A summer holiday is a great opportunity to pry your teens from their phones and various devices to show them the great beauty of the world and get plenty of sun and fresh air –who knows, they may even develop an Instagram-worthy tan!
You will want to pick a destination that has loads of fun activities that older children will enjoy, but with the option to be able to flop on the beach from time to time. The sunny Spanish resort of Santa Susanna has plenty to keep the whole family happy, active and engaged, plus you can also enjoy the gorgeous climate found in northern Spain.
Insider Tip: You are located close to Barcelona, so jump on the train one day to show your kids this fabulous city.
Heading to Barca for the day? Check out our handy cultural guide here!
Here is what you could get up to in Santa Susanna:
Beaches
Although a small resort, you will find three beaches in here, each with their own atmosphere and facilities.
Les Dunes – With a laid-back atmosphere but plenty of facilities, Les Dunes is perfect for days when you want to kick back and relax but your teenagers want to stretch their legs. The Santa Susanna Watersports Centre provides all the equipment, classes and services so that they can get out in the ocean and put their skills to the test whether it is dinghy sailing, windsurfing or kayaking. Les Dunes also features a Mini Beach Club with activities for younger kids.
Llevant Beach –This lively, family-friendly beach has a fun waterpark called Playa Aqua Park, which features a range of exhilarating jumps, water catapults and slides.
Les Caletes – Head to Les Calates for the days where you want some seclusion as it is a beach of small coves that are separated by rocks, ensuring that it is a peaceful and very beautiful spot on the seafront promenade.
Activ Natura
You will not want to spend the entirety of your holiday on the beach, which is why I highly recommend that you plan a day out to Activ Natura. This is a huge outdoor adventure park just outside Santa Susanna; you can be picked up from the resort or find your own way there.
The park has all kinds of exciting and leisurely activities that are perfect for teenagers, including laser combat, mountain biking, orienteering, archery and human table football. The most popular activity is the brilliant tree top adventure, which involves navigating the trees without touching the ground thanks to a network of cables, rope bridges, zip wires and nets. It is quite challenging but also good fun, very rewarding and you are treated to lovely views of the surrounding area. I also recommend mountain biking or orienteering, as these also showcase the beautiful natural surroundings and are great for stretching your legs and getting some good exercise.
These activities are sure to bring you all closer together and provide many amusing stories to look back on! It is also ideal for getting your teens in the great outdoors for some sun and fresh air and away from their phones.
How to Get to Santa Susanna
The closest airport is Barcelona, from which there are dozens of flights made throughout the week from Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted. Many of these are with budget carriers, so you should not have a problem finding an affordable flight. It is just a 2-hour flight, which means that you do not have to deal with grumpy and jet-lagged teens upon arrival!
Barcelona airport (BCN) is 77km from Santa Susanna, so you will want to jump in a pre-booked Shuttle Direct transfer once you touchdown. It is just over an hour away by road, which means that you can sit back, relax and enjoy the coastal views to start your holiday.
Where to Stay:
Hotel Alhambra – A stylish option conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from the beach, this hotel has a large terrace with live music during the summer; the teens are sure to enjoy the cool atmosphere here. It also features a large swimming pool, restaurant for all 3 meals and a range of entertainment for both kids and adults. The spacious rooms come with satellite and that all-importnant free Wi-Fi.
Odissea Park – Odissea is an aparthotel, meaning that you get all the privacy and home comforts of an apartment along with all the facilities of a hotel. The air-conditioned apartments have TVs, free Wi-Fi, a balcony and a kitchenette (there is also a supermarket onsite), plus the property has an outdoor pool and you are just a 5-minute walk from the restaurants on the promenade and the beach. Previous guests have spoken highly of the convenient location, as well as the modern and well-equipped apartments.
Hotel Riviera – Right in the centre of Santa Susanna on the promenade and only 2 minutes from the beach, Hotel Riviera has large family rooms with their own balconies, air conditioning and televisions. Although you are near the restaurants on the promenade, the hotel boasts its own buffet breakfast and onsite restaurant serving delicious Mediterranean cuisine. It also has a large outdoor pool, fitness centre and free Wi-Fi. Guests regularly comment on the excellent location and friendly staff.
About Shuttle Direct:
After touching down, you will quickly want to reach your hotel so that you can begin enjoying your vacation. Eliminate the headache of onwards travel with a transfer by Shuttle Direct – one of Europe’s most trusted providers of transfers in locations across continent.
Book your private or shared transfer online and leave the rest to the experts.
