Theme park review: PortAventura by Tara Cain

Them mum bloggers can't half move

THE first thing that struck me about the PortAventura theme park in Spain was that the minute you walk in you don’t have to wade through an avenue of shops before you reach anything approaching a ride, writes Tara Cain.

This is something which has always sat uncomfortably with me having visited both the Disney parks in Paris and Florida – can you imagine what hell you are put through as a parent trying to prize your kids through the magnetic pull of ‘stuff’ bursting from every shop they have to walk past to get their first glimpse of Mickey?

It’s not a barrel of laughs, let me tell you.

That isn’t to say that PortAventura isn’t a similar concept to Disney. It’s just a bit, well, less in your face.

The park is split into five themed areas: Mexico, China, Polynesia, Far West and Mediterrania. And the attention to detail is fabulous, from the fishing village feel of Mediterrania with its harbour walk and boats bobbing on the water, to the lovely Polynesia where material was shipped in from the Pacific islands to give it’s authentic look.

I was invited to the park with four other parenting bloggers and were all blown away with the venue; it’s attention to detail, it’s clean well managed appearance and the fact that they allow children (and a few adults, cough) to climb on the various wagons, stagecoaches and other props dotted around the park.

This is a place where they truly embrace children. There are rides to suit all tastes – from the ridiculously twisty turny Dragon Khan to the rather more sedate children’s rides – alongside various shows and attractions.

There is a lot going on at all times. And if, like me, you are wondering how it stacks up against Disneyland Paris in the price stakes, well it’s cheaper. A lot cheaper.

So to the downsides. There is no getting away from the fact that we found the people rather, well, surly. Plain rude some of them.

And in a park where they are trying to attract more British visitors this just isn’t acceptable. Also their ‘fast pass’ system is a shambles.

You can pay for an express pass which means you can beat the queues and get into an attraction via a preferential queue which is obviously a lot shorter than the usual queue.

Only we found the preferential queue was either so poorly signposted or difficult to find that we ended up in the regular queue wondering why on earth you would spend your extra cash on the fast pass wrist band.

Then there was the fact that if you stay in one of the theme park’s hotels you are granted early access to the park. Woohoo, an hour in the park before anyone else arrives.

Well, err, no because not everything is open and so you have may have to wait anyway if you want to go on your favourite ride.

Also the queues for some of the shows we wanted to see were massive. Like two hours massive.

Finally I should say something about the food. While I found it to be a lot lot better than the food we experienced at Disney – there are the same fast food places which aren’t any great shakes, but they do rub shoulders with a nice tapas bar and a ‘Wild West’ restaurant with a decent – but obviously more expensive – menu.

However, be warned, if you are a vegetarian you will struggle. Meat is on the menu and any alternatives are few and far between.

The verdict? You’re pretty much guaranteed good weather, the prices are reasonable for families, the park hotels are fabulous and the whole place is clean, well kept and looks fabulous.

As a keen photographer I was in snapper heaven.

So, the million-dollar question is would I go back again? I would. I would love my children to experience the place.

There are fabulous woodland cabins built to mimic the first miner’s dwellings which are ideal for families (they boast two connected rooms and a kitchen), there are play areas, things to climb, loads to see – and that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the park.

Plus we could pop to the beach or Barcelona for a day if we fancied.

The hugely frustrating thing for me is that the resort bosses don’t really know how to tell British parents what a good thing they have going – they don’t have a decent (British) Facebook page and they don’t Twitter, so how are we supposed to know about offers/events etc?

So yes, I would go back and I would highly recommend it – just be prepared for a few sullen looks from the locals.

Factfile

• There are more than 100 shows performed every day. We saw the brilliant Aloha Tahiti show, with Mauris performing traditional dance and song and it was utterly captivating.

• There are more than 30 attractions, from the impressive rollercoaster Dragon Khan (no I didn’t go on it) and the freefall ride Hurakan Condor to a great section for younger children who are very well catered for

• Among the usual gift shops, there are traditional craft shops where you can buy products made by local craftsmen. I now have a Polenysian gecko hanging proudly on by bedroom wall as a reminder of my visit there.

• PortAventura also has its own characters: Woody Woodpecker (remember him folks?), Betty Boop, and various Sesame Street friends.

• We stayed in the Hotel Gold River, a new addition to the park. It’s theme around the Wild West in the late 19th century and features a bank, a city hall, Sheriff’s office, taxidermist and a jail. The attention to detail is excellent.

• The destination also boasts a water park, golf courses and four hotels.

• If you stay in any of the resort hotels, entrance to the theme park is free.

• Prices at the Hotel Gold River start at 96 Euros and discounts are available.

Related posts:

1. Why a weekend in Manchester is a revelation, by Tara Cain
2. A first taste of camping – and why I loved it by Tara Cain
3. From burgers and fries to escargot – how theme park food is changing
4. Going back to the Wild West at PortAventura by David Gordon
5. Exclusive: Win four tickets to Thorpe Park with www.havealovelytime.com – but hurry!