Arenys De Mar is a nice little town to spend a few days. On the way to town (and back home) we…read morealways passed this smaller port. It is a pretty queit place, even it was summer. Very calm and relaxing atmosphere, especially in the early evening. Nice to take a stroll or for taking a break and watch the world (and boats) go by. Some good restaurants around (try the excellent Paella at the "Tasca Del Port"; good fish and seafood as well). We enjoyed our time here, if you want more action, then there's the summer fair (Feria) on summer nights, fun the whole family, just a few meters further west from the port.

The nautical centre in Santa Susanna is one of the reasons we chose to stay a few days in this…read moreresort. Our hotel offered free kayakking and body boards and discount on other water sports. The hotels in Santa Susanna that offer this (subject to change i would imagine so do check each hotel) are : Aquahotel Onabrava Hotel Top Royal Sun Hotel Sirius Hotel Alhambra Aqua hotel Aquamarina Hotel Florida Park Hotel Indalo Park Hotel Mercury Hotel Marítim Hotel Sant Jordi Hotel Tahití Playa and Aquahotel Montagut Suites And the campsite: Càmping Bon Repòs We got an hours free kayakking each per day which was fab and we could of had the saem for body boards but didnt want that and they gave disounts on the other water sports. They offer : Windsurfing, Kite-surfing, Scuba diving, Jet skis, Catamarans, Banana boats, Kayakking and Sailing. We never actually saw anyone do jetskiing, banana boating , infact we never saw any signs that they had any but hadnt wanted those anyway. They have different size catamarans and they were fantastic. The discount was around 30% but did vary per activity and the costs will no doubt alter for next season but can be found on the website ive added the link for. The nautical centre is set further along the beach from the Hotel Mercury (the other reason we chose that hotel as it was closer for walking to the nautical centre) and is in a quite spot away from the main sunbathers. It meant when you were not doing water activities you could have a lovely secluded bit of the beach to sunbathe and relax. The staff were great and they do offer tuition if require and provide life jackets in suitable sizing. There is also a little bar attached to the centre so you could get drinks and snacks and it has toilet facilities and changing areas should you need them I would recommend the centre to anyone wanting to do some water based activities whilst on holiday, we thouroughly enjoyed it and thought the staff friendly and welcoming.

Pure Costa Brava magic…read more.. Platja de Tossa del Mar is nothing short of enchanting. It checks every scenic box -- a medieval castle overlooking the beach, boats gently bobbing in the bay, dramatic rock formations, and even a lone tree growing atop a rock at the far end, like something out of a painting. This is Costa Brava at its finest. The vibe is peaceful and family-friendly, with a few charming beachside cafés, locals and tourists alike soaking up the sun, and a town that feels both vibrant and timeless. The beach itself is clean, beautiful, and easy to enjoy -- whether you're swimming, wandering, or just sitting and taking it all in. What a lovely beach in an absolutely magical town. I could stay forever. 5 stars -- no question.

One of the larger resorts north of Barcelona on the Maresme coast, Arenys is a popular place with…read morelocals in the summer, thanks to a long beach and a large harbour and marina. It's one of the more interesting resorts on this otherwise rather dull coast, though to be honest that is not saying much. However, the main drawback is that the town is (alas) completely cut off from its beach by the combination of the busy N11 road and the railway line and station, which rather spoil the overall feel of the place, and certainly makes for a very unprepossessing welcome. Cross the N11 and walk into town a little, and things pick up a bit: the older parts date from the 16th century, and consist of a group of narrow streets, with an 18th century watchtower, and a 16th century church. This is the town's main highlight, as the florid 18th century baroque altarpiece is reckoned to be one of the best pieces of this style of sculpture in Catalonia. It's situated off the tree-lined main street which leads from the seafront (it's known as the Riera - a sort of Rambla, but it's not quite as attractive as it sounds, thanks to lots of traffic and parked cars). Opposite the church, in a modernista-style building, is an impressive market selling fresh produce. Other attractions include a museum of lace-making, and Los Baños de Can Titus, a spa hotel which offers various thermal treatments. Like most Catalan towns, there is a sprinkling of modernista-style buildings, though none is especially notable. The harbour offers rather more attractive prospect, with a modern marina full of expensive yachts located next to the more traditional fishing port. The substantial daily catch supplies several good fish restaurants in the harbour area. Practicalities Arenys is under an hour from Barcelona by train on the suburban line north to Blanes, with trains every half hour off-peak, and every ten minutes in the rush hour. Tickets are very cheap - around EUR3 for an adult single. By car, take the N11 north from Barcelona via Mataro, but, be warned that it is built up for almost the entire route, with concomitant endless speed restrictions, and traffic slows to a complete crawl at busy periods and weekends. A slightly less terrifying alternative is the C-32 motorway, but this also gets very busy, and coping with the poor lane discipline of other drivers which seems to plague this road, requires nerves of steel. Once you get there, there's an underground car park at the end of the Rambla. My advice would be to take the train... Accommodation options include campsites (slightly out of town) and some traditional hotels and pensions in town. The majority of visitors are, however, day-trippers from Barcelona. Most package tourists will end up staying further north in the Costa Brava.

Three star hotel on the beach with challenging access by car (the hillsides of the Costa Brava are…read morenotorious for their narrow one way streets) but worth it for the location (fantastic!) and views. Smack above gorgeous sandy Tamarui beach, one of the softer sand beaches in the area (much of the Costa Brava has rocky beaches) the hotel is well situated. The hard to access beach is easily accessible from elevators in the hotel. The hotel can provide beach towels, beach umbrellas and even beach chairs to its guests. Front desk is well staffed & service is excellent. Rooms are small, simple, clean, older and often have a view of the beach. They have a few family rooms for small families. The breakfast is served facing the bay, and is a generous buffet-style breakfast with beverages (strong coffee, expresso, juice and even cava) included.

Tossa de Mar is absolutely magical…read more The medieval walled town and cobblestone streets make wandering around feel like stepping into a storybook. Every corner reveals charming whitewashed buildings, hidden alleys, and stunning plazas. I did some hiking and was blown away by the views of the sparkling Mediterranean at every turn. I stayed at the Gran Reymar, which was delightful, and I went on a kayak tour from the beach that offered an unforgettable perspective of the coastline. The town is full of quaint spots to enjoy a cerveza or a glass of tinto de verano, and every moment felt perfectly relaxing. I could stay here forever and enjoy the beauty. Five stars is not enough to capture the magic of Tossa de Mar.

The best kept secret near Barcelona. My travel book/guide to Spain didn't mention this gem. Thank…read moregoodness that a local shared info about one of her favorite beaches with me and my family. It's such a beautiful place. We took a little train for a tour of the area and had lunch at one of the restaurants. It was fabulous!

I came here over a Memorial weekend. It was absolutely beautiful. It's a small seaside town in…read moreSpain where you have incredible views, clear water, delicious paella, pitchers of sangria and you can randomly get a tattoo on the street. I was much braver when I was young.

I had a 3-day window in between a business trip and a family vacation and Jaume was able to find a…read moreway to work in a mini tour for me. BikeCAT was about the 3rd cycling tour outfit I called in Girona. Juame's responsiveness and flexibility made it an easy call to go with him. We started corresponding around December time and answered all the questions I peppered him over the course of the 3 to 4 months. I went with a 2-day tour and 2-night stay at the Hotel Historic at the heart of the old city center. Xavier over at Historic (another great place to consider even if you're just visiting Girona) has worked closely with Jaume and the 2 hand off taking care of me - especially the getting me feed part! They are much as a team so I really had to think of the overall cost as 2 packages in one. Bike - Jaume had a challenge with fitting me (a size 48cm frame) with a bike for the 2 days I was here. We ended up using a 51cm Felt from a the Pro Garmin team with modifications to the handle bar to accommodate my 44cm wide preference and stem, saddle position and stack height. It seemed a bit strange at first but the fit was spot on right so I was very happy I didn't have to fiddle with anything. Tour - I've requested an early March time so this was a gamble with the unpredictable weather. Also, being one of the first guest of the season, I was the only rider. Nevertheless, Jaume took care of me and was ever vigilant to watch after a new rider from the US who was used to wider and straighter roads. On the second day, young Albert came along for the ride to keep company as well as learn the ropes of the business. I honestly had a great time - usually a quiet rider even in large group rides - Jaume put me at ease keep good company adjusting to my riding style and doing all the support you would expect. Jaume was even provided photographer service. Got a few good pictures to remember the experience. In looking back, I really have no complaints about the cycling adventure I had and BikeCAT has meet and exceeded most of my expectations. Girona was all that I had hoped for; historic European city, a fantastic cycling community and a quiet change of pace from the busy city hub of Barcelona. The weather mostly cooperated with us (save the cold morning temps - that's just from my spoiled southern California perspective). If I had the time to do this again, I would definitely go with Jaume and BikeCAT preferably in a larger group setting. If you're in the market for a memorable cycling adventure, I highly recommend Girona and BikeCAT.