to stay until the very end if you’ve achieved everything you wanted. You’ve already had a busy few days, and tomorrow we’re deliberately leaving Salou for a change of scenery.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Use your second PortAventura visit for favourites as well as missed attractions. Holidays shouldn’t become a checklist — if everyone wants another go on the same ride, do it!

Day 6 – Tarragona & Cambrils 🏛️

Today, take a break from theme parks and beaches and explore a little more of the Costa Dorada.

Start with Tarragona, a historic city famous for its Roman heritage. The Roman archaeological ensemble of Tarraco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean is one of the city’s most recognisable sights.

Spend the morning exploring the historic centre and waterfront, then stop for lunch before heading back towards Salou.

Later in the afternoon or early evening, continue to Cambrils. Its waterfront and relaxed atmosphere make it a lovely place for a stroll followed by dinner, giving you a completely different evening from central Salou.

Don’t try to pack too much sightseeing into the day. The point is to experience another side of the Costa Dorada rather than race between landmarks.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: If your children have absolutely no interest in sightseeing, don’t force this day! Swap Tarragona for another beach or pool day and simply visit Cambrils for dinner in the evening.

Day 7 – Flex Day & Final Evening ☀️

Keep your final full day completely flexible.

By this point, your family will know what they’ve enjoyed most. You might want another few hours at PortAventura, spend the day on the beach, relax around the hotel pool or visit Aquopolis Costa Dorada if everyone still has enough energy for another water park.

Alternatively, use the day for some last-minute shopping, return to Cambrils, explore more of Salou or simply do very little.

That’s exactly why we like keeping the final day open. If bad weather or tiredness disrupted something earlier in the week, you’ve also got an opportunity to move those plans here.

For your final evening, head somewhere your family particularly enjoyed during the holiday and finish with a relaxed meal rather than trying to squeeze in one last major attraction.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t plan Day 7 before you travel. Leave it genuinely flexible and decide once you’re there — sometimes the best holiday day is the one you didn’t organise months in advance.

Is Salou Good for Families?

Yes, Salou is a great choice for families — particularly if you want sandy beaches, family-friendly hotels and theme parks while still having a proper Mediterranean holiday.

Salou and the Costa Dorada offer something that’s surprisingly difficult to find in Europe: major theme parks, water parks, sandy beaches and interesting day trips all within one relatively compact destination.

For a first visit, we’d choose 7–10 nights, stay in or around Salou and combine PortAventura World with plenty of beach and pool time rather than trying to fill every day.

It won’t replace Orlando for families looking for the ultimate theme-park holiday, but that’s not really the point. Costa Dorada offers a much shorter journey from the UK, Mediterranean sunshine and a completely different style of family holiday.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Verdict: If your family likes the sound of roller coasters in the morning and the beach in the afternoon, Salou deserves a place on your shortlist.