November 24th, 2010
Costa Brava News
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Things to do for Kids in Lloret
de Mar | Costa Brava News
Source: http://costabravanews.com/costa-brava-articles/activities-for-kids-
in-lloret-de-mar/
By admin on November 24th, 2010
For many decades Lloret has been known as a resort that caters
to young people who are looking for a wild time, or in other
words clubs, bars and an endless supply of alcohol. In recent
years the town hall have worked hard trying to convince people
that Lloret is, in fact, a family friendly resort.
So what is there to do for kids in Lloret de Mar?
The lower part of Lloret de Mar
beach is suitable for paddling
Firstly, it must be said, the Lloret beaches are not very child-
friendly. The two main beaches, namely Fanals and Lloret have
a very steep incline. No sooner than walking just a few steps,
you find yourself to be out of your depth. Therefore, unless a
child is an older child or a strong swimmer, you might choose
not to allow him to go in the water alone.
The small gravel-like stones on the beach also make it
impossible for traditional young-kid beach activities such as
sandcastle building.
However, at the furthest tip of both Fanals and Lloret beaches,
there exists an area that is sheltered by rocks, where the
water is shallow and suitable for paddling. These areas
are understandably more frequented by families with young
children, so your child is likely to find plenty of playmates.
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Depending on the hotel you stay in, there is most likely to be a
pool area for younger children; and as they cannot easily move
out of your sight, you will probably find they are also perfectly
safe in the adult pool provided they can swim or are decked
out in armbands.
Costa Encantada Aparthotel
Many of the hotels also have play areas for children. The Costa
Encantada in Fanals is reported as being extremely child-
friendly and has plenty of play sections and facilities for
children.
This hotel also provides entertainers who will keep an eye on
the kids and who additionally host a mini-disco every night,
giving parents an opportunity to have a bit of time alone.
Other than the beach, and the entertainment and facilities
your hotel may provide there are several parks and day trips
both you and your kids will enjoy in Lloret and surrounding
towns.
Waterworld
One outing that shouldn’t be missed while visiting Lloret is a
day out at Waterworld.
The park has a total of 17 rides, of which 10 are deemed suitable
for young children.
There are also several food outlets, bars, a mini-golf, picnic
area and the usual facilities such as lockers, showers etc.
Children under one meter are admitted free, and during 2010,
those who measured between 1,00m to 1,40m were admitted
for 15 euros. This price allows you to stay in the park all day.
The 2010 tariff for adults was 25 euros. Additionally, there are
family and group discounts.
Children Area Waterworld
The park is in walking distance as it is around two kilometres
from the centre of lloret, or around 1.3 miles. However, the
last part of the walk in on a main road without a pavement
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November 24th, 2010
and therefore walking to the park with young children is not
advised.
Waterworld provides a free bus to and from the park, which
serves Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar, Blanes, Malgrat de Mar,
Pineda de Mar and Calella. The bus leaves Lloret bus station
around every 30 minutes; on route it also stops at the Hotel
Ancla in Fanals.
To see the bus pick-up timetable from other Costa Brava and
Costa Dorada resorts, Click Here.
Marineland
Marineland is another popular day trip which is enjoyed by
kids of all ages. Marineland is in reality two parks in one; as
it incorporates a water park with a Marine Zoo. Dolphins, sea
lions, exotic birds, seals and otters are just some of the park’s
inhabitants that will fascinate and entertain young children.
Dolphins at Marineland
Marineland employs guides who will educate the children (and
their parents) on each animal and their habitat. Dolphin, sea
lion and exotic bird shows are scheduled throughout the day.
The park is situated around 10 km, or 7 miles from Lloret.
There is a free bus service provided that serves the resorts of
Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Calella, Pineda de Mar,
Malgrat de Mar and Santa Susanna.
Prices during the 2010 season were 15 euros for a full-day adult
ticket, and 10.50 euros for children. If you buy tickets from the
Marineland website, you will receive a discount of 1.50 euros
per ticket.
Marineland has a restaurant where you can sit down in
comfort and eat a full three-course meal; plus many fast food
kiosks and small stalls. The park also has a large gift shop,
which has a good selection of souvenirs aimed to tempt kids.
Gnome Park
Gnome park, or Gnomo Park is built on a small hillside just
outside Fanals, around 1.8 miles from the centre of Lloret.
Adventure Golf at Gnome Park
While the theme of the park is more suited to younger
children, their are also facilities for older kids and their parents
to enjoy including a licensed restaurant, bowling, remote
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controlled boats and adventure golf. There are a multitude
of activities for the younger ones, such as water slides, mini-
karts, an adventure tree area and numerous rides and climbing
activities.
The park is set in a natural setting among trees. It could be
reached on foot, although this is not recommended as the only
way to reach it is by walking on the side of the main road.
Although Gnome park does not have a complementary bus
service, the Lloret-Blanes bus stops directly outside the park.
This bus leaves Lloret Bus Station every 15 minutes, and the
adult fare is around 1.20 euros.
Dates
The theme parks mentioned above are typically open from
May when the weather begins to warm up, and close around
mid-September. Waterworld sometimes remains open until
mid-October; weather permitting.
If you visit Lloret outside of those dates, there may be little
available to interest young children other than entertainment
provided by hotels and local amusement arcades.
There is a small indoor bowling alley in Lloret, but it is
generally more suited to children aged around 10 and above.
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Costa Brava Property
Source: http://costabravanews.com/costa-brava-property/732/
By admin on November 24th, 2010
Many British people who have invested in Spanish property
are suffering since the market has collapsed. Although in other
parts of Europe property markets are also rather shaky, Spain
has been hit far harder than her European partners.
A quick internet search reveals some real bargains; holiday
properties on the Costa Brava are being sold for a fraction of
the cost they were listed at five years ago.
Due to people being unable to keep up with mortgage
repayments there are also an ever-increasing quantity of
second-hand properties up for sale. As well as locals being
unable to keep up with monthly payments, many overseas
owners are also finding paying for a second home is too much
to cope with.
The problem appears to stem from that during the good
“boom” years, the Spanish built far too many properties. There
are currently 1.2 million homes for sale in Spain, and many
of them burdened with negative equity. When things were
beginning to look grim in 2006, there were around a million
homes in the process of being built. A large percentage of these
homes have never been completed as oversupply resulted in
developers being unable to secure loans to continue work.
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November 24th, 2010
Many banks are advertising repossessed homes on websites,
but with many local people out of work there are few signs of
properties being snatched up, and with prices still free-falling
this does not look likely to change in the near future.
Costa Brava Airport
Source: http://costabravanews.com/costa-brava-airport/
November 24th, 2010
When visiting the Costa Brava, the nearest airport is Girona
Airport.
Girona Airport
However, if you have a problem getting a suitable flight into
Girona, Barcelona Airport is a 1 hr 20 minutes drive from
Lloret de Mar; a train can be taken from Barcelona airport to
Blanes, which will be met by a connecting bus to Lloret.
Visitors to the Costa Brava also enter the country via the
airport at Reus, however this is often due to mis-information.
The airport at Reus is nearly 200 km from Lloret de Mar, and
considering Lloret is one of the most southern towns on the
Costa Brava, if you are staying at Roses or in the region of
Roses, you will have a 250 km journey.
To reach Roses from Girona airport, is a journey of just under
70 km, or around 43 miles.
Girona airport was built in 1965, but until the early 2000s,
traffic was moderate.
Passenger numbers rose dramatically when cheap fares airline
Ryanair chose Girona as one of their main European airports.
The airport is ideally situated as it is within easy reach from the
popular resort towns on the Costa Brava as well as the Catalan
capital city, Barcelona.
In 2007 Girona Aiport serviced 4,848,619 passengers,
compared to just 533,445 passengers in 1997.
In February 2010, Ryanair flew passenger number
25,000,000 into Girona Airport.
The follow information contains links to relevant websites, all
links will open in a new window.
Girona Airport Transfers
After arriving at Girona Airport you will need to find the
best method of reaching your holiday destination. There are a
number of methods of transport for your transfer to towns on
the Costa Brava.
Shuttle Buses from Girona Airport
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A cheap and convenient way to arrive at your resort is via
shuttle bus- however not all shuttle companies are equal.
Some passengers have bad experiences with long waits, drivers
refusing to drop them off at their exact destination and buses
simply not turning up at all.
Taxi from Girona Airport
There is usually a long line of Taxis waiting for passengers
immediately outside the airport, however a taxi is not the
cheapest method of travel.
A Rough Guide to Taxi Fares From Girona Airport:
To Girona Town Centre 24 euros
To Lloret de Mar – 50 euros;
To Platja D’Aro 45 euros
To Roses – 100 euros
To L’Estartit – 75 euros
To Barcelona – 130 euros
Taxi Fare Supplements :
1 euros for any suitcase that has measurements greater than
55x35x35 cm
16.30 euros for each hour the taxi waits for you
4.10 euros for each fraction of 15 minutes the taxi waits.
Therefore if he waits 20 minutes, you will be charge an extra
8.20 euros.
3.40 euros for night trips between 21:00 and 07:00 Monday
through Friday, and also for any journey taken on a weekend
or bank holiday.
Most taxis at the airport are equipped to carry large parties of
at least 6 people.
Public Transport Buses from Girona Airport
There is a good public transport service by bus to Barcelona or
Girona town centres or to the main tourist resorts on the coast.
Resorts included on the public bus line are Tossa, Lloret,
Blanes, Malgrat, Santa Susanna, Pineda and Calella.
Private Car from Girona Airport
It is possible to hire car service which will take you from door to
door, often at lower cost than by taxi. See here for more details
on private car hire from Girona airport.
Train from Girona Airport
Unfortunately there is not a train station at Girona Airport.
However a bus from the airport will leave you at Girona train
station which is approximately 11 miles away. The journey will
take around 20 minutes.
Girona Airport Hotels
If you have a very early or late flight, and decide to stay
overnight at Girona Airport, there is a choice of two hotels in
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November 24th, 2010 Published by: debbiesp
Girona Airport Hotel Vilobi Room
November 24th, 2010
the surrounding area. The Hotel Vilobi Park is just a three
minute walk from the main terminal building, or the Novotel is
located 3 kilometres away, which can be reached by a courtesy
shuttle bus.
The following airlines operate from Girona Aiport, with
Ryanair having the largest presence.
Ryanair
Smart Wings

Spanair (Seasonal)
Image by . SantiMB . via Flickr
Thomas Cook Airlines (Seasonal)
For those who don’t yet know, the Costa Brava is located at the
Thomsonfly (Seasonal)
North Eastern part of Spain. Costa Brava means “Wild Coast.”
Transavia It stretches from the Spanish/French border to South of
Wizz Air (Seasonal) Blanes. This is a stretch of about 200 kilometers. You will find
many beautiful beaches along the coastline with rocky cliffs
Jetairfly (Seasonal) and hills.
The Costa Brava has been a popular destination for vacationers
Girona Airport Facilities
since the 1950s. It has a beautiful climate in the summer along
with perfect beaches and plenty of attractions for visitors.

Girona airport is currently undergoing an expansion program
which appears to be nearing completion.The expansion
program has included the building of a large interior car park,
extra check-in desks plus additional passenger amenities.
The downstairs zone has two bars providing snacks, drinks and
hot meals, plus a newsgents. There is also a tourist information
office, that is open until around 9 pm, depending on the time
of year.
Upstairs in the boarding you will find a duty free shopping
zone, two more bar come restaurants and plenty of seating.
Disabled Passengers
Facilities are available for disabled passengers including
an assistant service where reduced mobility passengers are
provided with an allocated staff member to ensure getting
from the plane into their transfer transport is as trouble-free
as possible.
For more information on the Reduced Mobility service
download a pdf here.
Costa Brava Beaches
Source: http://costabravanews.com/costa-brava-beaches/
There are many Costa Brava beach resorts that are there
specifically geared towards tourists. These resorts include
Lloret de Mar, L’Estartit, Empuriabrava, Playa de Aro, Blanes,
Tossa de Mar and Roses. These are only a few of the Costa
Brava beach resorts. Below you will find a description of some
of these resorts.
Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar Beach
This is the most popular destination for younger holiday
makers. It is located in the district of Selva which is in Girona,
Catalonia. There are many popular attractions in Lloret de
Mar. The Sea Museum on the seafront outlines the town’s
maratine history. The Santa Clotilde Gardens situated between
Lloret and Blanes have a beautiful view of the sea since they
are found on the cliff top. Visit here For a full description of
Lloret de Mar attractions.
L’Estartit
This town is well known for its natural beauty and interesting
landscapes. There is a fabulous view over the bay. It is
surrounded by a protected countryside and includes the Medes
Islands. Inside the village of L’Estartit you will find a

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November 24th, 2010
L’Estartit
great fishing harbor as well as the seafront promenade of
Passeig del Molinet. You can find some quite interesting
architecture in buildings such as the Casas de los Americanos
which was built in a style of Latin American towards the end of
the nineteenth century in the middle of the street Santa Anna.
You will also find the Rellotge Tower on the very same street.
Another architectural wonder is the Casa Salietti house which
was built in the early twentieth century. The extremely long
beach of L’Estartit is a fantastic attraction. It is divided into
three sectors which are the Pletera beach, the Griells beach and
the central or main beach. At this beach you can scuba dive on
the Montgri coast and at the opposite of the Medes Islands.
Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava
Empuriabrava can be found at the Bay of Roses on the
coastline of Catalonia, in the north eastern part of Spain. It
is famous for having one of the biggest marinas in the entire
world. Empuriabrava is also well known for its windsurfing,
kitesurfing, wind and bay conditions and it’s beach. The
windsurfing championships are held in Empuriabrava. They
have a team of skydivers known as the Skyrats. This town is a
school town for skydiving. There are many nightclubs as well
as an open air bars to bring the town to life at sunset. One
great attraction is the Gothic Parish Church of Santa Maria
which was constructed at some time in the fourteenth century
and is generally known as The Cathedral of Emporda. The
birthplace of Salvador Dali is located in nearby Figueres which
also hosts a museum that showcases many of his works. Enjoy
the outdoors at the Aiguamolls Natural Park. This is a beautiful
and important wetland that is located between the Fluvia River
and Muga River.
Playa de Aro
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Playa de Aro
Playa de Aro is located between Castell d’Aro and S’Agaro.
You can find a number of fantastic escapes in the coastal
walkway. Throughout this walkway you will find several gems
such as isolated beaches and coves. These beaches and coves
are generally not as crowded as the main beaches of the Costa
Brava. There are two fantastic golfing areas that are the Club
de Golf Costa Brava and the Golf d’Aro.
There are several hotels to choose from such as the Columbus
Hotel and the Platja Park. A twice weekly market opens on
Tuesdays and Fridays. In August the Fiesta de Platja d’Aro and
the Castell d’Aro take place. In October you can experience the
annual Beer Festival.
Blanes
Blanes
Blanes is located to the south of Lloret de Mar. Over the course
of the centuries, Blanes has relied on its sea to survive through
the economy as well as boat building and fishing. There are
many rental accommodations and hotels to choose from. It has
4 km of coves, bays and beaches. Some popular attractions are
the Sant Joan tower which goes back the thirteenth century.
Also, the Vescomptes de Cabrera which goes back to the
twelfth century. The Font Gotica, a fountain that dates back to
the fifteenth century is another popular attraction.
Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is known to Marc Chagall (a famous painter) as
the blue paradise. A weekly market is held on Thursdays.
Tossa de Mar
These markets are a perfect place to get fresh produce and
gifts for those who had to be left behind at home! You will also
find a wide variety of restaurants and bars to fulfill your needs.
Most of the specialties of these restaurants are seafood. There
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November 24th, 2010
isn’t much of a nightlife in Tossa. The town generally gets quiet
around midnight, although there are a couple of discoteques
for the younger people. In January is the annual the Pilgrimage
of Tossa. In August you can attend or take part in the Tossa de
Mar International Quick Paint Contest. This contest is where
you are to paint the Vila Vella scene in a single day. You will
also find the Festival of Music that is held in August.
Roses
Ciutadella de Roses
Roses, is home to a beautiful fortress from the sixteenth
century that is built as a star shaped citadel. It is known as the
Ciutadella and found at the very entrance of Roses. It was built
at the Roman and Greek settlements and is a part of their ruins.
Inside of the Ciutadella is a museum dedicated to the ruins.
Each Sunday Roses is host to a weekly market. Rather than
renting a hotel room, you can choose to go camping, as there
are plenty of camp sites in the Roses area. One such site is the
Camping Salata Site. It is found near the beach and has many
facilities for your holiday needs.
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What to Do When Visiting
Lloret de Mar
Source: http://costabravanews.com/costa-brava-articles/what-to-do-when-
visiting-lloret-de-mar/
November 24th, 2010
In and around Lloret de Mar there are plenty of beautiful spots
to visit, and places of interest.
Along the seafront in Lloret you will find the Maritime
Museum, an interesting collection of boats and all things
related to the sea.
Located behind Lloret, half a kilometre up into the mountain,
you can find Roman ruins to explore. There is an open top bus
which you can pick up on the seafront, which will take you
around the Roman ruins and other places of interest.
Not far from Lloret centre, within walking distance along the
coast, are the Gardens of San Clotilde. These are beautiful
landscaped gardens, in an incredible clifftop setting, with
breathtaking views over the sea. The gardens were designed
in the manner of the Italian Renaissance, by Nicolau Rubio i
Tuduri , when only 28 years old, showing immense admiration
for his master and inspiration, Forestier.
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Forestier taught Spanish Arabic style, mixed with French,
as he used on the Montjuic gardens. Nicolau here though,
preferred to use the spirit of the Italian Renaissance.
Nordic Walking is being promoted in Lloret de Mar, as another
facet to its offers to tourism. Nordic Walking is the same
as taking a normal daily stroll, but using specially designed
poles, aimed at improving muscle, the cardiovascular system,
coordination and mobility. The walking can be combined
with a series of exercises to help power or muscle elasticity
depending on the individual’s physical level.
This project, forming part of the Lloret nature programme
and musical sports service, claims the following goals: to raise
awareness of Nordic walking among the population as well
as tourists, emphasising health benefits, and enable walkers
to discover the beautiful natural settings, and to add a new
outdoor activity as an aid to discovering the interesting trails
and coastal paths of the Costa Brava. Also hoping for Lloret to
become known as a Nordic walking destination for the growing
number of enthusiasts from all over Europe.
Scuba diving is a popular pastime around the Costa Brava,
with diving centres in Lloret de Mar, Tossa, Estartit, L’Escala
among others.
The Costa Brava offers some of the best diving in Spain, with
an abundance of interesting sites along the rugged coastline
(Costa Brava means rugged coast) Divers with all levels of
training and experience will find something to interest them.
Water temperature varies from 13° in the winter to 24°
in the summer, so divers can enjoy their sport all year
round, provided the northerly tamuntana doesn’t put in an
appearance: icy winds from the Pyrenees which can gust at
well over 100 km an hour. Some dive centres operate all
year round, but of course in winter there are occasions when
weather will not permit.
Highlights of diving off the Costa Brava include the submarine
nature reserves of the Medas Islands, and the Cap de Creus
Natural Park as well as a number of dive sites over wrecked
ships. Diving excursions are available, as are diving lessons.
The Costa Brava is also famous for its wonderful golf courses.
There are 11 full 18 hole courses. Nine championship courses
and several nine hole pitch and putt. PGA championship golf
is played here, in the PGA golf de Catalunya.
The professional courses are:
In Lloret de Mar, and close by, there are several spas and
water treatment centres, and also many natural springs in the
surrounding countryside.
In Fenals, Lloret de Mar, you will find the Gem Wellness and
Spa Centre. It spreads 1600 m² over two floors, and you will
enjoy the services of a medical equipment specialist, dietician
and nutritionist.
Therapies available include:
• Physio electrotherapy, ultrasound, spinal traction,
Massage, and pressure therapy.
• Aerosol therapy: inhalation and steam baths
• Rejuvenating beauty treatments for face and body.
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November 24th, 2010 Published by: debbiesp

• Balneotherapy Unit, with therapeutic baths, underwater

massage, seaweed wraps, seaweed baths, essential oil
baths, dynamic pool, mud treatments, Scottish shower
and Saunas.

Caldes de Malavella is the site of a natural hot spring when you

can collect natural spring water from natures own ‘taps.’ It also
boasts a beautiful spa treatment centre.

The characteristics of the spas:

Hyperthermic, bicarbonated, sodium rich, mineral rich, and a
60° c temperature.
Therapeutic indications:
Rheumatism, arthritis, circulation, respiratory tracts,
digestive tracts, health treatments, beauty treatments, stress.
Technical:
Thermal pool, hydro massage, massage, Jacuzzi, pressure
shower, Massage shower, foot reflexology, inhalations, obesity
treatments, facial and body aesthetics, sauna, treatments with
clay, mud and myrrh, and UVA treatments.
The Renaissance and Art Nouveau style resort in the centre
of Caldes de la Selva, has good views of the town, and is
surrounded by a lovely park with woods and gardens. It is
easily reached, within 30 km of any of the main tourist resorts
on the Costa Brava.
The Costa Brava also has some wonderful places for your day
excursions:

• Marineland, a theme park with rides and fun as well as

many examples of the wonderful marine life from this
area.
• Waterworld, a water park with enormous slides and fun
for all the family.
• An children’s adventure fun park In Lloret de Mar,
where you can swing from the trees, climb rope ladders,
and grope your way across rope bridges. The park also
includes a gnome park for the little ones.

With so many places to see and visit, there’s never a dull

moment on the Costa Brava!
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