For a budget break in the sunshine, Salou holidays can be a great option in 2024 & 2025, especially if you're trying not to spend much but still need that sunny holiday. Low cost flights from across the UK to Reus in the Costa Dorada, lots of budget friendly hotels and apartments and plenty of sunshine and beach fun make for the ideal cheap holiday. Alternatively, booking an all inclusive holiday so you don't have to worry about a think is also a great option here.
With three theme parks, including Ferrari Land and the Caribe Aquatic waterpark, you'll want to spend three days at PortAventura, scaring yourself silly on the thrill rides, admiring the shows, and relaxing on Bahama Beach between waterslides.
Although not the biggest here, Llevant Beach is closest to the town centre, making it one of the most popular beaches on the Costa Daurada. If you fancy a day away from the pool, build sand castles and dip your toes in the Mediterranean Sea here.
Spend a fun hour or two exploring the coastline on an exhilarating quad bike safari. Follow your local guide either in a one or two person quad bike as you discover the endless off road fun on four wheels around Salou.
With Barcelona just down the road, why not jump on the train from Salou and enjoy a day trip in Barcelona? The journey takes around 90 minutes, although there's only a few trains a day so don't miss the train on the way back!
The nearest airport to Salou is Reus Airport, about a 20 minute drive away. During the winter months, only Ryanair flies from the UK to Reus Airport (REU), but as hotels open up for the summer, between April and October, other airlines including Jet2 and TUI run flights from across the UK to Reus, including from Newcastle, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Belfast. Flying into Barcelona is an alternative option, with airlines like easyJet and British Airways going direct, however, Barcelona airport is about 100km from Salou, so if you're staying here, it's about a 80-90 minute car ride (and could cost around €120 each way).
If you've booked a package holiday and the airport transfers are included, all the better. This can be the simplest, easiest and most affordable way to get between Reus airport and your accommodation. If it's not already included, you should be able to add it when you make your booking. You can take a taxi into the town centre which will cost around €30 each way and take about 20 minutes.
There is a bus service between Reus Airport and Salou and Cambrils for just a couple of Euros, however, they aren't too frequent so make sure you check the bus times and take any flight delays into account. Once in Salou, walking is a great way to get around and see a little more of the city, especially under the palm trees along the promenade. However, the local bus service, Plana (or Busplana as it's also known), has a number of services that run through the town and to Tarragona, Barcelona Airport and Cambrils. You'll need to pick up an ATM card to use the bus which is like a prepaid top up card.
If you're plan is to get out and explore the Costa Dorada, and not just to stay at your hotel and enjoy the sunshine by the pool, hiring a car from either the airport or locally in Salou is a great ideal and affordable too. The usual hire car companies like Europcar and Hertz are at the airport and start from less than £50 per day for an economy sized car. Not only can you explore other towns and beaches along the coast, including Tarragona, Miami Platja and Calafat, but you can also venture into the local nature reserves and mountains, like the stunning Muntanyes de Prades mountains, Serra de Montsant Natural Parc, or even as far as Deltebre.
Did you know that you can also enjoy Spain's Golden Coast by coach? Companies like Harry Shaw and Shearings offer coach holidays to Salou, travelling by ferry to France or Spain, before heading on through the countryside to discover this glorious part of Spain.
The town is actually quite a sprawling area so it's important to work out where best to stay in Salou. Here are some of the key parts of town to look at:
Located over near Salou Port, the Old Town runs from here inland including places like the Old Carrilet Station (Antiga Estacio del Carrilet) and the 16th Century Torre Vella gallery. This area is less "in your face" and more of an authentic Spanish experience. You'll find small hotels, boutique B&Bs and private self catering apartments here. You're equally close to the Llevant and Ponent beaches here, and you're only a 10 minute walk from the shopping and restaurants of Zona Passeig Jaume I.
The stretch behind Llevant Beach is the Passeig Jaume I, a bustling street with restaurants, bars, entertainment centres and hotels. The streets behind also have a range of great accommodation close just a block or two from the beach, like the Hotel Blaumar, or the Magnolia Hotel on Carrer de Madrid.
Although Capellans Beach is much smaller than the others here, you'll find lots of hotels and accommodation here, as well as mini supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. The further west you go, the busier and more lively it will be, so if you prefer to have a little bit going on around you, the east part may be your preferred option. Take a look at family hotels like the Golden Avenida Family Suites or the Hotel Golden Port Saloun & Spa, both of which offer an all inclusive option.
Platja de Ponent or Ponent Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach and further away from the main touristy area. Here you'll find a few places to stay, along with a few restaurants, cafes and gift shops selling your typical beach towels, ice creams and fridge magents.
If you love PortAventura, and plan on spending a lot of time enjoying the exciting attractions, you might be better off staying on-site at one of the six hotels. Each hotel is located within the adventure park grounds and is themed, from Caribbean and Mexico, to the Mid West and Victorian. Prices are higher here than other hotels in the main town, however, you'll get unlimited access to Port Aventura Park, a free day pass to Ferrari Land, and discounted tickets to Caribe Aquatic Park.
Cap Salou is a much quieter part of the area and there's a much more residential feel here. There are a couple of small cove beaches like Cala Font, and a range of hotels, apartments and villas, like the Hotel Best Cap Salou and the H10 Mediterranean Village. Although it's possible to walk into the main town from here, you might also want to consider a taxi.
La Pineda is a popular area, further away from the bustling streets of Salou. Here you'll find some great hotel options like Estival Park and the Gran Palas 5 Experience, as well as Aquopolis Costa Dorada, another popular waterpark in the region which is open during the summer months only (between June and September).
No visit to Salou is complete without a trip to PortAventura. This incredible theme park is packed with exciting rides, amazing experiences and mesmerising shows. If you stay at one of the hotels within the park, you'll get free and discounted tickets to the attractions.
PLEASE NOTE: The parks are not always open every day. PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land are open every day between April and October, and then selected dates (mainly weekends) at other times of the year. It's closed for some of the winter and much of January. Check to make sure the parks will be open on the days you're visiting to avoid disappointment.
This is the main theme park, with 6 different worlds to discover and over 40 rides, from the child friendly Coco Piloto, to Dragon Khan, a huge ride for thrillseekers with 8 loops and speeds of up to 110km per hour!
Particularly exciting for car fanatics, Ferrari Land is home to 16 attractions, including Red Force, the fastest and tallest roller coast in Europe (travelling at a whopping 180km per hour!). Throughout the Italian themed park, you'll enjoy the rides, games and, of course, delicious Italian cuisine.
Open between the end of May and the beginning of September, the water park, Caribe Aquatic Park, is the perfect way to spend a day in the sunshine with the family. Splash about in 16 different slides and attractions, from the wave pool at Bahama Beach, to Ciclon Tropical, the parks' most adrenaline fuelled ride.
If you want to visit the theme parks, you can book them as a package with Jet2holidays, combining your flight, hotels like the Eurosalou or 4R Regina Gran, with PortAventura tickets. Depending on who you fly with, things like luggage, airport transfers and seat selection may also be included. The added benefit is that you'll have ATOL protection.
There are so many things to do and see in Salou. From enjoying trying out your skills
If you love golf, there are two clubs here, as well as the 9-hole, Golf Cambrils Pitch & Putt. Gaudi Golf Club is located between Salou and Reus, while the star of the show is Infinitum Golf with its two golf courses (the Hills course and the Lakes course). Both offer a challenge even if you're a pro, and there's also the 9-hole Ruins course too. This is what golf holidays in the sunshine are all about.
As the Golden Coast, Salou & Costa Dorada are known for their soft sandy beaches. Whether you prefer the larger stretches of sand like La Pineda Beach or Ponent Beach, or you enjoy spending time in a much quieter cove like Llarga Beach, there's something to suit everyone. On the main beaches, you'll also be able to hire sun loungers and umbrellas for a daily charge, or simply grab your towel, suncream, bucket and spade, and find a quiet spot. Alternatively, take a wander along the promenade and find a view point or one of the many beach bars like Rock & Grill or Koko Beach Club. There are also a number of children's play areas dotted along Llevant Beach too.
If you can't sit still, another fun and fascinating day out is a day trip to Barcelona. You can either take the bus, train or hire a car to take the 90 minute journey. Alternatively, you can book onto a coach tour which will pick you up from your hotel and show you around all the vital sites and hotspots in Barcelona.
A catamaran cruise is one of many other excursions you can enjoy while on holiday here. Along with other boat trips, these are good for families to learn about the marine life and see Salou from a different angle. You can either prebook through companies like Viator, or book onto a trip while you're away. The reception staff at your hotel, or your holiday rep, may also be able to make recommendations and help you book this.
Located on the promenade section of Platja Els Pilons, the fountains are one of Salou's top attractions. Made up of three main fountains (Luminous Fountain or Font Lluminosa, the Cybernetic Fountain, and the Labyrinth Fountain) this magical display is made up of 1,000 jets and offers visitors a beautiful light show to music every day in the summer and on Friday and Saturday evenings during Spring and Autumn. Check the website to find out the latest timetable.
There are plenty of bars and nightclubs in Salou so if you love a bit of nightlife, then you won't be disappointed. Places like Kiss and the Tropical Salou are located in Zona de Llevant and stay open until the very early hours. There are very few gay bars here, especially compared to nearby Sitges which is well known for its gay scene. If you prefer some chilled night life, there are plenty of other bars, both along the beach front and in town, and don't forget plenty of karaoke bars. There are also several Irish pubs including the Danny Boy and The Dubliner.
Salou holidays with free child places are possible, even at Easter and in the summer holidays in July and August. There so much for families here and that also means some great kid friendly hotels like the 4 star Villa Romana and 3 star Hotel Belvedere, both of which offer free child places. The Ohtels Vila Romana was actually rated the best hotel in Salou by customers on TripAdvisor, with reviews speaking very highly of staff, cleanliness and location.
If you have small children (under 2), you can benefit from reduced costs on flights and accommodation, with cots being provided at certain hotels. Check with your tour operator or check the hotels online to see what baby, infant and child facilities are on offer.
ATOL protected, flight inclusive holidays are the best way to secure your escape. Whether booking online through the likes of On The Beach, Love Holidays and easyJet Holidays, or speaking with a travel agent face-to-face like at Travel Counsellors or TUI, it's important to choose both the right area and the right deals, especially with self catering, half board and all inclusive holidays all possible. In fact, Hays Travel and Barrhead Travel offer a great range of package holidays to Salou from Scotland too. Other travel companies to think about include First Choice, Thomas Cook and Travel Republic. You can often get some great last minute holiday deals, especially out of season, and if you book far in advance, you may also be able to take advantage of paying a low deposit and paying the balance off over time.
Always check the latest FCDO travel advice before you book and travel. You may also be interested in Salou Uncovered, which is an unofficial forum and directory about all things Salou. Here you'll find lots of information from things like the local weather and history, to yoga classes and go karting offers. There are also plenty of guides and videos on YouTube showing you around the city and highlighting some of the events and entertainment on offer.
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A budget friendly way to enjoy Salou is camping or staying at a holiday park. The main campsite in Salou is La Siesta Salou Resort & Camping which is within walking distance of bars and restaurants, and the beach. Alternatively Camping & Resort Sanguli, and Cambrils Park Resort are located a little further down the coast, both offering good quality accommodation for the whole family, plus great swimming pools too. You can book 3, 4 and 7 night holidays to Sanguli with Eurocamp here.
Salou is about 90 minutes south of Barcelona on Spain's Costa Dorada in Catalunya. The region is in the very north east of Spain.
Salou is actually one of the cheapest holiday destinations in Spain. Low cost flights and budget hotel options mean cheap holidays from as little as £150pp
The Salou to Barcelona train takes around 80 minutes to travel the 60 miles and will cost around €9-10 each way. Trains depart from the Salou - PortAventura train station, or Vila-seca train station.
The flight time from London to Salou is around 2 hours and 10 mins. Flights from Edinburgh take around 2 hours 45 minutes.
Benidorm is bigger and busier. Salou is its smaller sister and is a bit more chilled. Both have great points depending on what sort of holiday you're after. Don't forget the theme parks in Salou too!
