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Costa Dorada Introduction
Based in the East of Spain the Costa Dorada is a holiday goers paradise. Whether you are looking for a holiday filled with relaxation or one spent exploring the region you are well catered for here.
With its long stretches of fine gold sands and clear blue water you cant help but be astounded by the natural beauty of this region. In face the sands are so Golden that the name of this region literally translates as the Gold Coast. The Costa Dorada somehow manages to mix a feel of old Spain with its churches, castles and museums and a feel of new Spain with its beach activity, theme parks and nightlife.
With such beautiful surroundings it is of little surprise that there are many resorts in this area. The most popular ones however are Salou, Cambrils, Tarragona and La Pineda
Salou is by far the most lively of the regions resort with a wide selection of nightlife to choose from. This resort is perhaps not ideally suited for families with young children. If, however, you are looking to party the nights away then this is the place for you to be.
Cambrils offers a more sedate lifestyle but still has enough to keep you occupied. This resort has 9km of sandy gold beach for you to relax on. If you are looking for something involving a little more energy then follow the River Garbi. The river will lead you to some stunning medieval ruins and small hill towns. The action in this town centres mostly around the port, which means seafood features heavily on most menus here.
Tarragona is a city that offers you culture, history and refinement. You should make the time to appreciate the past grandeur of the walls that surround the city, the Roman Aquaduct and the Chapel of the Colegia Jesus I Maria. Should that all sound like far too much effort then Tarragona is also world renowned for its wine. Why not relax in a traditional restaurant and enjoy a glass?
La Pineda is a more family orientated resort. With its quiet beaches and relaxed restaurants this is a holiday getaway designed for you and your young loved ones.
In between Salou and La Pineda is the Port Aventura Theme Park. Built by the universal studios this is a family day out designed to get you heart racing and your adrenaline flowing. With restaurants, bars and shops this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Costa Dorada Location
Located in the Catalan region of Spain, the Costa Dorada (Costa Daurada) encompasses some 216kms of coastline beginning at Barcelona and running down to Tarragona. Situated on Spain's East Coast, the Balearic Islands lie due east of the region.
A major tourist area, the region has the capacity to accommodate half a million visitors in its hotels, apartments and campsites and regularly attracts nearly 4 million tourists a year. Its major cities are Tarragona and Reus and it features several popular holiday resorts including Salou and Cambrills.
The region is principally served by two international airports - Reus (REU) and Barcelona el Prat (BCN).
Weather in the Costa Dorada
The Costa Dorada (Costa Daurada) enjoys a temperate, Mediterranean climate.
The year-round sunshine - with the summer days reaching averages of up to 10 hours of sun - is tempered by the south-easterly winds that keeps humidity low. These winds too give the region its unforgettably intense blue skies, a perfect contrast to the golden sandy beaches that give the Costa Dorada its name.
This climate fosters the area's varied and beautiful scenerary - combining exotic fauna, luscious green forests, flourishing olive vines and, most notably, its stunning coastlines.
The majority of the region's rainfall occurs in the spring and autumn, with only occasional heavy showers in the sunny, summer months.
Beaches in the Costa Dorada
When an area is affectionately nicknamed the Gold Coast you know it must have some stunning beaches. Costa Dorado does not disappoint you, with its fine golden sand or perfectly polished pebbles you could not possibly ask for more. Each beach has its own personality too, with some long stretches of beach and other secluded coves.
So whichever type of beach you are looking for you will be catered for at the Costa Dorada.
Transfers from Reus and Barcelona airport
Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>
Airport Shuttle Bus Service from Reus and Barcelona airport
In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>
Car Hire in the Costa Dorada
Why not make your trip to Costa Dorada extra special by spending some time away from your resort and seeing some of the island. If you hire a car for a few days, you will immediately be able to enjoy many of the other features of Costa Dorada.
Car hire in Spain is readily available, cheap and easy to arrange through your tour operator or direct from the hire company
The bigger international companies such as Avis and Hertz are well represented at all the major international airports and you can be sure of certain quality standards. Many firm's have representatives on hand at the airport and if you're traveling out of season you can normally book a vehicle on arrival.
A variety of Costa Dorada beaches become easily reached, as well as some really charming towns and smaller resorts. Many of the finest restaurants are located outside the main resorts, and are easily reached by car. Restaurants in Costa Dorada offer a cheap and superbly tasty experience.
You can easily get to all the major attractions that Costa Dorada has to offer and a variety of other interesting places.
Driving is pretty straight forward as all Costa Dorada roads use modern internationally understood road signs.
Shopping in Costa Dorada
Costa Dorada is a shoppers paradise. Whether you are looking for souvenirs, clothes, perfume or fine wines this region has them in spades! Talking of which buckets and spades are also available!
Within your resort complex there is likely to be a shop to keep you well equipped in sun tan lotion and bottles of water. There may even be a small boutique which offers you the opportunity to be the best dressed family in the resort. For something more exciting then amble along the beach and find yourself a Plaza, which offers a selection of banks and small shops.
Cambrils in particular offers a wealth of shopping opportunities, with its central market and its weekly market both supplying a wide range of souvenirs and perfume. The resorts of Barcelona and Sitges will be more your style should you be looking to peruse small up market boutiques. Tarragona offers a main promenade which could keep you and your travelers cheques busy all day! Enjoy!
Eating Out in the Costa Dorada
It is of little surprise that the food in this area is heavily infused with tastes of the Mediterranean. With its beautiful coastline and temperature made for agriculture the food in the Costa Dorada is quite simply delicious. Take the time out during your holiday to sample some of the local delicacies.
The different areas of the Gold Coast offer different things. The town of Cambrils is the place to go to sample mouthwatering fish. With its huge work force of fishermen turning up on the shore of an evening with fish caught fresh that day it is of little wonder that the restaurants in Cambrils offer a largely fish based menu.
Local delicacies to sample include:
Butifarra is a traditional Catalonian dish which comprises spiced pork sausage, cumin almonds, pine nuts and cinnamon. This dish sometimes comprises fresh haricot beans.
Rossejat de fideus is a mouthwatering pasta dish. The pasta is baked in seafood stock and topped with fresh shellfish.
Conill amb mandonguilles de bacallà is a dish made traditionally with meatballs and cuttlefish.
Truita en suc is a traditional dish which is celebrated in the festival of The Diada de la truita amb suc. It is a delightful omelette made with fresh spinach topped with a light tasty gravy. Suquet de peix is a variety of fish cooked in a light fish sauce. Mostillo amb nous i pinyons is an unfermented grape juice with walnuts and pine nuts
Of course when we think of eating in Spain we think automatically of the tapas bar. These bars are found all over the Costa Dorada but are especially prevalent in busy areas. Some of the specialities include 'albondigas' which are meatballs doused in a fresh tomato sauce. One must also try the traditional 'tortilla espanola' which is an omelette made with onions and potatoes and bound together with egg. If you are looking to sample the fish then you must try the Sepia, which comprises of fresh cuttlefish drizzled with lemon.
Wine
With its temperate climate the Costa Dorada grows some beautifully succulent grapes, which are manufactured into some delicious wines. The vineyards produce both local wines, which are popular in the surrounding areas such as Penedes and Priorat. They also produce the Spanish equivalent of champagne known as Cava. The Penedes manufacturers predominantly produce fresh, fruity and aromatic white wines and rich, luxurious and velvety red wines.
Nightlife in the Costa Dorada
If you are looking to see in the morning hours personally then Costa Dorada is definitely the place for you. With restaurants, pubs, bars and discos Costa Dorada is a night owls paradise.
The nightlife in the Costa Dorada doesn't get going until late in the evening therefore giving those who sampled it the night before time to recover. It keeps going until the wee small hours of 3-4am.
The liveliest resorts in the region are those of Salou and Cambrils. Having spent a lovely day here the evening offers much more entertainment for you and your family. Whether you are looking for family friendly activities or something strictly for the adults then you are sure to find it in either of these two resorts.
Salou is the most boisterous resort with bars, clubs and discos for you to explore until the early hours of the morning. The resort of Sitges has an exuberant nightlife and with its variety of gay bars, drag queen shows and lively discos it has become known locally as very gay friendly. La Pineda also offers an array of nightlife guaranteed to keep you awake with its equivalent of the Las Vegas strip. The strip has discos, bars and a large super club.
So don't forget to pack your high heels and your handbag because in Costa Dorada you could be dancing around it all night.
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