It’s not easy finding the perfect summer holiday resort to cater to the most discerning demographic of all. No, not the rich and famous – the children! If you’re searching for somewhere that won’t break the bank, has plenty of child-friendly activities and is “abroad” enough to make you feel like you’ve at least made it further than Blackpool on the bus this year, we’ve got one word (and don’t worry if you can’t say it at first): Torrevieja.
A Fabulous Family Resort
It’s almost like someone sat down and planned for the perfect family holiday in Torrevieja. This lovely resort on Spain’s Costa Blanca isn’t so built-up that’s its stunning beaches are dwarfed by high-rises, and it’s a favourite with Spanish visitors as well as tourists – so you know it’s going to be good. And because it’s such an amazing natural setting, one massive bonus is that a lot of the stuff you can do with kids is free!
Along with the beaches, water parks, playgrounds, accessibility and general laidback ambience, another of the very attractive aspects of the resort is that, as the Spanish have such a genuine child-friendly attitude (and that’s not just a promise to attract tourists), there’s a fabulous range of restaurants that welcome the whole family. You can choose from traditional Spanish to British, German, Asian and pretty much anything else you can think of.
Feeling tempted by Torrevieja already? Read on…
Beaches
First of all a statistic: the Costa Blanca is blessed with an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. So chances are the kids are going to want to spend a lot of time on the beach. That’s good news number one. Number two is that there are numerous safe Blue Flag beaches here – and all you need for entertainment is a bucket and spade!
- Playa la Cura is the main beach right in town and the promenade is lined with loads of shops, fast food outlets and restaurants. It’s so accessible that you can spend the morning swimming and playing sandcastles, head back to your accommodation for lunch and maybe a siesta, then stroll back for ice-cream and another dip in the afternoon.
- Cala Piteras and Cala Ferris are great if you want to introduce the kids to some safe snorkelling, while Playa Las Naufragos has a children’s water park.
- For some quiet time head to La Mata or Cabo Cervera, which don’t get quite so crowded in the peak season.
Parks and Lakes
If the youngsters are restless and need to let off some energetic steam, the resort has some lovely natural parks within easy walking distance. Lake Mata-Torrevieja Nature Park and Parque de las Naciones (with its 20,000 sq. metres of open space) both have wonderful walking and cycling circuits, along with swings, slides, room for ballgames and even electric boats to hire for a spin around the lakes.
Speaking of lakes, the two salt lakes set just in front of the Parque Molino del Aqua are definitely a favourite with young visitors – because who doesn’t love a pretty pink lake? While one of the salt lakes is a relatively normal colour (blue/green), the other, Laguna Rosa, is a delicate shade of pink due to the bacteria and algae that thrive in the salty conditions.
Mud Baths
Think your kids would jump at the opportunity to get deliciously dirty and play the ultimate game of stuck in the mud? Then a side trip to Lo Pagan (on the north shore of nearby Mar Menor) will do the trick!
The mud baths are just a short walk along the 12km circuit around the salt marshes – so you don’t have to do the rest! Not only is it fun for the kids to get filthy, it’s also therapeutic for any skin conditions – and it can be easily washed off later. The mud baths are relaxing for parents, endless fun for the kids and, best of all, they’re absolutely free. Everybody’s happy!
Water Park
What’s a summer holiday without a water park? Torrevieja delivers in spades with Aquopolis, which is jam-packed with fun activities for kids of all ages. The rides and slides range from the mild mannered to the downright hair-raising so, depending on the age and confidence of the children, they can choose from rides like:
- Speed, Boomerang and Kamikaze (definitely for the older ones)
- Polinesia, Cascade, Zig Zag, Black Hole, Amazonia River (mid-range)
- Mini Park, Charmed Lake and Min Zig Zag (for the littlies)
Money Saving Tip: While normal tickets for the park are around €24,50 for adults and €19,50 for children, if you purchase online before your holiday you can often get some great family savings.
How to Get to Torrevieja
Getting the kids to your beach break in Torrevieja is quick and easy with a flight from the UK to Alicante Airport (ALC) taking around two hours and 20 minutes. There are a number of budget airlines flying directly to Alicante, with flights starting from as little as £37 one-way.
When you land, the easiest way of getting your family directly to the resort without having to deal with public transport is on a cost-effective airport transfer from Alicante to Torrevieja with Shuttle Direct. A friendly driver will meet you at the airport, and in under an hour you’ll be unpacking and heading to the beach (or the mud) with the kids.
Where to Stay:
Aparthotel Ona Aldea del Mar: Just a hop, skip and not even a jump from the beach, the fabulously situated Aparthotel Ona Aldea del Mar is set within lush gardens, perfect for kids to stretch their legs. The spacious apartments have a fully equipped kitchen and plenty of room to move. With a pool onsite and close to lots of local activities, it’s the perfect family base.
Torrevieja Dreambeach: The name really says it all at the Torrevieja Dreambeach Hotel, which is a dream of a family hotel just one minute from the beach! The kids will love the number of activities, including tennis, mini-golf and snorkelling, while mum and dad will appreciate the spacious family rooms and the accessibility to everything.
Hotel Playas de Torrevieja: Sun, sea and a super spot! Whatever you could ask of family friendly accommodation, Hotel Playas de Torrevieja delivers. Situated just a few minutes from the beach, the hotel has a host of onsite facilities, including a dedicated kids’ area, entertainment programme and a fantastic buffet restaurant.
About Shuttle Direct:
As the most established name in Europe for fast, efficient airport transfers, Shuttle Direct offers a huge range of fixed price services between any airport or train station and resorts on the Costa Blanca. We can cater for any budget and group size, so we’ll transport you, your family and all your luggage right to the door of your accommodation without delay.
Allow the friendly team at Shuttle Direct to take care of all your onward travel arrangements with a quick and easy online booking.
