Luna Park

Costa Brava

by stucoop

"Malgrat"

We have just come back from a week's holiday in a hotel in Malgrat, Spain. My partner and I have been to the Costa Brava 3 times before but never stayed in Malgrat. We have stayed in Santa Susanna twice and Roses once. We love the Costa Brava. Now we are over 50 we like fairly quiet holidays and the Costa Brava suits us down to the ground. The only place we wouldn't stay at is Lloret De Mar because it is a little too much for us although a day out in Lloret is ok. We like Tossa De Mar and maybe we'll stay there sometime. But we do like Malgrat/Santa Susanna. (These two towns run into each other.) It is busy but not that busy. Fantastic beaches. Loads of shops. And also English pubs. Somewhere we can talk to people in plain English. And also watch TV if we want to. (Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale) if that's what you want. We always come here on a coach. We have never flown here but coach travel is relaxing, but maybe a little long for some people. It can take more than 24 hours to get here depending on the motorway traffic and ferry crossing. Anyway, getting there is part of the holiday, and you do get to see the French countryside even though it is out of a coach window. All in all, I would advise anybody who wants to go to Spain for the first time to go to Malgrat or Santa Susanna.

"Our holiday in Malgrat"

We left Stoke on Trent at on 26/8/06 at 7.30 am and after fighting the roadworks on the M6 and M1 as well as bank holiday traffic we finally caught a ferry at 5.30 pm missing 2 earlier ones. We got to Calais at 8.00 pm there time and finally got to our hotel at 10.00 am 27/8. The heat hit us straight away. What a welcome. We were only on a 6 night holiday but we didn't care. It was a holiday. Away from the day to day grind. We spent monday just chilling out, checking out the shops, and then a ride on the Santa Susanna "noddy train" as our friendly coach driver called it. A small train that takes you around Susanna then up to what are called The Himalayas, a little community on the hillside overlooking the town, comprising of loads of fantastic villas that you would give your right arm to own one. The rest of the day was just lazing by the hotel pool, with a drink or two and then dinner at 7.00. After we spent a few hours in the bar then to bed for some sleep. Something we hadn't had since friday night. Tuesday, we went on a trip to Girona. We spent an enjoyable hour on their "noddy train", taking us around the old town and then our small coach party got together for drinks outside a small bar. We called at Lloret on the way back for 1 hour and then back to Malgrat. That night, we had a karaoke in the hotel,so we stopped in the bar till 12 before retiring. Next day, window shopping, dinner in an English bar by the beach, afternoon by the pool (again), dinner and an early night. On thursday we caught the boat to Tossa calling at Blanes and Lloret as well as a few other small resorts. You must go on this boat ride if you stay in the area. It costs 21 euros for about an hour and a half return boat ride to Tossa De Mar. We spent 3 hours in Tossa, a fantastic place with loads of little shops in little ginnels, and also a castle which unfortunately had scaffolding around it when we were there. The sea was calm, the sun was hot and the views incredible. Friday was our last day so we basically did nothing just lounging around the pool having a laugh with friends we had made on the coach with us. That night we stayed in the bar till 1.45 am, not getting drunk, but having a laugh with our new found friends and having a Pernod or two (or was it 3 or 4), I don't remember. Off at 9.30 the next day on our journey home. By the time we had gotthrough the long queues of traffic on the Spanish/French border and the French motorway, we couldn't wait to get home. Not before coming back through Lyon, the second biggest city in France. What a place. The motorway runs along the River Rhone and then under the city through tunnels. A very spectacular journey at night time. We finally got home at 4.00 pm sunday and can't wait till we go again.

"Our next holiday in Malgrat"

We can't wait till we go again. Probably sometime next year although if we had the money, we would go tomorrow. Next time we plan to go to Marineland, a few miles outside Malgrat. There is a parrot show followed by sea lions showing us what they can do followed by the dolphin show where the dolphins get up to all kinds of tricks, This is well worth 20 euros for a day out. You can catch a free bus in Malgrat to take you there. There are quite a few during the day. We also intend to visit Barcelona again. We went 2 years ago on a coach trip, in with the holiday, but it's fairly easy to catch a train from Malgrat or Santa Susanna. If you have never been to Barcelona before, you must go if only to stroll down La Ramblas or The Rambles as we English call it. It is a mile long walk with market stalls and street entertainers. Entertainment like you have never seen before. Don't forget to take your camera with you. They are all people standing in various costumes like statues withonly there eyes moving occasionally. They have body paint to match their costumes so they look like a statue. The one thing to watch out for are gypsies who will pick your pocket or handbag so keep your valuables close to your body. At the end of The Rambles is the port where you can catch a boat to Majorca. (Another story some time). There is also a tall statue of Christopher Columbus overlooking the harbour. Well worth a visit. We shall probably spend a day in Lloret, like a mini Blackpool. Loads of shops, bars, entertainment and beach. To get to Lloret from Malgrat you can't go direct by train. You have to go a few stops up the line to Blanes (pronounced Blannis), where a coach meets the train to take you to Lloret. You pay at Malgrat station for the whole journey. There is no railway line through Lloret. We shall definitely go on the noddy train again. We have been on it 5 times. As I said, we can't wait for our next holiday and we have already started saving up for it. We hope to see some of you there next year. Happy holiday.