Holidays in Lloret de Mar
We rested in Lloret de Mar in July 2011, at the Oasis Park Lloret hotel. We went from the Pegas tour operator for the first time, before that we bought all trips from Tez-Tour. I want to say that Pegasus turned out to be no worse, thanks to him. Flights were not delayed either there or back. Visas and tickets, however, were issued only the day before departure.
We arrived at the hotel late in the evening, we drove from the airport for a very long time, three hours - then traffic jams, then transported people to other hotels in neighboring towns. The guide prudently ordered a "cold dinner" for us - ham, cheese, tomato-cucumber, chicken, apple and a bottle of water. We bought a room for three people, a bit crowded, of course, but everything is within the normal range, the furniture and plumbing are in perfect condition, the bed linen is snow-white. There were soap, shower gel, shampoo, and even a comb in the bathroom in the bathroom. There is a hair dryer, so you don't have to take it with you. The safe is right in the room, very convenient, it costs 22 euros per week and you pay 10 euros as a deposit. We bought breakfast-dinner vouchers, and we didn’t even need more, we ate so much that we didn’t have the strength to get up from the table. European breakfast: muesli, cereal, scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, cheese sausages, ham, yogurt, etc. For lovers fried meatballs. There are a lot of pastries, but with Turkey (cannot be compared. I was very afraid that there would be the same yummy as in Turkey and after this trip I would not fit into any trousers. But thank God, it worked out, buns in Spain are completely ordinary and not very we there they leaned on them. From fruits for breakfast every day they gave the same thing - kiwi, oranges and grapefruits. Everything is very ripe and sweet. I do not advise you to take anything with you, firstly, this is not welcome in the hotel, and secondly, you will be so full that you won't even need it! And if you want fruit - in Spain they are much cheaper than in our country (peaches - about 1 euro per kg, watermelons - 0.65 euros per kg, melons - 1.5 euros per kg).
For dinner, the choice of dishes is very large! Total and do not list. Very tasty puddings, pastries, again, so-so, fruit - just heaps! Always 8-10 varieties, do not want to eat. Every day they give ice cream of 4 varieties - strawberry, lemon, vanilla and chocolate.
My advice to girls - do not buy more than 1 dish at local cafes for lunch. Because then at dinner you won't be able to eat anything! A croissant with juice, a sandwich with a filling or a salad is the best choice for a snack. All portions are huge. On the first day we ordered rice with chicken, so for some reason they also poured french fries to the order. And when I ordered a tuna sandwich, they brought a whole pie, which would be enough to dine a family of three, and even poured half a plate of chips into the bargain! Food prices are very reasonable given the size of the portions. Almost all cafes have a menu with pictures, choose - you can't go wrong. Pizza, french fries, spaghetti with different sauces, kebab, paella - a standard set. The prices are as follows: pizza - 5 euros, salads of all kinds (very tasty) - from 7 euros, paella - from 9 euros, lasagna - from 6 euros, rice with chicken (or meat and potatoes) - from 7 euros, sandwiches with fillings - from 2.5 euros. A liter jug of sangria (light wine with strawberries, lemon and orange) - from 5 euros. A half-liter glass of cola - from 2.5 euros. Bulk ice cream is expensive - from 2 euros per ball, but it is very beautiful! The prices in the city center and by the sea are almost the same, all dishes are tasty and fresh. The only time there were complaints about the kitchen in one of the cafes in Barcelona - the cake was terribly old, it was not even cut with a knife. Changed without problems.
The hotel reception always has a Russian-speaking guide, there were no problems at all. The hotel has 2 swimming pools, sunbeds were always free, in the morning, afternoon and evening. There are also few people on the sea. We bought mats for 2 euros, many still buy an umbrella (7 euros), but we did not. Towels, swimwear, flip flops, mattresses - everything can be bought on the way to the sea and everything will be 2 times cheaper than in Russia. Quality, of course, you understand, but here everyone chooses for himself...
In addition to small shops, there are 2 large supermarkets in Lloret, where we bought water in large bottles (1 euro), juice (very tasty, Pascual, I recommend, also around 1 euro), nuts, and everything your heart desires! I didn’t like Spanish chocolate, I took bitter, “Torras” - our “Babaevsky” is much better! Drinks are very cheap, a liter bottle of martini costs 10 euros, wine - from 2 euros. The choice is very large.
We did not take excursions from the guide, we went to Barcelona twice, to Blanes and to Girona. Buses leave Lloret from the station, in the city center. You can also go to Figueres (for those who wish to get acquainted with the Salvador Dali Museum). Tickets are not very expensive. To Girona, a ticket costs 5.30 euros one way, to Blanes - 1.45 euros one way. Before Barcelona, we bought a ticket immediately there and back. So you say at the checkout: "Bus and train to Barcelona. " "There and back" in Spanish "ida y regresso". Such a ticket costs 12.20 euros per person (round trip).
Girona is a charming city, everyone who loves the Middle Ages is here! Everything was perfectly preserved, even the handles of those times on the doors - sometimes in the shape of an eagle's head, sometimes in the shape of a human hand. In the center of the city there is a large cathedral, a fortress wall. And most importantly - no people! You can completely immerse yourself in the old years and imagine how it all was at that time... In Barcelona after that, the Gothic quarter is not perceived at all - crowds of people, shops and shops at every step, a completely different atmosphere, I didn’t like it. There are many chain stores in Girona - Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti and so on. Chain stores and Chinese stores (they usually say "autlet" on them) do not close for siesta, the rest are already closed at 13 - 13.30. Prices in local shops are very affordable (summer linen skirt - 20 euros, T-shirts - from 10 euros, summer trousers - from 13 euros). But what is sold in chain stores costs the same as in Moscow, there is no savings. Factory-made shoes are also expensive - from 50 euros for some ballet flats, from 80 euros for shoes. And so, in local stores, you can buy sandals for 30-40 euros. Like leather... A very large selection of jewelry - rings, beads, all kinds of bracelets, baubles, hairpins, prices - from 2 euros, your eyes just run wide! In Moscow, everything is much more modest, and the prices are “biter”. Souvenirs are also sold at every step, mostly Arabs trade them, they are well inferior in price, so bargain with them. And the Spaniards for some reason do not trade.
The hotel has wi-fi, they immediately warn that it works intermittently, but if you want and have patience, you can safely surf the Internet. The sea was cool, 20 degrees and almost immediately deep. From the beach a boat regularly goes, they rent inflatable cars with slides. There is also a children's playroom in the hotel, like we have in some large stores - with ladders, ropes and balls. Very convenient - in the evening there is animation in the hall - you sit, drink a cocktail and at the same time look after your child, who climbs and jumps in this room. No animation, to be honest. But the district is full of clubs and discos - it is impossible to get bored.
We arrived in Barcelona on the square. Catalonia, it's so strange, the train comes directly to the metro, they have a 2-level metro. When you go back, look for the entrance to the subway with a train icon, a broken circle, "Renfe".
Bought tickets for Barcelona Bus Touristik. Tickets are sold at the box office right there on the square. A ticket for 2 days costs 30 euros per person, it includes all three routes. Together with the ticket, they give headphones, a map with a description of all routes and a book of discounts. There are a lot of discounts - for all entrances to museums, to an aquarium, to chain cafes. When you use a discount, the corresponding leaflet is torn out of the booklet. In the bus we were traveling on the 2nd floor, on the first floor it is hard to see. Each seat has an audio guide, you tune the wave to your language and that's it. You can get off at any stop, then get on the next bus again. You just have to look - each stop is marked with a circle of the right color - if you are driving along the blue route - look for just such a stop. At certain points, the routes intersect and you can change from one color to another, the audio guide warns about this in advance. There is very little time, even in two days it is difficult to meet. Prices for tickets to museums are quite high - to the aquarium, for example, we paid 17 euros per person. I can’t say anything about excursions, everything is individual here, but, of course, I want to see a lot! There are a great many museums - the Chocolate Museum, the Erotic Museum, the Egyptian Museum, and the Museum of the History of Catalonia. There are no problems with toilets - McDonald's and other cafes at every turn.
If you want to shop, I can advise you to take the "red" route - and get off at the stop next to the "Sans Station", I do not remember exactly what it is called. The audio guide will tell her in front of her that you have entered an area where poor people live and that now you have the longest shopping street in Europe in front of you. This is where you can go out and "shop". Firstly, there is a local clothing market, and secondly, there are a lot of shops - both local and chain. And also on the square. In Catalonia, you can go to the big El Corte Eagles stores - these are several floors of clothes, toys, shoes and everything your heart desires. Prices are absolutely affordable, and the choice is beyond words. There are also several shopping malls in the port, such as our Mega, you can also disappear there for the whole day if you decide to dedicate it to shopping, and not to the sights of the beauty - Barcelona.
Well, I wrote a report about our trip, I hope this information will be useful to someone. I really liked the hotel, not a single negative impression, everything was very good. Spain is a beautiful country that is impossible not to fall in love with! I wish you all a wonderful holiday and bright impressions!
