Lloret de Mar, Spain: A Package Deal

Well, it's booked now

Lloret de Mar was a hastily booked escape. I had been browsing last-minute deals and came across a fantastic offer for bed and breakfast. On The Beach still have some amazing deals, I recommend cross checking them before booking budget flights and planning your own adventure.

 

I’d never been to Spain prior to this, so, half expecting it to be reminiscent of the Benidorm TV series, I was a little unsure on what to expect.

 

The Details

My companion and I chose the bus transfer option from the airport. Cheap and cheerful, we had no issues finding the rep or locating the bus, and were on our way in no time. An uneventful journey, we soon found ourselves next to our hotel.

 

The Rosamar Es Blau is a clean, modern, adults-only hotel. With a restaurant, gym, spa, pool and poolside bar, there isn’t much need to venture far. The room we had was large, with two double beds, a shower room and balcony.

 

What’s around

Directly across the road, you will find shops. The street is long and has everything from tourist pieces, food, and clothing to scuba gear hire. Following this along, you will reach the nightclubs and casinos. There are party buses but this was a relaxing holiday for us so I can’t give you any details on that side of town. The energetic music and enthusiastic drivers bouncing past gave the impression it was fun!

 

Choosing to follow the hill down instead, there is a 5-min walk to the beach. Lined with restaurants and bars, the sandy beaches were prime spots for spending the day.

 

The “castle” on top of the cliff is small but beautiful though you do have to pay to enter. We bypassed this and walked the coastal path to Cala dels Frares.

 

If you want to see the actual castle, you need to walk in the opposite direction.

 

Cala Sa Tortuga is worth the trek if you are feeling more adventurous, just be careful climbing down, it is not easily accessible.

 

There is an interesting settlement located on Lloret’s seafront, with reconstructed buildings in the mud-architecture style.

 

Museo del Mar is a little naval museum with more to see than you realise at first glance. Not a bad way to escape the sun for an hour or so.

 

Casa de la Vila de Lloret de Mar is the City Hall building, standing proudly at the end of a palm-lined promenade, breaking up the repetition of the restaurants. It makes for a great Instagram selfie spot, especially at night if you can get your phone to catch the light correctly.

 

Walking further round, you enter the Old Town. You may be lucky enough to catch a performance at one of the churches, we caught the tail-end of one such concert. The classical music echoed round the streets, invitingly.

 

The Beaches

 

This was one of the few holidays where I spent the majority of my time on the beach. Taking it in turns to look after our belongings, we were snorkelling with rainbow coloured fish in the clear blue sea all day long. Stopping only to grab a drink or a bite to eat, we were lapping up the soft sand, bright sun and calm waves.

 

Although, this leads me to point out that the sea needs to be respected - an impromptu visit from the police, equipped with a forensics tent and private ambulance, was a shock to the system for us casual beach-goers. No matter how calm it looks, be aware of your surroundings and ask locals or lifeguards for advice on safe entry and exit.

 

Walking a couple of kilometres either side of Castell d'en Plaja, we didn’t find a bad beach anywhere. Some required hiking over rocks or swimming round from other coves, but they all had their merits, and the water was incredible. Visibility was amazing, it was obvious why this was such a popular spot for the scuba divers.

Food and Beverages

Restaurant Ferretti Rosamar was linked with the hotel and we had been given a 10% discount card to use. This had a fair selection of food but, to be honest, we mostly ate chocolate covered pancakes and ice cream rather than dinners… Prices were reasonable and the mocktails were perfect for a sweet tooth.

 

Il Pomodoro, a short walk along the beachfront, provided a taste of the local seafood. We tried the octopus and the prawns. Not bad overall, but I do feel this was a more basic restaurant than one I’d usually go to for seafood.

 

The Italian restaurant near the City Hall building, Restaurant La Tagliatella, made a good pizza. The red wine went down rather well, too.

 

Further Out

 

As mentioned in my previous blog, we took a day-trip to Barcelona. The local buses were easy to use, and the hotel gave us simple directions. The main bus station is fairly easy to navigate but make sure you are queuing at the correct window. There are plenty of attendants around for you to ask.

 

Portaventura theme park is a must if you are a thrill-seeker!

 

Conclusion

 

Lloret de Mar is a stunning beach town with ample restaurants and a wild nightlife. Whether you wish to whittle down the hours lounging in the sun or party the night away, you will be able to create your dream vacation. I’d advise reading up on your chosen lodgings to make sure it is suitable and make the most of asking your hosts/hotel about offers or excursions they may be able to provide.

 

A welcome break, I would love to go back and book a scuba tour. There was a great combination of fun for everyone – parks for kids, beaches for all, and adult-only entertainment. Certainly a versatile location in my opinion.